Els is co-owner of Goodwell Investments, an impact investment company which aims to solve social and/or environmental challenges while generating a financial return. Impact investments are intended to improve the access to basic goods and services for approximately 4 billion people, the majority of whom live in Africa and Asia.

Els first became interest in microfinance in the 1990s while she was studying. She says “the concept fascinated me immediately as it was about giving people a choice and letting them decide for themselves what they wanted to do. Trade instead of aid. I knew what I wanted to do for a job after my studies…”

To obtain banking experience, Els started in the mainstream banking industry, then moved to the Dutch development bank, FMO. After 6 good years there, she felt ready to set up her own firm and with her business partner she established Goodwell.

Els spends most of her time building the business in West Africa. To date they have raised around EUR 70 million for equity investments in the financial inclusion space, which they have invested in 16 portfolio companies in India and West Africa. This impacts more than 7 million families, providing over 13,000 direct jobs.

Her next project is expansion to cover the entire Sub-Saharan Africa region and diversify to other impact sectors such as water, sanitation and technology for development.

In her spare time Els enjoys sailing, running, skiing and walking her dog.