As the spring semester comes to a close, Georgetown McDonough is pleased to commemorate the accomplishments of the Class of 2022. This year’s graduating class demonstrated immense resiliency and determination to reach this milestone, and we are proud to recognize their achievements as they start their next chapter as Hoya alumni. To celebrate, Georgetown McDonough is spotlighting several of the exceptional students in the Class of 2022 as they share their personal stories, reflect on their time on the Hilltop, and preview what’s next after commencement.
Lotus Belle-Glover (MSF’22) entered the Master of Science in Finance (MSF) program with a clear vision to pursue a career in development finance – a goal she achieved during her final year of the program when she accepted a position at the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). But her goals don’t stop there. The soon-to-be MSF graduate was recently selected as a Presidential Management Fellowship finalist, where she hopes to combine her financial skillset with public service.
Belle-Glover shared her greatest lessons at Georgetown, her commitment to the Jesuit value of cura personalis, and her ongoing mission to make a difference and serve others in every element of her personal and professional life.
What is your favorite memory or proudest moment from your time at Georgetown?
I knew coming into the program that I wanted to work at the DFC – the United States’s finance institution and agency that prioritizes low-income and lower-middle-income countries. While in my last year of the MSF program, I had the opportunity to join the organization as a structured finance graduate associate.
When I traveled to South Africa for my capstone, I was able to see a local branch of an international bank we had just closed a deal with at DFC. Being across the world and seeing the tangible product and impact of my team’s work was my proudest moment. It was special that the financial, economic, and political analysis I contributed to the project was a direct result of my learning at Georgetown.
How do you plan to apply the skills you have learned at Georgetown in the next phase of your career?
My long-term goal is development finance, with a focus on climate change adaptation and mitigation. I will use the financial acumen and ethics principles developed through my MSF and my foundational knowledge of climate change and development from coursework in the Global Human Development program. This program has also given me international experience, which will be crucial as I begin my career.
What is one of the most important lessons you have learned while at Georgetown?
Cura personalis, or care of the whole person, is something that has become even more salient for me in the past few years. While academic and professional achievement is undeniably important, I also hope to shape my career goals and use my degree to become an impactful citizen of the world. It also informs my goals as a leader and my daily interactions with colleagues and clients. I think remembering this concept also makes me a better interviewer and manager.
Is there a particular person in the Georgetown community that has been instrumental to your success?
Professors Ammerman, Eberhart, and McLean have been instrumental to my classroom success, both with the material itself, as well as their ability to challenge me to take a step back and understand how abstract financial concepts fit into the bigger picture.
Tom Stowell from the MSF Career Center has, since day one, encouraged my (often lofty) career aspirations, providing me equal parts support, strategy, and realism, while making the recruitment process more adventure and less torture.
The Business for Impact community – and in particular, Joe Weinstein, senior partner at Business for Impact – has given me tangible opportunities to use business as a tool for addressing societal problems.
Lastly, the Office of Sustainability, including Dan Guilbeault and Kehan DeSousa, has encouraged me to explore my passion for sustainability and how an organization can actively make decisions to support a healthy planet.
What are your post-graduate plans?
Spending the summer outside enjoying California’s natural beauty. I plan on starting in the private sector with a banking team focused on infrastructure or energy. I was also recently named a finalist for the Presidential Management Fellowship, so I am exploring roles within the federal government that would allow me to combine finance and public service.
What advice would you give to the next class of Georgetown students?
Know why you are doing what you are doing and have a strategy for doing it. When classes or recruiting undoubtedly get tough, it’s important to have drive and purpose to lean on. Having clear goals will give you permission to say no and the space to say yes to opportunities as they arise. Find people with a similar drive, and surround yourself with a support system and good conversations.