Argentine entrepreneur visits Unitus seeking a better future for millions at home
Diana Schvarztein undergoes a 4-week intensive fellowship at Unitus Community CU to learn how she can help improve financial independence, and quality of life, for millions enduring decades-long financial crisis in Argentina
PORTLAND, OR (October 26, 2018) — In their latest effort to help disadvantaged peoples build sustainable financial development throughout the world, Unitus Community Credit Union hosted leading young Argentine entrepreneur Diana Schvarztein to a 4-week intensive collaboration to improve financial education and opportunity for Argentine citizens.
The trip saw Schvarztein touch down in Detroit, MI before spending four weeks at Unitus headquarters, where she was immediately given an immersive role in operations. “In order to help Diana learn as much as possible in her time here,” explained Steve Stapp, President and CEO of Unitus, “we co-created a packed calendar and encouraged her to actively participate right from the start. She was immersed in cross-functional meetings, all-staff events, strategic discussions, skill-building workshops, one-on-one leadership sessions, and much more.”
Schvarztein and Unitus were a natural match. She is Co-Founder and Director of Financial Inclusion Partners (FIP), a network of professionals working to increase access to financial services and reduce poverty in Argentina. Having earned a Master’s degree in Microfinance from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, she is now a professor in the Financial Inclusion, Microfinance, and Development postgraduate program at the Universidad Católica Argentina. There she conducts research projects and coordinates training programs to help more people in Argentina build lasting financial advancement.
For now, her research aims to gather clarifying information about what people need most back home. “We worked with a sample of 300 people over three weeks,” she described of a recent project. “Fifty percent had no money saved at all. Only 20% had access to a bank account. And only 5% had ever used a smartphone to make a mobile transaction.” Although disconcerting, this data was illuminating, helping her focus her efforts to maximize positive impact in her community. “Once we knew,” she continued, “that only 5% of people had ever managed their finances on a smartphone, we knew that we couldn’t implement a digital wallet. We had to scale our efforts back and start smaller.”
To learn how to execute community financial education programs, she applied to a local fellowship that would bring her directly to a world leader in cooperative finance: The United States. The internship was coordinated by World Oregon in conjunction with the U.S. Department of State and Meridian International Center through the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI). Nine other professionals visited Portland as part of the program, including influential professionals from Brazil, Columbia, and Venezuela to name a few. They conducted their intensive programs in industries as varied as media, auto maintenance, civic engagement, and retail ice cream.
In Unitus, Schvarztein found the real-world example of a well-established, community-oriented financial institution for which she’d travelled so many thousands of miles. “My biggest goal,” said Diana, “was to learn best practices from Unitus and replicate them back in Argentina. To learn especially about how they are successful in financial education, and gain an international perspective about how to educate people about money.”
It didn’t take long for her to make an impact. “Diana did not miss a beat throughout the program, showing boundless energy, a sharp intellect, and a constant desire to learn,” said Stapp. “She quickly became popular for her enthusiasm and uncanny ability to bring joy to everyone around her.” Surprising no one, Diana reflected glowingly on her time here: “I learned so much about how to improve financial education throughout the community. I am grateful for the chance to use the things I’m learning here to help reduce poverty and improve finances for the people in my home country.”
After four weeks, both Schvarztein and Unitus emerged with a sharpened vision of financial inclusion for the overlooked and underserved. “We were humbled to have the opportunity to share our practices with a financial leader of Diana’s ability,” said Stapp. “As partners on a similar mission, we are excited to build this relationship and contribute to her cause of building sustainable financial opportunity for millions.” “What I will take away most,” recalled Diana, “is learning about all the social leaders in this community and how they are making a difference. It’s incredible being part of different international networks and keeping in touch with people to learn how they are making good things happen for the people in their communities.”
About Unitus Community Credit Union
At Unitus, we’re dedicated to improving lives in the communities we serve. As a member-owned local credit union, we invest in people by doing the right thing. Through partnerships with nonprofit organizations, we provide support for community groups through volunteerism and financial donations. Our 105,000 members count on us to serve them and their communities; our 300+ employees share that passion for service. Learn about the local impact Unitus makes by visiting unitusccu.com.
About Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative
The Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) builds links between young leaders across the Western hemisphere. YLAI addresses the opportunity gap for youth, especially women, by empowering business and social entrepreneurs with the training, tools, networks and resources they need to transform their societies and contribute more fully to economic development, prosperity, security, human rights and good governance throughout the hemisphere. It helps professionals develop as leaders, connect with peers across diverse geography, and become the change they are looking for.
About World Oregon
World Oregon was founded in 1950 as the World Affairs Council of Oregon in response to isolationist sentiments taking hold across the United States. Their mission is to broaden and deepen public awareness and understanding of international affairs, engaging Oregonians with the world and with each other. They believe that deeper global understanding is essential to a more peaceful world, and that cross-cultural learning propels us toward a more innovative future.
