Marie Rivette was born and raised in Haiti. Losing her parents when she was a teenager, she found strength through sports and credits her time as an athlete for helping her overcome adversity while establishing a sense of community. 

After graduating with one degree in Social Communications and another in Gender and Development, Marie worked for NGOs as an advocate for women living in rural areas. She worked as a consultant on issues of gender, equality, and women’s rights at the NGO Oxfam, where she was quickly appointed Senior Project Manager for issues of Gender and Governance. 

In 2010, Haiti experienced one of the worst earthquakes in history. Disease, displacement, and loss plagued the people as they tried to make sense of this experience and rebuild their lives. Through her job, Marie was trained to interpret experiences such as this one and use the tools and resources available to influence public perception, connect people, and promote social change. “It was really difficult to lose my parents,” she says, “but in many ways, it spurred me forward in my life; it forced me to get out there and to strive to be my best. I live my life to honor their memory.”