Introducing 2011 ProInspire Fellow: Tahira Rehmatullah
Name: Tahira Rehmatullah
Hometown: Conneaut, OH
Organization: City First Enterprises
Previous Employer: Perry Capital, Ernst & Young
What inspired you to make the switch into the nonprofit sector?
Giving back to various communities and engaging in mission driven work has always been a part of my extracurricular life. I spend almost as much time outside of my “day job” working with organizations that focus on economic, education and community development. In July 2011, I came to a career crossroads. I’d spent four years at Perry Capital in two different capacities – accounting and investment research. I was employed during one of the worst financial markets in history and had been fortunate to not only keep my job, but also be in a role that continuously allowed me to grow. My professional and nonprofit volunteer roles allowed me to see the potential for capital markets to be powerful instruments for more than financing investments that often widen the gap between rich and poor, and despite my positive experiences in the private sector, I increasingly wanted to pursue a mission-oriented position that would allow me to combine my passion for social impact with my business acumen. When I came across ProInspire, I knew it was the perfect way for me to merge my two interests and begin to develop as a nonprofit leader.
What is your current position, and a typical day like?
I am the Program Manager at City First Enterprises (CFE), an incubator for community development solutions in the DC-area and nonprofit bank holding company of City First Bank, a community development bank.
A typical day for me starts with making a plan of everything I need to accomplish that day, and then almost immediately ignoring it as other projects and situations arise. As a small organization – CFE and our subsidiary, City First Homes, is comprised of 6 people – we are a lean staff that wears many hats. On any given day, I underwrite potential real estate investment opportunities that focus on affordable housing, review business plans for our new small business loan fund, write grants applications, or explore potential partnerships with various public and private counterparts.
Where did you work prior to making the switch?
Perry Capital (New York City based hedge fund)
What is your professional background and areas of expertise?
Prior to CFE, I was a research associate at Perry Capital, focusing on residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities and the U.S. and European housing markets. Before becoming a research associate, I was a fund accountant at Perry Capital and a consultant at Ernst & Young, specializing in business process re-engineering and project management.
What are you involved in outside of work?
I have been involved with Youth Outreach – Developments in Literacy (YOUR DIL), an organization focused on education development for underserved populations in Pakistan, particularly young girls, since 2006 and now serve as the national president, overseeing our 9 US chapters. I served for 5 years as the president ofThe Ohio State University Alumni Club of Greater New York (OSUACNY), and currently work with the new Board as an advisor. Tapping into my social entrepreneurship interests, I’m currently working with a small team to develop a DC kitchen incubator and am a judge for the William James Foundation, identifying for-profit entrepreneurs who are making the world a better place.
Tell us about your past leadership experiences and how they are helping you in your current role.
Aside from my leadership roles in YOUR DIL and OSUACNY, I was president of the Student-Alumni Council at Ohio State, working to create a university that fosters a sense of community and instills in its students a lifelong commitment to our alma mater. All of my leadership roles allowed me to develop into a stronger collaborative leader, to manage divergent perspectives and to build trust, which are essential to working in community development and managing various teams with mission driven and financial results.
Who do you look to as a leader in your respective field, and why?
There are many people in community development and impact investing who are inspirational and fantastic teachers, but most important for me has been Dave Wilkinson, the Executive Director at CFE (and my boss). Dave’s deep-rooted passion for the work we do, his creativity and innovative spirit have been instrumental in my own personal and professional development during my time as a ProInspire Fellow. I don’t think I would be where I am had I not had the good fortune to work for him.
What blogs or websites do you read on a daily basis?
New York Magazine, the New York Times, the Atlantic, Huffington Post, TimeOut New York, Urban Turf, Curbed, Naked Capitalism, Calculated Risk, Dealbreaker, Social Edge, TED
(This is probably why my “to do” list gets longer everyday)
Where do you hang out in the D (DC), M (Maryland) and V (Virginia)?
I really should expand where I hang out, but I tend to stick around Columbia Heights and U Street. Not only are they the coolest neighborhoods (in my opinion), but I live and work in both.
What book are you reading right now or what is your favorite book?
I’m currently reading The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga and The Blue Sweater by Jacqueline Novogratz.