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Path to Profitability
Are you ready to take your business to the next level?
Apply for the Path to Profitability program, exclusively for Pursuit SBA Microloan clients.
During this 9-month implementation program, you'll get the support you need to achieve your business goals with expert consultants, tools, and resources.
Paola Garcia-Villari
Managing Vice President, Business Advisory Services and Business Development Officer
Paola Garcia-Villari oversees and operates Pursuit's Business Advisory Services (BAS) team. She joined Pursuit as an underwriter in 2013, working on the Hurricane Sandy loan and grant programs. During her time with Pursuit, Paola has developed significant relationships with banks and referral partners and has helped thousands of small businesses obtain the capital they need to grow.
Before Pursuit, Paola worked at NYC Business Solutions - Lower Manhattan as a Finance Account Manager and Senior Loan Officer at Accion USA. She is a graduate of Hunter College, where she received her B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Chemistry and Biology. Paola was born in Colombia and now lives in New York with her husband and their two-year-old son, Lucas.
Here's what we'll cover:
- Month 1: Identify your strengths and weakness to uncover what you'll need to improve your business performance
- Month 2: Set your goals and get matched with consultants and experts who will show you how to achieve those goals
- Month 3: Get matched with your peer network to support your progress.
- Month 4-6: Advance your goals and gain foundational skills in critical areas of your operations
- Month 7-9: Set your plan to extend your profitability well into the future
Meet your team of experts
Application deadline Friday, May 10
Interviews start May 12-15
Program begins Second week of July
Malini Krishna
Vice President, Senior Business Advisor
Malini Krishna is a VP/Sr. Consultant on Pursuit’s Business Advisory Team. She's also a social entrepreneur and sits on the FounderPad’s advisory committee, mentoring women and minority lead technology executive teams.
With over 20 years of experience creating systems and resources to scale businesses, Malini’s achievements include: pioneering new investment-banking products at Bloomberg; spearheading public-private partnerships with the World Bank and International Monetary Fund; creating award-winning partnerships with VisionSpring and the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy; guest lecturing at Cornell and New York University (NYU); and being featured in media outlets, such as Bloomberg Markets, Forbes, ABC News, and the NYT.
Malini holds a B.A. in political science from Bryn Mawr College and an M.P.A with a focus on international finance and economic development from NYU.
Carol O'Connell
Vice President, Business Advisory Services and Business Development Officer
Carol joined Pursuit in 2016 after a 20+ year career in commercial banking as an underwriter. She works with small business clients one-on-one to identify capital needs and recommend the right funding sources. Carol also enjoys facilitating Pursuit’s educational trainings including workshops and webinars on various topics. In her spare time, Carol enjoys theater, live music, and travel.
Carol holds a BS from UAlbany, MBA in Finance from St. John’s University, and an Executive MPA from New York University.
Irene Dominguez
Assistant Vice President, Senior Business Advisor
As part of the business advisory team, Irene is responsible for working with a roster of borrowers, understanding their business needs, connecting them with business resources, and developing new ways to engage them in consulting and advisory services.
Prior to joining Pursuit, Irene worked in nonprofit organizations supporting minority small business owners and in government evaluation social service programs. Irene holds an M.A. in Social Sciences from Montclair State University and an M.A. in International Relations, which she obtained in Ecuador, where she’s originally from.
Taylor Manis-Derks
Business Advisory Associate
As a new Business Advisory Services Team member, Taylor is eager to contribute to helping small businesses reach their full potential. As part of the business advisory team, Taylor is responsible for connecting with clients, understanding their business needs, and connecting them to helpful resources. Growing up, Taylor's mom owned a small café, seeing firsthand the obstacles small businesses face to achieve their goals. Having a personal connection to small businesses has motivated Taylor to dive deeper into educating herself on what she can do to help them thrive.
Taylor is a Native Texan who has a background in Health care. She enjoys spending time with her Husband, Logan, and their two dogs, Arya and Harvey. In her free time, you can find her painting, listening to records, and enjoying everything NYC offers.
Katie Sovie
Business Advisory Associate
Katie began working with Pursuit as a college student in 2019 through the rotational internship program. After being introduced to and inspired by the Pursuit mission, she accepted a full-time position as a Loan Representative after graduation. Now as a member of the Business Advisory Services team, she enjoys working within a group that is dedicated to helping clients grow and achieve their goals.
Katie graduated from Siena College located in Albany, NY, in May 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in management and entrepreneurship. Originally from Ogdensburg, NY, she enjoys exploring the Adirondack Mountains through camping and hiking. She loves spending time with her family, friends, and animals, Jack and Oliver!
Christophe Pane
Vice President, Senior Business Advisor
Christophe has 20 years of international consulting experience in corporate strategy, M&A strategy, due diligence, corporate finance, and marketing. Prior to joining Pursuit, he was a member of the Strategy& (PwC) team in New York, specializing in growth strategy and due diligence for corporate clients and investors. He was also a Director at KPMG Strategy and a Manager in the Mergers & Acquisitions practice of Deloitte Consulting in New York, and led Corporate Finance and Strategy teams at other global consulting firms, advising senior executives on strategic planning, acquisitions, divestitures, performance improvement, commercial and operational due diligence, and capital investment.
Christophe began his career with Ipsos-MORI and Kantar in London, where he provided marketing advice to blue chip companies for seven years. He received an MBA in Finance and Operations Management from the University of Connecticut School of Business and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from ESDE in France.