Jonathan SUCHAR GHITMAN
Biographical Data
Children at Ecolint: La Grande Boissière Middle
From a family who immigrated and survived the horrors of the Holocaust, I am the second generation born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, in 1979. Growing up in a working-class environment I experienced firsthand the inequalities in the country’s education system.
Determined to make a difference, I pursued a degree in Business Administration at the Metropolitan University (UNIMET) and became the first professional in my family. A few months after my graduation, social and political instability hit Venezuela, and I decided to be part of the positive force of a young generation hungry for a change in the future of my country. Unfortunately, I was forced to emigrate from Venezuela and left with no option but to pursue a better future abroad hoping to return and help my country to thrive.
My first stop was Madrid, where I completed a master’s in finance from the Complutense University.
A few years later, I moved to Geneva where I soon engaged with Geneva International working for different non-governmental organizations related to Sustainable Development and Humanitarian Demining in various capacities on corporate finance and Governance, I also completed an executive MBA from Geneva University.
During this enriching journey, along with my long-time wife, we established in Geneva with our two children. We are extremely proud to become Swiss nationals and to be part of the Ecolint community.
What does Ecolint mean to you?
Ecolint is more than a school. To me, it is like an extended family. It is a big community instrumental in developing future leaders in our society and the world.
Ecolint is a Pioneer and is instrumental in developing the International Baccalaureate (IB) program which is now one of the most recognized and respected educational curricula worldwide.
With students from over 140 nationalities, Ecolint promotes intercultural dialogue, multilingualism, and global citizenship, preparing students to navigate a diverse and interconnected world.
Rooted in humanitarian values, the school aligns with the principles of the United Nations and other international organizations, emphasizing peace, tolerance, and social responsibility.
Ecolint continues to be at the forefront of educational innovation, integrating modern teaching methods, digital learning, and interdisciplinary approaches to education.
All of the above resulting in many of its graduates have gone on to become leaders in diplomacy, politics, science, and the arts, contributing to global progress in various fields.
To conclude, Ecolint’s legacy as a leader in international education makes it a model for schools worldwide, emphasizing that education should go beyond borders to build a more united and peaceful world.
What skills/expertise would you bring to the Governing Board?
- Governance
- Financial management and oversight
- Use of technology and data as a mean to drive transformational change
- Architectural design and planning
- Strong relationships with the local community
- Strengthening diversity, equity and inclusion
How would you support the mission of the Foundation if you are elected to the Governing Board? Emphasizing the skills/expertise that were highlighted in the previous question, and other leadership and soft skills you would bring to the Board.
I believe that I could contribute positively to Ecolint Governing Board on this important assignment assessing financial management, planning and strategic development and governance since I have successfully led finance teams for the Non-For-Profit and Private sectors while increasing performance across organizations. As a Head of Finance, with more than 20 years working in international environments, I have extensive experience in financial strategy & management, and process transformation while evaluating finance deliverables, providing finance guidelines, and carrying over risk assessments related to operations, accounting, budget and operational tasks. In addition to leading and empowering teams in its development.
In my current position, I have designed the Financial Strategy for the period 2023-2026 of GICHD and I am responsible for implementing its monitoring and evaluation framework. Moreover, I am responsible for overseeing the financial and accounting system, streamlining finance processes, leading negotiation and improving the grant management processes while also liaising with Donor Stewards.
Furthermore, as a member of the Management Board team, I have effectively liaised with different departments, bodies, entities and stakeholders within international and local organizations to coordinate financial reports ensuring compliance with donors & governance requirements, regulation on the established internal policies, procedures and annual audits.
I have completed an Executive MBA from the University of Geneva in Finances which has been key to enlarging my scope on managing operational tasks and strategic activities. Moreover, I have an Impact Analyst diploma, and I am also a certified IPMA which is helpful to manage projects. I also have solid knowledge on ERP Systems such as SAP, NAV, Sage and Microsoft Dynamics 365. I am an AI savvy. I speak fluently English, French and Spanish.
Highly motivated to join the Ecolint, I would very much appreciate the opportunity to discuss my experience and suitability in an interview at your convenience.