If you need help with numbers, head over to Mariel. Prior to joining Devex, Mariel has worked in one of the top local banks, Bank of the Philippine Islands. She started as a management trainee before becoming the department head for the non-life insurance collections and policy accounting teams. Apart from graduating with honors from the University of the Philippines-Manila with a degree in development studies, Mariel also earned the best thesis award by immersing herself in rural communities and doing interviews with children in conflict with the law. You'd never guess, but Mariel’s most hated school subject was math! Now, she is a native in the world of finance. When she's not explaining complex excel functions, you can find her out and about in Manila exploring the up-and-coming food scene.