Stephanie von Friedeburg is the Global Head of Citi’s Public Sector Group within
Citi’s Banking division. Stephanie leads a banking coverage team in 98 countries
which is responsible for providing a full range of financial services (transaction
banking, capital markets, advisory, sales and trading) to public sector entities in
160 countries. These clients include central banks, central government agencies,
state and local governments, supranationals, development banks, non-government
organizations and academic institutions.
Previously, Stephanie led Citi’s efforts to scale DFI Strategic Partnerships where she
leveraged her extensive background in infrastructure and project finance to support
sovereign client’s national agendas as well as private client needs.
Stephanie’s extensive knowledge of global affairs and emerging markets informs her
assessment of investment opportunities in fluid economic environments. She is a
respected partner and trusted advisor to a global network of senior decision makers
in governments, public and private corporations, and non-governmental entities.
In 2022, she completed a successful 30-year career with the WBG. As IFC COO, she
oversaw global investment and advisory operations across 100+ country offices, a
US$1 billion annual operating budget, and 2,200+ staff. Stephanie led commercial
and investment banking, venture capital, and private equity services for clients in
emerging markets.
As a member of WBG’s Senior Leadership, Stephanie pioneered innovative solutions
to complex development challenges, gaining support from the WBG’s Board of
Executive Directors. These included IFC’s seminal capital increase, the 2030
strategy, and WBG business transformation. She successfully led the adoption of a
cloud first strategy, which achieved cost savings, increased client satisfaction, and a
seamless pivot to remote work.
Stephanie started her career leading a country-based team driving the Russian
Mass Privatization Program, working closely with the Russian Federal Ministry
on the first, large privatization auctions. She then managed IFC’s advisory and
the first sizable investments in industrials in Eastern Europe. She then went on to
lead the global telecom, media and disruptive technology business (mobile, digital
infrastructure, and fintech).
Stephanie currently sits on the Board of INFRA, in Saudi Arabia, and chairs their Risk
and Compliance Committee. She shares her expertise as a member of the Global
Business Advisory Board for the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown
University. Previously, Stephanie served as Board Member and Alternate Chair of
the IFC Asset Management Company. She also served on the Ukrainian National
Investment Council, Advisory Board of BOX.ORG, CIO Advisory Board of Greylock
Partners, and as Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of the Bank-Fund Staff Federal
Credit Union.
In recognition of her work, Stephanie was named to Yahoo’s 2021 HERoes 100 List for
driving change and increasing gender diversity in the workplace and CIO Magazine’s
CIO 100 Award for Outstanding Business Technology Leadership in 2015/17.
Stephanie earned a BS from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University,
an MA from the Lauder Institute, and an MBA from the Wharton School, both at the
University of Pennsylvania