With Gratitude

This year has been one of tremendous change and uncertainty for many of us. As 2025 winds down, we asked TechnoServe staff to reflect on what sparks gratitude in their personal and professional lives. These are some of their thoughts. We hope it inspires you to connect with the bright spots in your year as you look back.

Reflections from TechnoServe staff

TechnoServe delivers skills, connections, and confidence to hardworking people in Africa, Asia and Latin America. We help them build sustainable pathways out of poverty.  Ninety percent of our staff are from the country where they work, making us proudly local in over 20 countries. We combine business expertise with local knowledge, context, and relationships to design programs for lasting impact. 

As we near the end of a year marked by big shifts around the world, we hope these professional and personal gratitude reflections from our staff inspire you to consider what you are thankful for.  If you feel inspired, please share your thoughts on social media and tag @technoserve. We’d love to read your reflections. With gratitude!

2025 Gratitude Reflections from TechnoServe Staff

Cristina Molina Hernández 

Especialista Senior Mujeres y Jovenes, Guatemala

Profesional: Me siento agradecida por pertenecer a una organización sólida, que implementa proyectos que benefician a productores de vegetales y de café y sobre todo, de poderlos visitar y conocer para conocer más acerca de sus historias de vida.

Midway Bhunu

Coffee Program Manager, Zimbabwe

Professional: To be able to continue working for TechnoServe and, more importantly, working with the smallholder coffee growers with no interruptions or major challenges.

Personal: I completed my studies in Master of Science Postharvest Technology and received the University Book Prize, an achievement I was never expecting. This course was very relevant for my current role, given the role of postharvest in export supply chains

Evelyn Djuwidja

Program Manager, Indonesia 

Professional: The opportunity to learn, grow, and adapt in a safe environment, allowing me not just to develop my expertise but also to develop invaluable professional connections. A supportive team that is both professional and kind, and supervisors and colleagues who are highly motivating. Every job has its ups and downs, but for the first time in my career, I can honestly say I love the people I work with in this IGNITE program.

Personal: Being given the space and grace to discover that I am resilient and can overcome challenges—both professionally and personally. I lost a dear friend and developed serious health issues this year, and yet, miraculously, I am still here, and still grateful.

Julieta Ocampo 

Sr. Program Communications Specialist, U.S.

Professional: For the opportunity to visit one of our projects in Côte d’Ivoire, being here and seeing it all unfold firsthand, for me, added a new depth to what “business solutions to poverty” truly means.

Personal: For the journey through rocky times over the past few months, and for recognizing that the power that fuels it all is surrounding myself with family and people I love, and who love me back. They are the ones who always pull me back into a mindset of fulfillment and enjoyment. 

Lisa Kagel 

Senior Director, Digital Engagement, U.S.

Professional: I’m grateful for all the people who have stepped up to support TechnoServe during this challenging year.  Many of our individual donors have responded by giving and offering words of support.  Our colleagues have all banded together to stay focused on our important mission to end global poverty.  I’m so grateful to be part of this organization.

Personal: I’m grateful that my family is healthy and for all of the privileges that we enjoy. 

Anne Komer

Mid-level Gifts Fundraising Specialist, U.S.

Professional: I’m grateful for collaborative coworkers. The projects I work on across the teams where a wheel I make can serve another purpose, or where I can use a wheel made by someone else, excite me the most. 

Personal: This year, I am most grateful for intentional community and coming together under shared values. I am deeply appreciative of mutually supportive friendships that hold each other grounded during difficult times. We find joy and creativity together when the instinct to retreat feels powerful.

Rebecca Regan-Sachs

Executive Communications Manager, U.S.

Professional: Interesting times made for interesting work! Also grateful to work with colleagues who are not only incredibly smart and motivated but just darn nice.

Personal: Being safe, food-secure, and healthy, especially given so many news stories about places that aren’t.

Pâmela Alvarenga Alvarenga

Agronomist, Brazil

Professional: My love for the profession

Personal: To have health and to have a family

Trishna Gurung

Sr. Director of Communications, U.S.

Professional: For all the opportunities to learn and share at TechnoServe. This year, the Communications team introduced the importance of Dignified Storytelling to the organization, integrating the principles into our resources and guidance. It is gratifying to put this approach into practice as we co-create stories with TechnoServe clients around the world. We are telling stories with people, not about them.

Personal:  For all the instances in this past year that showed me that our world still has beauty, joy, wonder, resilience, and hope.