Stephanie Ma is a Master of Public Administration in Development Practice candidate 2022 in  the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), Columbia University. Stephanie returned  to her home country of Nepal to pursue her interest in women empowerment and poverty  alleviation after completing her Economics Degree in Delhi, India. Her ten years of professional  experience in the microfinance and development sector is shaped by field visits, interactions with  target groups and dialogues with policymakers. She has volunteered with various NGOs in India  and Nepal working with marginalized at-risk women and children. During the 2015 Nepal  earthquake, she took an active role in supporting the disaster response team. Stephanie believes  in the potential of each individual to become agents of change provided there is an equal  opportunity for all.