About

Ismaila Whittier was born in Hoboken, New Jersey in November of 1994, but grew up in Houston, Texas. The son of a Senegalese mother and an American father, he lived in Tokyo, Japan, and Paris, France before settling in his current home in Washington, D.C. He enjoys history and traveling and is a fan of the Arsenal FC soccer club.

Career History

Whittier has held several impressive positions in his young career.

Business Internships

Mr. Whittier began his professional career as an investment data operations analyst intern with Putnam Investments from June to December 2015. He then completed a three-month internship as a summer account researcher with Brunswick Group from June to August 2016.

Insurance Underwriting

Ismaila Whittier worked for the Swiss Commercial Insurance company, Zurich, as an associate underwriter from June 2017 to May 2019. He moved up to the position of an underwriter in the company's International Middle Markets Group in June 2019 and continued in that role until September 2020.

Zurich is a leading property, casualty, and life insurance company with over 50,000 employees in more than 210 countries and territories. Zurich has served individuals, small businesses, and multinational corporations for more than 150 years.

Fellowship

While attending Harvard, Whittier was a Marcellus Policy Fellow with the John Quincy Adams Society from February to May of 2021. The Marcellus Policy Fellowship is a highly-selective program offered by the John Quincy Adams Society.

The program seeks to provide people who show promise in the field of foreign policy with the opportunity to conduct impact-minded, independent research under the guidance of experts in the field. Fellows have access to top scholars and pathbreaking thinkers to learn about US foreign policy and refine their ideas into high-quality policy papers and supporting materials.

Government Internship

From May to July 2021, Ismaila Whittier served as an intern for the United States Senate majority staff for the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. The US established the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 1816. It is one of the Senate's original 10 standing committees. The Committee plays a pivotal role in developing US foreign policy.

Current Role

Whittier currently works as a business and management consultant for a leading global management consulting firm. Business consultants work closely with experts, such as researchers, data scientists, and software designers to help clients in the public, private and social sectors solve problems. In this role, Mr. Whittier works with a team to collect and analyze information, create and test hypotheses and provide clients with recommendations.

Academic History

Whittier has an impressive academic background that includes post-graduate work and industry certification.

Undergraduate Degree

Mr. Whittier obtained his Bachelor of Science degree with a major in economics and a minor in business administration and French from Northeastern University in Boston, MA in 2017. During the Fall 2016 semester, he participated in the undergraduate exchange program with Sciences Po in Paris, France.

The Sciences Po exchange program accepts over 1,500 students every year from its 470 partner universities around the world. Exchange students study English or French at one of the school's seven campuses. The program provides students with an opportunity to experience Sciences Po's professionally relevant and internationally focused social science curriculum, vibrant student life and unique teaching methods.

Graduate Study

Ismaila Whittier obtained his Master in Public Policy with an emphasis in international and global affairs from the Harvard Kennedy School in 2022. The Harvard Kennedy School strives to develop public policy leaders who can create societies that are free, safe, just and sustainably prosperous. The school combines outstanding teaching, cutting-edge research and direct interaction with practitioners to create an unmatched impact on solving public problems.

Professional Certification

During his time working for Zurich, Whittier completed the Zurich International Programs Underwriting Certification which attests to his aptitude for international risk analysis and structuring cross-border insurance programs. The program consists of 15 hours of self-study combined with 15 hours of classroom instruction and one-on-one assessments with international experts and trainers.

Professional Skills and Experience

Ismaila Whittier has full professional proficiency in French. Additionally, through his work as a consultant and insurance professional he has learned a variety of skills:

Structuring and solving ambiguous problems

Working effectively with diverse teams

Communicating with diverse audiences

Developing leadership skills

Interpreting complex information

Building trust with clients

Published Works

John Quincy Adams Society: "Charting a Progressive China Policy for the 21st Century” (Marcellus Policy Analysis).

Philanthropy/Charitable Involvement

Whittier volunteered with the St. George's Society of New York for two years in 2017 and 2018. He began volunteering with the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation in 2018 and continues his volunteer work today.

Awards

Whittier received the Zurich Bronze Award in recognition of his contributions that demonstrated above and beyond behaviors and achievements and his ability to overcome complex challenges.

Personal Interests/Hobbies

Ismaila Whittier's interests include international affairs, British period dramas, history, traveling, preppy fashion and soccer.