Connexus Corporation is a small, woman-owned international development company specializing in access to finance, agricultural market systems, enterprise development, and organizational capacity strengthening. For many small businesses like Connexus, success is derived from the ability to adapt and thrive in rapidly changing circumstances. This is especially true for woman-owned small businesses, whose unique experiences inform decision-making and enable flexibility within their organizations’ structure.
Prior to starting Connexus in 2007, President and CEO Anita Campion found herself in a position many working women can relate to: trying to master the balance of motherhood and professional growth.
Anita and her two sons.
“My technical skills as an independent consultant were in high demand, and my workload was growing quickly. I wanted the flexibility to continue my career while being a mom to two kids, so I decided to hire some staff, and the business grew organically from there”.
The first two hires at Connexus were Laura Smith and Rashmi Ekka, both of whom are still at the company today. Anita Campion and Laura Smith met by chance during a fundraiser at their children’s preschool. With a background in small business operations, Laura was hired part-time to help with bookkeeping and establishing Connexus’ internal systems.
Rashmi Ekka was hired directly out of college as a Project Associate. Her interest in microfinance positioned her well to support Connexus’ technical work, which comprised of short-term contracts focused on due diligence and social performance support to microfinance institutions.
Building Strong Internal Systems from the Ground Up
In the early days, Connexus operated out of the basement of Anita’s Virginia home. Reminiscing on the challenges of that time, Laura Smith recalled that, “It was difficult to establish strong systems with adequate checks and balances when we were that small. We did a good job at implementing cutting edge systems as we learned, and it enabled us to really punch above our weight”.
Around 2010, Connexus capitalized on a slow period and pivoted to develop the concept for what would be the first of many Cracking the Nut Conferences. Understanding the role of the private sector in “cracking the tough nuts” in rural and agricultural finance, Connexus carved out a space for development practitioners to discuss their experiences and document innovative solutions around different themes emerging in the field. With just four full time staff, Connexus successfully hosted over 300 attendees at Cracking the Nut: Overcoming Obstacles to Rural and Agricultural Finance, in the summer of 2011.
“One of the driving factors of success behind all the Cracking the Nut Conferences is our collaborative approach with the Advisory Committee. From the beginning, we created a community of dedicated companies to develop demand-driven content for each Conference, and most of these companies are still volunteering on the Advisory Committee today.” – Rashmi Ekka
Empowering Staff to Lead
The Connexus team poses in front of the first Cracking the Nut banner after moving into their first office in September 2011.
After the first Cracking the Nut, Connexus had to immediately pivot to implement its first long-term subcontract under Chemonics International on the USAID-funded Financial Access for Investing in the Development of Afghanistan (FAIDA) project.
Implementing its first long-term subcontract in a complex environment came at a time when Connexus was undergoing a lot of structural changes.
At the beginning of FAIDA, Anita had to decrease her workload at Connexus to become the sole caretaker of her children. She recalled this time as critical to Connexus’ success because it shifted her focus to hiring more people and empowering them to lead within Connexus.
“Investing in our staff and equipping them with a wide range of skills has enabled Connexus to adapt quickly as new challenges arise. These early experiences really informed the way we operate, and I’m not sure we would have grown as effectively if not for these circumstances.” – Anita Campion
Laura Smith and Anita Campion accepting the Deltek MVP Award for Small and Medium Businesses – awarded for Connexus’ implementation of Costpoint in the Feed the Future Senegal Nafoore Warsaaji Activity.
Connexus’ strong internal systems and ability to identify and retain high quality staff contributed to its success as a subcontractor, and eventually as a prime contractor on the Feed the Future Senegal Nafoore Warsaaji Activity.
Awarded in March 2020, Connexus’ approach to field an entirely Senegalese team allowed for continued implementation despite restricted travel during the onset of COVID-19. As a result, the Connexus team has facilitated approximately $22 million in agricultural financing and leveraged over $15 million in private sector co-investments.
Laura Smith and Anita Campion accepting the Deltek MVP Award for Small and Medium Businesses – awarded for Connexus’ implementation of Costpoint in the Feed the Future Senegal Nafoore Warsaaji Activity.
Connexus in the Present
To date, Connexus has operated in 25 countries, strengthening over 1 million businesses, creating nearly 150,000 jobs, and supporting the facilitation of $1.8 billion in finance and investment. With 35 staff around the world, Connexus continues to build on its strong foundations to expand its impact through high quality consulting services in a variety of technical areas. This year, Connexus will implement its thirteenth Cracking the Nut Conference in Abuja, Nigeria, and looks forward to using its experiences as a woman-owned small business to continue championing USAID’s localization agenda.
