Innovation for the Emerging Middle Class - Christine Kenna, Partner at IGNIA

Miguel Armaza interviews Christine Kenna, Partner at IGNIA, a Venture Capital firm that invests in innovative solutions for the emerging middle class in Latin America. Christine joined IGNIA in 2011 and has been investing and working with entrepreneurs in strategic planning, critical problem solving, and operational issues. We discussed her background, investing approach, the evolution of the fintech ecosystem in the region, and the important efforts she leads to continue improving diversity and inclusion within the private capital industry in Latin America. About IGNIA IGNIA is a leading Mexico-based venture capital firm that partners with entrepreneurs who are reinventing the way to do business with the emerging middle class. IGNIA invests in sectors where innovation has a high impact on people’s lives such as healthcare, housing, financial services and basic services (water, energy and communications). By providing effective market responses to the enormously underserved needs of low income populations, IGNIA empowers entrepreneurship and builds a more equitable. Christine Kenna Christine Kenna joined IGNIA in 2011 and focuses on managing portfolio companies and evaluating new investment opportunities. She works closely with entrepreneurs in strategic planning, critical problem solving, and operational issues. Christine leverages her operating experience gained from running the marketing and sales operations of EF Education First, the world´s largest private international education company, where she was a key figure in managing the company´s turnaround in Mexico. Previously, while working at Google during the company´s IPO, she developed international growth strategies and helped resolve human capital management challenges. As Managing Director of The Guggenheim Foundation in Mexico, Christine became familiar with challenges faced in Mexico as she helped street children reintegrate into society, and worked with Mexican public schools and teachers to implement innovative learning methods. As a Senior Associate at The Parthenon Group, a Boston-based strategy consulting firm, she learned rigorous financial analysis and applied herself to resolving international marketing issues for Fortune 500 companies and entrepreneurial start-ups. Christine graduated from Duke University with a BA in Economics and International Relations, and has an MBA from Harvard Business School.