As Chief Operating Officer, Cecille Zacarias manages and oversees all internal processes related to planning, implementation and performance monitoring; budgeting, accounting and financial management; human resource processes, and administration – all needed to ensure effective execution of regular activities and new initiatives.

She works with the CEO and the leadership team to build the optimum resource allocation to achieve WWB’s strategic objectives. She is responsible for reviewing plan vs. implementation on activities, outputs and results and to make periodic adjustments during the year, that fall within the purview of the agreed strategy and business palm.

Cecille previously worked in programs in the area of organizational effectiveness. In this capacity she directed the delivery of advisory services to WWB network member institutions, strengthening their organizational capacities and enabling them to achieve high standards in leadership and organizational change, middle management development and human resources. This work involved conducting organizational diagnostics to identify strengths and challenges; facilitating change management processes to support the introduction of new products or help MFIs with the transformation to regulated institutions; assisting MFIs in developing competencies to support their growth strategies; implementing trainings and other programs to build the capacities of middle management and promoting a total rewards approach to build stronger links between pay structures and performance. Cecille was also the Coordinator for WWB’s Women Leadership Development Program, which works to ensure that women play a leading role in the second generation of microfinance.

Prior to joining WWB, Cecille worked as Finance Director of one of the biggest microfinance institutions in the Philippines. She also has consulting experience with international agencies such as UNDP, ILO and Plan International. A Philippines national, Cecille has a bachelor's degree in physics and a graduate degree in management.

Michele Blatt joined Women’s World Banking in 2008 as the Human Resources Manager. She is responsible for overseeing all aspects of Human Resources Management for WWB Staff and Consultants and ensuring that all HR policies and procedures are compliant with State and Federal Laws.

Prior to joining WWB, Michele spent the past 12 years working in Human Resources and Recruitment positions with extensive responsibilities in International Recruitment, Employee Relations, Campus Recruitment, Policies and Procedures, Benefits and Compensation. Most recently she was a Manager of Recruitment at a Public Accounting and Consulting firm and has also worked in Human Resources and Recruitment for Louis Vuitton, ABC, Wenner Media, Richard Eisner and Company and Deloitte Consulting.

Michele holds a B.S. from Binghamton University, SUNY.

Ms. Caldas has been a member of the WWB Finance Team since 2001. As the controller of the organization, she is responsible for the cash flow projections, monitoring revenues and expenses, and the preparation of the annual audit. She presents accurate and concise financial statements and reports; and provides management with information regarding corporate financial activities. She ensures that all WWB financial reports are prepared in compliance with accepted accounting principles.

Ms. Caldas has 20 years of experience as an accountant and financial manager in a range of non-profit organizations and public-held corporations. Prior to joining WWB in 2001, she served as Financial Analyst at Cisco Systems Inc. in Miami, Florida, where she was in charge of accounting systems implementation for Colombia. In addition, she is a registered agent for the IRS. She holds a Bachelor in Business Administration degree from Berkeley College and has a CPA license from Ecuador.

She speaks English and Spanish fluently and has working knowledge of French. Ms. Caldas is a national of Ecuador.

As WWB's Manager for Administration, Gerald Weaber is responsible for planning and coordinating the organization's communication systems, travel services, security, records management, insurance, distribution of publications, and special events. He collaborates with the finance team to ensure cost-effective procurement and manages WWB's administrative staff.

Prior to joining WWB in 1998, Gerald served as Executive Director for two non-governmental organizations and held oversight responsibilities for a national historic landmark in Philadelphia. He also served as a field representative with the American Friends Service Committee in the New York Metropolitan Regional Office. Gerald has a BSW from Temple University with independent studies at the University of Ghana, and has also completed graduate coursework in administration.

James Wei is WWB’s Information Technology Manager and part of the Operation team.

Prior to joining WWB, James worked for Young & Rubicam, Inc in NY as a Global NT System Analyst, and previously as an MIS Specialist for Yale Tech, Inc.

James has a Master degree in International Trade and a MBA in Management of Information Systems from the Northeast Louisiana University.

Javier Borja is a Help Desk Associate for WWB’s Information Technology team. He is responsible for backing up information, providing computer and phone support.

Prior to joining WWB, Javier Borja was working at Netsource as a field technician. He was responsible for configuring firewalls and remote administration, as well as data recovery and disaster prevention.

Javier is actually pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Telecommunication and Network Management at the New York Institute of Technology. He speaks fluently Spanish as he is a Ecuadorian national.

As Operations Assistant Magaly Arboleda, provides support to the Chief Operating Officer and the Global Team. She works on diverse cross team projects, including cost effectiveness research, Spanish language translation, editing, special event planning (preparation and set-up), corporate travel, procurement and administrative support for Human Resources.

Before joining WWB, Magaly was a Career Counselor at the East River Development Alliance an innovative non-profit organization in Queens, New York where she specialized in developing essential business and professional skills with New York City’s urban poor. She holds a B.A. in both Sociology and Urban Planning from Hunter College, City University of New York, where she is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Social Research. She is Colombian-American and a native Spanish speaker.

Samuel Gagakuma works as Operations Assistant for WWB supporting all departments of the organization.

He is a native of the Republic of Ghana. He attended Government Secretarial School and the Ghana Institute of Languages. Then he worked briefly for the FAO, Guinea (Conakry) Embassy as well as the francophone African multi-national Air Afrique. Before joining WWB, Sam worked in the oil industry.

State-side, Sam completed a course in translation at New York University and did paralegal studies at Lehman College in the CUNY system.

Eduard Taube joined WWB’s Operations team in 2008 as Accountant.

Eduard previously worked for WWB as a Consultant in Accounts Payable and subsequently as a Budget Coordinator Consultant for Larmar Infosys in New York.

Eduard has a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the Brooklyn College in Brooklyn, NY.