Jesse Corradi ’08 is Managing Director of Africa at the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), a newly-established U.S. government development finance institution. As such, Jesse oversees DFC’s Africa investment strategy and is responsible for investing in, and mobilizing private capital for, underserved markets across sub-Saharan Africa aligned with U.S. international development and foreign policy priorities.
Prior to joining DFC, Jesse served as Head of Africa and Product Innovation at USAID’s Development Credit Authority. Jesse has also held various positions in foreign policy, national security, impact investing, and private equity at the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Senate Committee on Defense Appropriations, 118 Capital, Neuberger Berman, and Lehman Brothers. He served as a U.S. Fulbright Fellow in Hong Kong from 2009-2010 and currently volunteers as Chief Financial Officer for Village X, a nonprofit dedicated to disrupting extreme poverty in rural Africa.
Jesse Corradi ’08
Q. Tell us about a mistake or misstep in your career and what you learned?
A. Despite relishing the opportunity to challenge certitude in the Amherst classroom (and beyond), when it came time to make my first major post-Amherst decision, I chose my first job based on what was most comfortable and conventional. Put simply, I was terrified of failing — and let that fear drive my first major career choice. Instead of pursuing an opportunity that was better suited to my intellectual curiosity and passion, I opted for a job that offered a well-traveled path to career success. The beauty of this experience was that I (quickly) recognized and appreciated what mattered most to me and did everything in my power to correct course and better define my professional ambitions and plan.