You’ve heard the expression: “It takes a village to raise a child.” Well, the same is true for fostering the success of women entrepreneurs around the world! This year, we are kicking off a new series called People Power Microcredit. We will take you behind the scenes to introduce you to the teams that are dedicated to empowering the world’s poorest people to become entrepreneurs. You will meet Field Officers, volunteers, and Whole Planet Foundation staff. Through their stories you will get a glimpse into a day on the job—whether it is in Austin, Texas or Huehuetenango, Guatemala.
Meet Victor Quiroz
Title: Business Analyst
Organization: Whole Planet Foundation
On the team for: 7 years
What is your education, life experience, and professional background that led you to the job?
I graduated from St. Edward’s University in Austin, TX with a B.A. in Business Administration. While in school I interned as a Grant Writer working with the BeeHive of Austin, a non-profit that provides afterschool programming for at-risk youth. I also interned as a Risk Analyst with Rêv Worldwide, a company that promotes financial inclusion by providing pre-paid payment solutions. I joined Whole Planet Foundation as a Program Analyst Intern in February 2012. At the time, I was brought on to help organize how the Programs Team collects data and to build management tools around the data. Six months later it turned into a full-time role.
Victor (left) with a field credit officer visiting microcredit clients of WPF partner Umutanguha Finance Company in Rwanda in 2018.
What’s your favorite part of the job?
In my role, I get to live in our data and get to continuously explore new ways to improve our systems. I enjoy the challenge of learning how to use new tools and building solutions that help support our team. However, my favorite part is getting to work with a great team.
What’s the most interesting thing you have learned on the job in the last month?
I have gotten to work with the Whole Foods Market Data Visualization Team to build a Tableau dashboard for our upcoming Prosperity Campaign. I’d played with the software here and there [in the past], but now I am blown away by the functionality that it has to offer. With their help we have a new tool that effectively communicates our fundraising initiatives during the campaign.
Tell a story of the microcredit client or MFI partner colleague who has inspired you the most.
While traveling in India, we met a client named Kiran who was on her 2nd loan with CASHPOR and raised livestock. This memory sticks with me because Kiran was very confident and excited to share with us her experience working with CASHPOR.
A photograph of Kiran, a microcredit client in India, taken by WPF’s Victor Quiroz.
Kiran had borrowed 30,000 INR ($465) this cycle, compared to 15,000 INR ($233) her first cycle. She used the capital to buy 2 goats and 1 cow. Since the investment, 6 baby goats had been born! Kiran told me each goat can produce about ½ liter of milk per day which she could sell. She could also sell the goats for goat meat after about 8-15 months for around 3-4000 INR ($47-62).Previously, Kiran had grown rice, so animal husbandry diversified her income.
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
When I’m not working, I enjoy getting out and exploring. My wife Natalie and I regularly take our two dogs out wherever we can and we enjoy traveling and getting to enjoy new experiences. We also enjoy going to see concerts and check out new places that have opened in our neighborhood.
Victor and his wife Natalie visiting Guanajuato in 2017.