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First Agora Fellow Arrives in Managua
Marion Descottes joined our team in August as the inaugural fellow of the Agora Fellows Program. As an Agora Fellow, Marion is working side by side with entrepreneurs who are trying against the odds to create social and economic change through their businesses.
Agora Fellow Marion Descottes at a BambuCasa work site
Her main focus is providing hands on marketing and operations consulting to BambuCasa a Nicaraguan company specializing in eco-friendly bamboo construction.
A native of France, Marion received her MBA from the Instituto de Empresa in Madrid and speaks fluent French, Spanish and English. She has over six years professional experience in strategic and operational marketing for a French luxury leather retailer. As a student, she coordinated the Instituto de Empresa Women and Business Club and won first prize in the international competition Infocom on “Innovation improving HIV / AIDS adherence in Africa.”
Marion hopes to put her business experience to work to help socially responsible small businesses like BambuCasa reach their full potential and create desperately needed jobs in their communities.
According to Marion, “Having an Agora Fellow dedicated to improving the management and business processes, is a great opportunity for an entrepreneur who otherwise would not afford this kind of in-house consultancy."
In her short time she has already helped the company to set up a website and identify key groups for their marketing strategy. Says Jan Van Bilsen the founder of BambuCasa, "Marion is a fast thinker and a fast mover - she has the tools and capabilities to find solutions to existing gridlocks. I truly value Marion's help, vision and commitment to BambuCasa."
Marion is committed to helping BambuCasa and the stakes could not be higher.
“The company’s success is important first because of the social impact,” says Marion. “BambuCasa provides sustainable jobs to Nicaraguans in very poor areas of the country.”
She continues, “second is the ecological impact: thanks to BambuCasa, developers and architects are now taking into account bamboo as a natural and local resource, which is improving the ecological impact of their construction.
Marion’s example reflects the very best of what our name aspires to create. Marion is bringing her business skills, her courage, and her wits to a help a small business overcome the odds and transform its community. It will not be easy – stay tuned for updates.
The Agora Fellows Program is made possible by a grant from the Clarence and Anne Dillion Dunwalke Trust.
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