Janelle Lassonde

Janelle Lassonde was a Director of Credit Risk at UBS based in London and Johannesburg, where she led the investment bank’s mining and sub-Saharan Africa portfolios. As a writer, her articles have appeared in Maclean’s, The Good Life France, and her blog, “French Lessons.” She recently completed a memoir with the working title Roquelune: The House That Taught Me French.

Unlike French, Janelle counts music as a native language. Having begun her studies at the piano, she switched to the flute, which became her life-long instrument; more recently she started learning the cello. She has served as a regular worship musician at churches in London, Johannesburg, Denver, Cannes, and presently in Toronto at St Paul’s Bloor Street.

Janelle also serves as a board member of Opportunity International (US), a global nonprofit that seeks to end generational poverty. She is a catalyst and unwavering advocate for the organisation’s work with affordable, non-state schools. Past board positions have included The Walrus, WorldVuze Education, and Lighthouse Writers Workshop.

Janelle has a BA from Northwestern University, an MBA from the University of Chicago, and a Master’s in Economics from the London School of Economics.