Today we’d like to introduce you to Magarita Jules
Hi Magarita, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Due to political turmoil in Haiti, my family moved to the United States in the eighties. So my story started with the positive and negative impacts (and after-effects) that so many migrators endure along their path. And it gives me goosebumps at how prominent the topic of immigration is in our current political landscape.
One thing is clear, once you undergo such a change, you cannot squander any opportunities that the change provides. Therefore in choosing my field of study, I delved into STEM, majored in Computer Engineering and led a thriving international career in IT, due to, you guessed it, not to waste my newfound opportunity.
Another key immigrant story is that although you are a hardworker and try your best, you will always need helping hands. I am grateful that my career brought me allies who helped me in ways that I only thought family would. So as I took risks within Corporate IT, taking tougher positions that moved me away from home state and comfort zone, I attributed my successes to those corporate “family members”. All of them helped me without ever asking for repayment.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The life of a migrator is not for the faint of heart. Aside from leaving everything that you know, you know have to operate with a sense of perfection, and not being in the wrong place at the wrong time, because the end result could very much be deportation. Even with this constant need to look over my shoulder, I was thankful and proud to have leveraged my opportunity to build a thriving Corporate IT career.
There is positivity in obstacles, of course. Because I can connect my current finance career as a Small Business Officer to my desire to help minority/immigrant businesses face their own obstacles. After seeing the riots that engulfed Minnesota streets, when George Floyd was murdered, I had to be one of the hands assisting business owners to rebuild. Too many small businesses owners faced the daunting reality of losing everything they have worked for, due to a global pandemic…combined with burning properties/streets. Surprising to me, my first year as a small business officer came with affirmation, I was nominated by a community leader for MN’s Finance & Commerce’s Top Women in Finance.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I intentionally included my immigrant status and career path in my introduction because it is crucial in explaining the type of professional I currently am. Yes, I am an SBA loan officer but my responsibilities include more than lending. I am physically interacting with business owners of various backgrounds by attending Hispanic, Hmong, women-owned, minority-owned, African-diaspora led spaces. Accessible is the type of loan office that I strive to be. It is also important to me that I am well-connected. Although SBA products are amazing but at times or during certain phases of the business owners’ journey, those products may not be the best fit. Business owners are already assigned to role of solving tough market challenges. It should not also be their responsibility to know every tool that is available to them. I place this responsibility on economic development and financial leaders such as myself to provide, clarify, and support. It is not a flawless system and brings on extra work but this should be the bare minimum standard that must be maintained.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Anyone with the similar mindset of easing the financial life of business owners is an automatic ally of mine. I excitedly connect with a various of resources, document and tally them. Business owners need various types of assistance and connections throughout the lifecycle. If all of us leaders within the financial industry collaborate, this will increase fair access for all businesses, regardless of their origin and background.
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