Jehann Jack,
Senior Economist,
International Monetary Fund

WGF Women of the Year

Defying the Odds to Reach the Sky

By Jehann Jack

Senior Economist,
International Monetary Fund

WGF brings to its readers an exclusive interview with Jehann Jack, a Senior Economist in the Strategy, Policy and Review Department of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

She has previously worked on the country teams for Kenya, Eritrea, South Sudan, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Niger within the African Department. She began her IMF career in the Western Hemisphere Department as an economist at the Office of the Regional Resident Representative for the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union, then based in Antigua and Barbuda. Prior to joining the IMF, she worked at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) for several years, during which time she had a variety of assignments, such as country economist to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and IT Liaison Officer for the Research Department. She also served on several bank committees and working groups, including the Credit Market Conditions Committee, Debt Restructuring Committee, Development Finance Institutions and Liquidity Watch Group.

Jehann’s research interests are largely centred on finance and development. She has written papers on non-performing loans’ resolution, inflation, growth and private sector development, energy sector policies, venture capital financing, commercial bank lending behaviour, monetary transmission and the bank lending channel, and bailing out from the public purse. These were presented at various conferences in the Caribbean, including in The Bahamas, and published among the IMF Selected Issues Papers. She has guest lectured at the Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (2017) and St. Thomas Aquinas College (2021), both in New York, and served as a panellist for the Black Policy Conference at Harvard Kennedy School (2019) in Massachusetts and the Sadie T M Alexander Conference for Black Women in Economics (2020) at the Urban Institute in Washington, DC.

Throughout her career, Jehann received extensive training from various regional and international organisations, including the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), ECCB, El Centro de Estudios Monetarios Latinoamericanos (CEMLA, translated as Centre for Latin American Monetary Studies), Commonwealth Secretariat (ComSec), the IMF and the World Bank.

She previously held volunteer positions such as the President (Ag.) and Vice-President of the Caribbean Association of World Bank and IMF Staff (CAWI), and Board Member of the Fulbright Network: World Bank/IMF.

Disclaimer: The views expressed herein are those of Jehann Jack, and should not be attributed to the IMF, its Executive Board or its management.

WGF: Please list your achievements.

Jehann: I have received from the International Monetary Fund: African Department Award in 2016, and African Department Spot Awards in 2016 and 2021.

I have received from the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank: Governor’s Award in 2006, and Cynthia Wade Memorial Award in 2006.

I won the Fulbright Scholarship in 2008 for Fordham University, and the Fordham Presidential Scholarship in 2009. I won the Shell Centenary Fund Scholarship in 2002 for the University of Cambridge, and the Cambridge Scholarship in 2002 for the UK Department for International Development (DfID). I also won the European Union (EU) Stabilization of Exports (STABEX) Scholarship in 2000, and West Indian Tobacco Company (WITCO) Bursaries in 1999 and 2000. I graduated from the University of the West Indies with First Class Honors in 2001.

WGF: What specific have you done towards nation building?

Jehann: I consider myself to be an engaged member of the Vincentian diaspora and can answer along three main lines: (1) youth mentorship, (2) financial literacy, and (3) religious education.

In terms of youth mentorship, I have been actively supporting my alma mater, the St Vincent Girls’ High School since I graduated. A few examples include mentoring students (both formally and informally); sponsoring an annual award for the top graduate in History; donating IT equipment to the business program, and book and cash to the library; and delivering the feature address at a graduation ceremony. Regarding financial literacy, I use my social media platform to educate and have delivered public lectures on various topics in finance. Finally, with respect to religious education, I have joined my family in designing and supporting the Scriptural Search Bible Quiz (formerly the Secondary School Bible Quiz) over many years.

My success story is that I defied the odds from the time that I was born to the present day. Unexpected by my parents and underweight at birth (4lb 4oz), I learned to not only survive but also to thrive and become a responsible adult. I say that “I am always a fighter.”

WGF: What is your vision of a New Saint Vincent and the Grenadines?

Jehann: My vision is that the 32-island state will continue to develop sustainably, taking advantage of its natural beauty (tourism), rich soil (agriculture) and assets in the blue economy (fisheries), and orange economy (culture), boosting its competitiveness, and generating wealth for the citizens and residents.

WGF: Please describe yourself as a person.

Jehann: Passionate and optimistic can be used to describe me. I enjoy what I do as a career, which motivates me to continue to learn new skills to grow and be even more successful. I am also full of optimism, relentless in seeking the positive side of any outcome.

WGF: What is your inspiration in life?

Jehann: The Giver of Life is my biggest inspiration. I am also encouraged by anyone who has a success story in any field of endeavor.

WGF: What is your success story?

Jehann: My success story is that I defied the odds from the time that I was born to the present day. Unexpected by my parents and underweight at birth (4lb 4oz), I learned to not only survive but also to thrive and become a responsible adult. I say that “I am always a fighter.”

I have received from the International Monetary Fund: African Department Award in 2016, and African Department Spot Awards in 2016 and 2021.

I have received from the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank: Governor’s Award in 2006, and Cynthia Wade Memorial Award in 2006.

WGF: Please share some challenges you have faced in life.

Jehann: Some challenges to varying degrees at different stages of life include poverty, sickness, racism, misogyny, but these challenges are not unique to me; they are common to many.

WGF: What reforms do you think must be brought into your field of work?

Jehann: The field of economics still struggles to communicate usefully to the ‘man on the street’ who may not have been educated in the discipline. Just as in other areas, combatting misinformation and disinformation is also important.

WGF: What reforms would make Saint Vincent and the Grenadines better?

Jehann: Righteousness exalts a nation. Improving certain values like discipline, forgiveness, patience, tolerance and kindness would go a long way to solving most of the societal ills.

WGF: What message would you like to give to people in general as a nation builder?

Jehann: Be positive in all you do.