Lesley Li’s role is International Business Liaison within IfM Engage. She is growing our business activities in China and is working with both industry and government clients. Based in Berlin, she also supports our European consultant team in technology and innovation management and sustainability projects.

Lesley holds two Master degrees from the University of Cambridge that provide her with a well-rounded understanding of strategic planning, management as well as the manufacturing industry: She completed the Master in Industrial Systems, Manufacture and Management (ISMM) at the IfM in 2007, during which she focussed her work on the application of roadmapping for establishing and managing technology strategy in large industrial organisations. In 2012 she completed a Master of Finance at the Judge Business School.

Following her first master degree, most of Lesley’s career was spent in the Finance sector, where she has worked for some of the leading investment banks, such as JP Morgan Chase, Barclays and Mizuho International. Since leaving the banking world, she has increasingly collaborated with sustainability-oriented organisations, aiming to create lasting impact.

In addition to her role with IfM Engage, Lesley is the CEO of a FinTech startup that has recently been ranked by public vote as one of Germany’s Top 3 impact ventures, as well as Germany’s most promising FinTech in 2020, selected by VISA and 13 German banks. Her company focusses on sustainable finance, and bridging the gap between finance and industry to create real, lasting impact.

Lesley is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).