WHO WE ARE
M-Pensa Impact & Development Services
M-Pensa brings together a team of professionals with extensive experience in financial sector development, inclusive finance and impact investing, with a particular focus on SME, gender, digitalisation and climate change.
MARIANGELA
PENSA
Founder and Managing Partner
Mariangela is an impact finance professional with over 15 years’ experience working with impact investment managers and international consulting firms. Prior to founding the consulting firm M-Pensa, she worked at responsAbility Investments AG, where she developed and managed financial institutions investment portfolios. She later became involved in direct agribusiness lending. She is a master graduate in Development Economics at SOAS and has lived and worked in different countries, including the UK, Spain, Lebanon and Switzerland.
DAVIDE
CASTELLANI
Senior Consultant
Davide is a seasoned expert in banking, financial inclusion, rural finance, and impact assessment, with over 15 years of experience working with international organizations, financial institutions, and development agencies. He has led and contributed to numerous projects on financial education, green microfinance, gender-lens finance, and sustainable finance, collaborating with institutions such as the IDB, UNCDF, AFI, FSD Kenya, CAF, and the e-MFP. His work spans diverse regions, including Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia, where he has conducted policy analysis, market research, and impact evaluations. In addition to his consultancy work, he is actively engaged in academic research and teaching, with publications on banking, SME finance, and microfinance. Davide holds a PhD in Financial Markets and Intermediaries from the Catholic University of Milan and has been a Visiting Scholar at Ohio State University’s Rural Finance Program
FLORENCIA
CASAS
Senior Consultant
Florencia has over nine years' experience in strategy and planning consultancy in fast-paced environments and high-impact decision-making processes. She was director of strategic planning of the government of Buenos Aires city and has worked as a consultant for leading organisations such as CMCC, PwC and UNDP. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Sciences from the Buenos Aires University and a Master's degree in Business Administration from the IAE Business School.
TOM
WARD
Senior Consultant
Tom has over 17 years of experience in financial regulation and financial innovation. He was responsible for setting up and leading the UK FCA regulatory sandbox, supporting over 100 firms over four years. He has also led the design and implementation of several FinTech policy initiatives, including cloud computing, crowdfunding, and blockchain, as well as regulatory sandboxes around the world.
MAX
NINO-ZARAZUA
Senior consultant
Max is a highly experienced consultant with over 20 years of expertise in the financial inclusion industry. He was Programme Director at DAI Global, where he was responsible for implementing the HMG FCDO Mexico Financial Services Prosperity Programme. Max has considerable experience in consulting with international donors, microfinance institutions, and is Co-Heading the work at the European Microfinance Platform’s Action Group “From Research to Practice”. He holds a PhD in Economics and International Development from the University of Bath.
Lucía Salvalaggio
Research Analyst
Lucía is an International Relations specialist with expertise in foreign trade, market intelligence, and international cooperation. She has experience in research and policy analysis and has worked as a consultant for international organizations and think tanks. Lucía holds a Bachelor's degree in International Relations and a Bachelor's degree in Journalism. She has also been actively involved in volunteer programs, promoting global awareness, diplomacy, and youth education in international affairs.
Guadalupe Mendez
Research Analyst
Guadalupe has experience in the academic field as a researcher in both the Argentine Council for International Relations (CARI) and the School of Oriental Studies at Universidad del Salvador (USAL). She was also a teacher’s assistant for the Chair of Development Policies at the same university. Guadalupe holds a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Universidad del Salvador in Buenos Aires.
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MICHAEL T. ALEMU
Senior Consultant
Michael is an experienced lawyer, entrepreneur and consultant based in Ethiopia. He specialises in corporate law, technology, regulation and business development. With over ten years of experience in Ethiopia's technology and legal sectors, Michael's practice has provided startups and innovators with tailored legal strategies. His expertise includes complex corporate transactions, intellectual property management and compliance, as well as regulatory innovation. Michael has worked with international organisations, government agencies, multinational corporations and start-ups. He holds an LL.B. with distinction from Addis Ababa University and has been awarded prestigious fellowships, including the Obama Foundation Leaders: Africa Fellowship and the Mandela Washington Fellowship. ​​
DANIELA
MOCTEZUMA
Senior consultant
Daniela is a consultant specialising in financial inclusion for women. With over a decade of experience in gender inclusion projects across both the public and private sectors, she has partnered with over a dozen financial institutions in Latin America. Daniela's experience includes the design of tools, training sessions, and the implementation of programmes for banks, microfinance institutions, fintech, investment funds, and SMEs, spanning the agriculture, clean energy, and technology sectors. Daniela holds an MA in International Relations and World History from the University of Nottingham.
GETACHEW
AHMED ABEGAZ
Senior Consultant
Getachew brings over 18 years of research experience in Ethiopia's macro-financial, agricultural, and technological sectors. He draws on his expertise in economics and computer science to specialise in data analysis, machine learning and business model design. He was involved in the evaluation of the most recent economic reforms (GHER) for the macro-financial sector. His research focused on the impact of ICT on economic growth and labour markets. Additionally, he was part of a team that estimated the size of the Ethiopian capital market.
DANIEL CASTILLO
Senior Consultant
Daniel has over 15 years of experience in innovation and digital transformation in the financial sector. He has participated in the development and implementation of regulations applicable to banks and fintechs. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Systems and Information from the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico and a Master's degree in Security Information from the Universidad Internacional de La Rioja.
GUSTAVO SALAIZ
Senior Consultant
Gustavo has over 15 years of diverse experience in the financial services industry, providing him with a comprehensive understanding of technological, financial, and regulatory perspectives. He has previously worked at Deloitte Consulting Group, Moody's rating agency, the Neobank Albo, and the crypto wallet Valora. He holds a degree in Telematics Engineering, a Master of Business Administration from Carnegie Mellon University, and has completed a diploma in Banking, Credit, and Risk Management from ITAM.