A GLOBAL MINDSET
Dr. Margo Thomas is a strategic thinker and thought leader on inclusive economic development, entrepreneurship and economic growth, social cohesion, and public policy. She has proven international expertise in public policy, private sector development, investment promotion, trade and competitiveness. During her World Bank tenure, she provided policy advice to some 50 developing, transitioning, and post-conflict governments on the national and sub-national levels.
Ottawa, Canada
College Park, Maryland
WEI Forward, Women’s Economic Imperative
Founder and President
2017 – Present
University of Maryland, Smith Business School. Center for Global Business.
Co-Chair, Board of Advisors
2021 – Present
New York, USA
United Nations
Chief, Secretariat, UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Women’s Economic Empowerment
2016 – 2017
Washington DC, USA
- International Finance Corporation, World Bank Group
- Trade and Competitiveness Practice. Lead Operations Officer (2012 – 2014)
- Finance and Private Sector Development (FPD) Vice President’s Office. Head – Talent Management Strategic Reform Initiative. VP Fellow Executive Assignment (2010 – 2012).
- International Finance Corporation, World Bank Group. Regional Business Line Manager for Investment Climate in Eastern and Southern Europe – (2004 – 2010).
- Regional Program Manager for Eastern and Southern Africa, Foreign Investment Advisory Service, World Bank/International Finance Corporation – (2001 – 2004).
- Senior Investment Policy Officer/Policy Officer, Foreign Investment Advisory Service, World Bank/International Finance Corporation – (1993 – 2002).
- MET Community Advisor (2014 – 2016}
Argentina – South America
Think 20 Task Force on Gender Economic Equality
- Co-Chair
2018 – 2019
Bolivia – South America
International Finance Corporation
- Senior Investment Policy Officer, FIAS
1997 – 2002 - Foreign Investment Advisory Service: Investment Promotion
Guyana – South America
International Finance Corporation
- Trade and Competitiveness
Peru – South America
- CEO, Women’s Economic Imperative
2021 – 2022 - Gender-Smart Entrepreneurship Education and Training (GEET+) Project
Venezuela – South America
International Finance Corporation
- Senior Investment Policy Officer, FIAS
1997 – 2002 - Foreign Investment Advisory Service: Investment Promotion
El Salvador – Central America
International Finance Corporation
- Senior Investment Policy Officer, FIAS
1997 – 2002 - Foreign Investment Advisory Service: Investment Promotion
Mexico
- CEO, Women’s Economic Imperative
2021 – 2022
Dominican Republic – The Caribbean
International Finance Corporation
- Foreign Investment Advisory Service: Investment Promotion
Grenada – The Caribbean
International Finance Corporation
- Trade and Competitiveness
Jamaica – The Caribbean
International Finance Corporation
- Foreign Investment Advisory Service: Investment Promotion
Trinidad and Tobago – The Caribbean
International Finance Corporation
- Foreign Investment Advisory Service: Investment Promotion
Australia – Oceania
- Foreign Investment Advisory Service: foreign direct investment statistics
Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Newcastle University Business School
- Member, International Advisory Board (IAB)
2019 – Present
London, England
The London School of Economics and Political Science
- South-East Europe Research Center collaboration
London, England
Chatham House
- Associate Fellow
Berlin, Germany
Global Solutions, The World Policy Forum
- Fellow
Warsaw, Poland
College of Europe
- Adjunct Professor
Serbia
International Finance Corporation
- Regional Manager, Business Enabling Environment
Albania
International Finance Corporation
- Regional Manager, Business Enabling Environment
Armenia
International Finance Corporation
- Regional Manager, Business Enabling Environment
- Foreign Investment Advisory Service: Investment Promotion
Bosnia and Herzegovina
International Finance Corporation
- Foreign Investment Advisory Service: Investment Promotion
- Regional Manager, Business Enabling Environment
Bulgaria
International Finance Corporation
- Regional Manager, Business Enabling Environment
Croatia
International Finance Corporation
- Foreign Investment Advisory Service: Investment Promotion
- Regional Manager, Business Enabling Environment
Czech Republic
International Finance Corporation
- Foreign Investment Advisory Service: Investment Promotion
Georgia
International Finance Corporation
- Regional Manager, Business Enabling Environment
- Foreign Investment Advisory Service: Investment Promotion
Latvia
International Finance Corporation
- Foreign Investment Advisory Service: FDI statistics
Lithuania
International Finance Corporation
- Foreign Investment Advisory Service: FDI statistics
Macedonia
International Finance Corporation
- Regional Manager, Business Enabling Environment
Moldova
International Finance Corporation
- Regional Manager, Business Enabling Environment
2005 – 2010
Montenegro
International Finance Corporation
- Regional Manager, Business Enabling Environment
Romania
International Finance Corporation
Regional Manager, Business Enabling Environment
Serbia
International Finance Corporation
- Regional Manager, Business Enabling Environment
Tokyo, Japan
T20 Task Force on Gender Economic Equality
- Co-Chair 2019
China
International Finance Corporation
- Foreign Investment Advisory Service: FDI statistics
Indonesia
International Finance Corporation
Foreign Investment Advisory Service: Investment Promotion
Malaysia
International Finance Corporation
Foreign Investment Advisory Service: Investment Promotion
Mongolia
International Finance Corporation
Foreign Investment Advisory Service: Investment Promotion
Singapore
International Finance Corporation
Foreign Investment Advisory Service: Investment Promotion
Thailand
International Finance Corporation
Foreign Investment Advisory Service: Investment statistics
Egypt
International Finance Corporation
Foreign Investment Advisory Service: Investment Promotion
Lebanon
International Finance Corporation
Foreign Investment Advisory Service: Investment statistics
Oman
International Finance Corporation
- Foreign Investment Advisory Service: Investment Promotion
Botswana
- Foreign Investment Advisory Service: Investment Promotion
Burundi
International Finance Corporation
Trade & Competitiveness
Ethiopia
- Foreign Investment Advisory Service: Investment Promotion
Ghana
- Foreign Investment Advisory Service: Investment Promotion
Kenya
Women’s Economic Imperative: GEET+ project
Malawi
Foreign Investment Advisory Service: Investment Promotion
Namibia
- Foreign Investment Advisory Service: Investment Promotion
Nigeria
Women’s Economic Imperative: GEET+ project
South Africa
International Finance Corporation: business enabling environment
Tanzania
- Foreign Investment Advisory Service: Investment Promotion
Uganda
- International Finance Corporation: business enabling environment
Zambia
- Foreign Investment Advisory Service: Investment Promotion