Malin Rosenkvist

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Malin's job is all about, in her own words, "asking people to part with their hard-earned cash". 

Many might consider this to be downplaying things somewhat. Malin is Head of Philanthropy and Communications at MicroLoan Foundation, an international poverty alleviation and women’s empowerment charity.

Why do you do what you do? 

I get to meet brilliant, inspiring people. When I visit our operations in sub-Saharan Africa, I meet women who are full of ambition and energy despite facing almost unimaginable challenges due to the poverty they live in. In London part of my role is to manage our partnerships with wealthy individuals and companies, so the people I meet in the UK are equally inspiring but at the very opposite socio-economic end of the spectrum.

It all started when I met a woman in a bar, where I was working to support my not-very-successful acting career. We got talking and I mentioned that I was ready to do something new and she told me to come and visit her in Uganda for a change of scenery. I stopped shaking cocktails and left for Uganda a month later. I worked for an international development charity informing about HIV/Aids and family planning as well as supporting educational projects in rural villages. That’s how my career in international development started and now a decade later I am using my skill set to raise funds to help women in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe start their own small businesses and journey out of poverty.

What do you think helps make you good at what you do? 

I am passionate about international development and gender equality. Fundraising is very similar to sales, and I truly care about and believe in what I am ‘selling’.

What book or resource do you most commonly share, or find most inspiring, at the moment?

Factfulness by Hans Rosling (a fellow Swede) is a phenomenal book full of fascinating data and statistics that will make you change how you see the world. I am aware that I just used the words fascinating and statistics in the same sentence but honestly, I dare you to read it and say anything else!

HOW COULD THE HOT BREAKFAST COMMUNITY HELP OR SUPPORT YOU OR YOUR ORGANISATION?

I would love to get the Hot Breakfast community engaged in the charity, we are always keen to develop new and exciting partnerships with individuals and organisations so if you want to discuss how to get involved please contact me!

WHAT'S YOUR BREAKFAST OF CHOICE?

French toast with Greek yogurt, maple syrup, raspberries, strawberries and bacon…

LinkedIn // MicroLoan Foundation