Little did Leslie Malher realize when she applied to the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University in 2017 that she would find herself, just three years later, in a strategic position at the World Bank.
The Paris native begins a summer internship in June, working at the global financial institution’s “Doing Business” team, providing objective analysis of business regulations and enforcement across 190 economies at the subnational and regional level.
The position aligns perfectly with Malher’s field of study in the Schar School’s Master’s in International Commerce and Policy program.
“I chose the Schar School because I always wanted to mix public policy and business, and the international commerce and policy master’s program is the only program that does both,” she said. “I love how you don’t only look at the economic background but also the political background of a country.”
Before joining the Schar School, Malher, who expects to graduate in December, earned her Bachelor’s in Political Science from Concordia University in Montreal, after completing high school in Paris. However, “moving to the U.S. was the end goal since moving from Paris,” she said. “I always dreamed of living in Washington, D.C., and working for an international organization where knowing the French language is an asset.”
Because of its proximity to Washington, D.C., the Schar School is uniquely positioned to place students in career-altering opportunities across a wide array of embassies, development associations, non-government organizations, and other establishments. Additionally, many of the Schar School’s faculty members are current or former practitioners at international institutions and legislative bodies and maintain relationships with relevant leaders.
Such was the case with Malher. Noted economist and professor of public policy at the Schar School Maurice Kugler, the former head of research of the UN’s Human Development Report, inspired her to contact the World Bank.
“Dr. Kugler’s ‘Financial Crisis and Institutions’ class gave me a better idea of what the World Bank does,” she said. “You are able to just really be an analyst in his class instead of just looking at theories.”
“Leslie’s thirst for knowledge drives her intellectual curiosity towards finding solutions to policy challenges in the international domain,” said Kugler. “She has the knack to bring to bear creative perspectives to complement her analytical insights. In many discussions and class projects, she often brought her knowledge about historical events or international affairs to facilitate learning lessons from different contexts.”
“I am excited to do real groundwork at the World Bank,” said Malher. “I have learned at school how to gather data and make policy recommendations, and at the World Bank, I can apply my knowledge in the field.”
As an international student living, studying, and soon to be working in the U.S. capital, is there anything she misses from France?
“Paris is full of… history? People?” she pondered. “It’s one of the most beautiful cities I have ever been to, but what I miss the most are the baguettes, the cheese, and, of course, the red wine.”