Maria Sanchez Smith is a Senior Associate in WWB’s Lateral Learning group.  She is responsible for managing the delivery of knowledge transfer through best-practice workshops, cutting-edge trainings, and technical exchanges.  She is also responsible for the monitoring and evaluation of these activities.  Ms. Smith has partnered with the WWB’s Center for Microfinance Leadership group to assists in marketing and outreach initiatives to promote the Center’s executive education programs and the Leadership Award. 

Prior to joining WWB, Ms. Smith conducted market research for Arc Finance and the Basel Agency for Sustainable Energy (BASE) on “Financing Sustainable Energy through Remittance Flow in Haiti and the Dominican Republic” to assess whether there is a link between remittances and the purchase sustainable energy products. 

Ms. Smith was part of the WWB Linkages and Learning Team from 2001 to 2008.  She is currently Co-Chair of Friends of Qualitas for the Qualitas of Life Foundation where she creates opportunities for young professionals to engage in networking, volunteering, mentoring, and collaborating directly with Hispanic immigrants interested in Financial Education. She has a double degree from Columbia University in Economics and in Latin American Studies.  Ms. Smith is fluent in Spanish and English.