Joanne Maislin spent a decade in Haiti to help create meaningful impact

When Montreal-born, Joanne Maislin began working in March, 2010, it was only two months after a devastating earthquake tore apart the small Caribbean country. She felt instantly connected to the land and its people.

“From the moment I arrived, I did not want to leave. I knew that Haiti was a magical place where my skills and passion for giving back could be met,” she says from the United States Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C.

Maislin is the founder and president of C432, a boutique consulting and development firm with a mission “to create meaningful impact through sustainable development.”  The small but diversified team at C432 works with for-profit organizations interested in investing in Haiti; C432 gives these clients the reasons and tools to do so. From manufacturing and tourism to aquaculture, Maislin and her colleagues focus on job creation, capacity building, and community engagement in Haiti. She has collaborated with leading brands including TOMS, Lululemon and Donna Karan.