Two John Cabot University students, Martina Atanasova, an International Affairs major with a Legal Studies minor, and Ginevra Klausner, an Economics and Finance major, recently participated in a shadowing experience at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in Rome. They spent the day gaining insight into the inner workings of a major international organization. IFAD, the world’s fund for transforming agriculture, rural economies, and food systems, provided them with an overview of how global finance supports development.
The experience began with an introduction to IFAD’s mission and global impact, followed by rotations across key departments. In the morning, the students shadowed Tiziana Galloni, Head of the Cash Management and Back Office Unit in the Treasury Division, who oversees liquidity operations, corporate payment settlements, and all treasury transactions.
A particularly memorable moment for Martina was learning about the evolution of IFAD over the years. Galloni explained how the organization has adapted through digitalization, continued operating in vulnerable regions during times of crisis, and developed solutions to navigate complex transactions and bureaucratic challenges.
"What really stood out to me was the focus on localizing impact,” said Martina. “Constantly checking projects, working closely with counterparts, and making sure that development efforts are actually reaching the communities they are meant to support."
The students also attended a session on Investment Management with Treasury Officer Trizar Rizqiawan, gaining insight into how funds are structured into tranches and allocated according to IFAD’s goals. Watching tools like the Bloomberg Terminal in action made the work feel both tangible and highly technical.
They then joined the Anti-Financial Crime and Counterterrorism Unit, where they met Michela Sinardi, a JCU alumna who’s interning at IFAD, and Carla Pasetto, Anti-financial Crime and Personal Data Privacy Lead. Martina found this part of the experience impactful: "My favorite part of the experience was definitely the Anti-Financial Crime and Counterterrorism Unit. Not only was the content interesting — learning about AML (anti-money laundering), sanctions, compliance frameworks, and risk-based checks — but I also met Michela Sinardi. I shared classes with her during my freshman year, so seeing her in that environment was really powerful and made everything feel more real and attainable."
The shadowing also provided a closer look at how IFAD manages loans and grants through the Financial Controller Division. Guided by Alessia Marcobelli, Loans and Grants Consultant, and Rose-Hélène Davy, Finance Assistant, the students explored the disbursement process, the IFAD Client Portal, and the systems used to review, approve, and track funding requests.
Reflecting on the day, Ginevra shared: “Overall, this shadowing experience reinforced my interest in pursuing a career in finance and provided me with valuable exposure to a professional environment that combines finance with global impact. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity and for everyone at IFAD who made this experience so insightful and welcoming.”
