Interview with Conor French, Indego Africa's New CFO

An interview between Indego Africa (IA) and its new chief financial officer Conor French (CF) (pictured far right in the North Cascades).

IA: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

CF: Absolutely. Raised in the vibrant Cape Verdean community in New Bedford, Mass., but with enough days under my belt in prep school to fastidiously tie a Double Windsor and on the west coast to perfect a lazysurfer’s drawl, I am on the one hand a product of the remarkably diverse environments in which I have been fortunate to live, both in the U.S. and abroad. By trade, I am on the other hand a pretty experienced corporate attorney. Perhaps self-interestedly, I like to think there is vast potential in blending proven training and expertise in a more conventional field – for me, law generally and leveraged finance – with firsthand knowledge and insight acquired living and working in a broad array of socio-cultural and political settings.

IA: What was your turning point in jumping from corporate law to social enterprise?

CF: There really wasn’t one. The sole stock of a couple of hippies/1960s era idealists, my assimilation into corporate culture probably ranked alongside Jimi Hendrix’s premature death as their greatest disappointment. I had to emerge at some point, if only to save face at family dinners. In all seriousness, I enrolled in law school with an unwavering, long-term objective of empowering myself to foment change in my community and the communities around me. While I could have never imagined at the time that that commitment would deliver me to this particular calling, I am thrilled that my strengths, skill-set, and experiences enable me to work with IA in creating such meaningful opportunities for these extraordinary artisan women in Rwanda.

IA: Where did the motivation come from to address issues of development in Africa?

CF: It would be easiest to probably point to a stint living in Kenya during college, but truthfully it goes back to my unshakable belief in the interconnectedness of all people. My favorite quote is from Australian Aboriginal activist Lily Walker, who once said: “If you come here to help me, then you are wasting your time. But if you come here because your liberation is bound up in mine, then let us begin.” With the meteoric clip at which global interactions increase every day, it is incumbent upon us to recognize that we are all inextricably linked as a people and that injustice, even if borne by another, deeply and profoundly affects us all.

Central Africa has undergone seismic socio-political and economic shifts over the past couple decades and breaking the interrelated cycles of poverty and inter-ethnic conflict is crucial to bringing peace and stability to Rwanda in particular and Central Africa in general. The communities in which IA operates continue to reel under the weight of protracted poverty and IA tackles head-on root causes ranging from an acute scarcity of income-earning opportunities to inadequate job and management skills in a changing economy.

IA: What stood out about IA as opposed to other non-profits you surveyed in the social entrepreneurship space?

CF: Two things: vision and professionalism. I think that anyone who does their homework on IA grasps the innovation and power of the model and mission, especially with regard to sustainability and responsibility to the artisan women, so I will focus on the latter. By professionalism, I really refer to IA’s principled adherence to values such as transparency, good governance, and best business practices. The collective academic pedigree of the IA staff is certainly impressive, but it is its business experience and acumen that probably stands out the most. I see tremendous prescience and wisdom in assembling and running a non-profit, social enterprise as effectively and efficiently as a Fortune 500 company.
IA: What is something that nobody would know about you?

CF: Probably a tie between being related to Kenny G. (pictured right with Conor and Conor's mom) and having characters named after me on Guiding Light and Saturday Night Live. On an unrelated note, I am still pretty furious that I didn’t get Kenny G.’s flowing locks.

IA: What do think IA can accomplish with you onboard?

CF: Anything (laughing). IA has such a diverse and talented staff already in place and, coupled with the energetic backing of five regional boards and an extensive support network, we are poised to scale our operations and really deepen our impact in Rwanda and perhaps beyond. So many of the pieces are already in place and it is up to us and our supporters to make it happen. Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose!