Pascal Rathle
What are you doing now?
Since 2021-2022 Presidential Fellow (PF) participation, I have worked in international economics, global advocacy, and the private sector. Presently, I am an Ecosystem Manager at a financial technology startup, Qenta Inc. With a global mission to digitize assets and transactions; I support the Office of the CEO in strategy, operations, thought leadership and investor relations. Secondly, as an Advisor at Artesian (Alternative Investments) one of Australia’s leading VC firms with an Asia Pacific focus; I augment Artesian’s Venture Capital as a Service (VCaaS) approach. Concurrently, I am a Shafik Gabr Fellow and continue volunteerism at the nonprofit I founded, Jacksonville Global Shapers Hub, while serving on the USGLC VA State Advisory Board.
Also, since Fellowship completion, I served as the Future of Work representative with the American delegation to the G20/Y20 India, and worked as an Associate for Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild at the Council for Inclusive Capitalism.
How has the Fellowship impacted your career?
Fellowship involvement spurred network formation, insight sharing, research intensive experience, and the curriculum polished comprehension on how to navigate government, policy and politics. Specifically, I’ve been a fortunate recipient of mentorship and friendship with CSPC Senior Fellow, Zaid Zaid, CSPC Board Member, Maury Bradsher, and even Father Bill George (who served as the 2022 Annual Awards invocation speaker). Whether sharing anecdotes over coffee, discussing global state of affairs to general professional development opportunities, interaction with experienced decision makers is only possible due to the robust ‘friends of CSPC’ effect.
More so, CSPCs alumni engagement effort exposed me for the first time in my life to sophisticated venues from the Harvard to Metropolitan Club. Experiencing these social clubs fosters access, and improves an understanding of the cultural role that these settings play in political to business dealmaking. Fundamentally, relationship formation opportunities are the greatest reward. Hence, being a member of this historic community (since 1970) composed of thinkers and doers who wrestle with ideas and seek to arrange new outcomes for society is an honor.
What is your favorite memory of the Fellowship?
The Fellows are my favorite memory. I loved to intellectually spar and learn from my cohort. The diversity of ideas expressed by PF’s are a real testament to their care, conviction and general interest to improve the state of the world. No matter one’s ideological preference or lived experience, every individual practiced respect, moderation and humility throughout the Fellowship (ingredients today’s American political apparatus is lacking I may add).
If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?
If constraints did not exist, my dream job is to become a music composer/conductor. For example, Ezio Bosso is my favorite. His compositions capture the depth of misery to possibility within our complex human spirit. Although I do not read music nor play an instrument (this might be a good place to start), the magnificence of his notes inspires and settles my being. More tangibly, I aspire to serve the United States of America as a future elected official at the national level.