As a self-described “reformed banker,” Wellesley Institute finance chair Devan Moodley says his journey from finance and equity research to serving on the board of a non-profit that works in health equity research and policy has been a long road.
“It doesn’t happen overnight,” he says.
He grew up in Toronto as a first-generation immigrant. Currently the President, CEO and co-founder of the Canadian fintech Pllenty Inc., Devan says Wellesley Institute’s work appeals to him on different levels.
“I’m a big information guy. I’m an even bigger research guy. I did a bunch of graduate work in statistics and economics,” he says. “And so not only do I love the impact [Wellesley Institute’s work has] on an underserved area in healthcare, but I can also relate to growing up in an underserved community.”
Devan’s career path has also been influenced by professional pursuits and personal factors. His initial move away from his intense position in equity research was driven by wanting to spend more time with his young children. He landed at a semiconductor firm, SemTech, in Burlington, as corporate finance lead, and later headed back to Toronto as VP of Corporate Finance at Softchoice, where among many other responsibilities, he had his first experience with private equity, facilitating the strategic decision to take the company private.
A few years later, wanting to build something of his own, Devan became a co-founder of Pllenty Inc. It’s the desire to build, as well as his interest in health and health outcomes, that brings Devan to Wellesley Institute’s Board of Directors. He believes others will feel the same way.
“[For a small team, Wellesley Institute] has an incredible impact, not just on the research they put out, but their ability to get that into the community,” he says, adding that additional board members can help increase Wellesley’s impact even further.
Learn more about applying to Wellesley Institute’s volunteer Board of Directors: https://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/volunteer-board-member-opportunities/