Alumni News

Distinguished Alumni Award: Jingdong Hua MPA ’03

Posted May 20 2024
Jingdong Hua MPA ’03

Jingdong Hua is a senior leader and practitioner in international development and international finance. As vice-chair of the International Sustainability Standards Board, he oversees the development and implementation of ISSB’s strategies to support and include stakeholders in emerging and developing economies as well as small and medium-sized companies. He previously served as vice president and treasurer of the World Bank, pension finance administrator of the World Bank Group, and vice president and treasurer of the International Finance Corporation. His expertise spans a broad range of international development and capital market arenas including multilateralism, international and local capital market development, financial innovation, Africa, FinTech for financial inclusion, SDG/ESG, and impact investment.

Transcript

[MUSIC PLAYING] JINGDONG HUA: Sometimes I reflect this amazing life's journey where one day, you are the treasurer of the World Bank. And then, falsh them back to my childhood where I lived with my grandmother in a poor village that had no running water and no electricity. People were so poor that within a household, there could only be one kerosene lamp. So from that humble background, we have seen tremendous progress all over the world in terms of poverty reduction, in terms of economic progress in every continent. I think that progress is a powerful reminder that through dedicated efforts, progress can be made.

When a government decides on public spending, there is a decision to be made, whether it's climate change, whether it's biodiversity, whether it's the future of humanity, putting sustainability as a key question is very important for our future. By the time, I was considering SIPA. I had already worked well over a decade. But I realized that having an MBA finance is great. But for you to be effective in changing the world or changing other people's lives, I need a new way of thinking, and SIPA provided that opportunity. I felt I learned the emphasis on analyzing issues from public policy, public nature. SIPA provided a perspective of real world solutions. It's not a theoretical construct. It is how science gets solved. The SIPA trains global citizens to better humanity's future.

The world of finance has played a key role in connecting global savings to development, whether it's issuing a fixed rate bond, we helped a teacher in Dominican Republic to be able to afford her first home. A farmer in Zambia, who can borrow in local currency so that the farmer does not have to worry about the volatility of the currency. We have learned to women entrepreneurs in India so that gender financing gets the attention and financing that they need. That's the power of finance. Part of my motivation to do my work is to be able to have a conversation with the next generation to encourage them to have global perspective, a global mindset. And also, to share my story that no matter where you start, you can make an impact. Humanity is about moving forward in a positive way. When the next generation realizes, there are opportunities in international development. And they make a determination to learn, to work hard, to pursue their dream, change can be done.

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