Recent MSFS grad discusses her work at the World Bank
By Ryoji Watanabe
Georgetown University is located in Washington DC, a hub of multinational activity, and is a perfect place for students in the MSFS program to take advantage of the various opportunities these organizations have to offer.
Camino Hurtado, MSFS '11, took advantage of an opportunity, and found a connection at a round-table conference that presented an even better opportunity. Prior to enrolling in the MSFS, Ms. Hurtado graduated from the Universidad Pontificia Comillas in Spain, and then accepted employment in a law firm after graduation. She turned her attention to International Development and enrolled in the MSFS program. After graduation from the MSFS program, Ms. Hurtado accepted employment in the World Bank.
Ms. Hurtado sitting next to her World Bank supervisor, Teresa Genta-Fons, at a legal technical seminar in Managua, Nicaragua.
Q. Where are you working this semester, and how did you find it?
I am working as a short-term consultant at the World Bank’s Legal Vice Presidency for Latin America & Caribbean region. Actually, I did not find it, but instead the World Bank found me. Prior to coming to Georgetown, I was assigned to the Organization of American States (OAS) located in Washington, DC when I was an intern at the Ministry of Foreign of Affairs of Spain. During that time I met my current supervisor from the World Bank. She was one of the speakers of a roundtable conference related to gender issues that I attended. I asked a question during a Q&A session that sparked my supervisor’s interest, and she eventually offered me a job. I started working for the World Bank in October 2009, and continued to work throughout the two years I studied at MSFS.
Q. What piqued your interest about this position?
My supervisor had already thought of the kind of position she wanted to offer me when she met me. I liked that the work involved legal matters and development. Since I’m a lawyer, I was interested in the work involving legal matters but I also wanted to gain experience in development issues, and I had already planned to choose a concentration on international development within the MSFS program. It was an ideal option for me. I also like the capacity building aspect of the job, like developing the skills of the Nicaraguan officials we work with.
Q. What are your responsibilities? What projects do you find yourself working on?
I supervise a project funded by the World Bank in Nicaragua in two aspects. First, I supervise the financial management (i.e. presenting financial statements, complying with World Bank rules, etc.) and procurement of funds (i.e. observing how funds are used as originally planned, to include anti-corruption efforts). Second, I supervise the production of reports issued by firms and edit for quality. Here, my expertise in law has been very helpful.
Q.How has this opportunity changed or shaped your career goals, if at all?
Working with the World Bank has definitely contributed to shaping my career. When I enrolled in the MSFS program, I did not know which field of development I wanted to pursue. The work at the World Bank directed my interest and concentration towards governance issues, and that definitely helped shape my career goals.
Q.Have you found your coursework in the MSFS program to be helpful in your daily work, and how has it been so?
Yes, the writing skills I have developed have been especially helpful in my work. Specifically, the briefing memorandums that we write in classes have been very helpful. The theoretical background on development theories and the analytical thinking skills that I have developed have also been very helpful.
Q. How do you manage to study and work at the same time during the semester?
Managing work and study has been a challenge, but the close proximity of work and school in DC makes it manageable. If the school was located anywhere else, it would be impossible to get an opportunity like this, and that is one reason I chose MSFS. I work at the World Bank once or twice a week, but I am also able to work from home. I hang out with friends when I have the time, but I don’t have as much leisure time as I would like. However, I am happy because I enjoy the work so much. My supervisor has also been very flexible and considerate about my study. She is a very good mentor who has taught me a lot.
Q.What is one of the coolest aspects of this job?
Traveling to Nicaragua and meeting with government officials has to be one of the best aspects, but the coolest aspect of the job is my supervisor. Since I am the only one involved with the Nicaragua project, my supervisor has given me a lot of responsibility. I felt comfortable asking questions when I had them, and she was especially instructive. I also believe that the project is quite important for Nicaragua’s economic growth, which is very encouraging.