Helen Lin

Helen Lin was formerly the Head of Innovation and Strategic Partnerships at FINCA Impact Finance (FIF), where she launched the Innovation Lab that sourced new fintech partnerships for FIF's microfinance operations. Through running POCs, she evaluated new technologies to support FINCA Ventures in seed-stage equity financing. Helen drove FIF's digital transformation strategy in its 20 subsidiaries across 4 continents. She has led the implementation and launch of strategic delivery channels initiatives in Africa including agency banking, mobile banking, and mobile savings and lending. Helen's first role with FIF was Regional Analyst and acting Regional Financial Controller for Africa, responsible for budgeting, treasury, and business analytics for the region. Before FINCA, Helen worked for 7 years in Investment Banking and Private Equity, including two years in China launching a new growth equity fund investing in Greater China (Baird Capital Partners Asia). She executed investment, merger and acquisition transactions, and helped scale and operationally streamline Baird's portfolio companies. Helen previously spent a year as a volunteer teacher in the Marshall Islands through the Harvard Institute of International Development (WorldTeach). She holds an MBA from INSEAD and a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin. She speaks Mandarin and French and enjoys practicing Swahili.