Chapter 2: The Familiarization Stage- My First Two Weeks at WWB
Second week into the internship at Women’s World Banking (WWB), and I still can’t believe how quickly time is flying.
I would describe the past two weeks as the familiarization stage of this journey. From day one, it has been a fast-paced learning experience, immersing me in the world of financial inclusion and the efforts being made to expand access to financial services around the globe.
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I began by reviewing reading materials related to the organization’s advocacy work. One of the key resources was the 2025 Global Findex Database from the World Bank Group, a leading source of data on financial behaviors and access to financial services worldwide that is updated every 3 to 4 years. I also explored WWB’s Policy Handbook for Women’s Financial Inclusion, which serves as a practical guide for policymakers and regulators to assess existing frameworks, identify gaps in financial systems, and advance financial inclusion through its 7 Gender Policy Principles.
Beyond the reading materials, the past two weeks were filled with a variety of meetings. The most important meeting that will continue throughout my internship is my weekly check-in with my manager, Victoria Johnson. She is an experienced development professional whose career spans organizations such as Catholic Relief Services, USAID, and the World Bank. In fact, one of the main reasons I was drawn to intern at WWB was because of Victoria. She interviewed me during the second stage of the application process, and I was deeply impressed by the way she approached our conversation. Her sincerity, kindness, and professionalism inspired me, and I hope to become someone like her as I continue to grow in my own career. (btw I have a feeling that the people at WWB will deserve a dedicated blog post of their own in the future!)
Other meetings included the FinEquity Annual Convening 2026 hosted by the World Bank Group, the Tech Policy Learning Lab 2026: Introduction to WWB’s 5D Policy Methodology, and a technical working meeting between WWB and FHI 360. Since I expressed an interest in public health, I was fortunate to be included in the latter discussions and got to explore the intersection between health and financial inclusion. During these meetings, my primary role was to take notes, learn from the discussions, and immerse myself in the organization’s work and the broader financial inclusion ecosystem.
As I write this, I realize just how much has happened in only two weeks. There is still so much more to share, especially about my work supporting policy briefs and research projects. I’ll save those stories for my next blog post — stay tuned!
