Title:Interview with Hekima Findley

Job Title: Senior Analyst, Strategic Initiatives

What led you to Georgetown University Advancement?

I started my career in OA immediately following graduation. I was a student worker for the Records team during undergrad and worked directly with our wonderful colleague Allan Hutchinson Maxwell, and during my senior year, Allan introduced me to a few of the opportunities on the Development team. At the time, I thought that the Development Associate role would provide me with the opportunity to add many important tools and skills to my professional toolbox. Having the ability to start my career in OA and directly contribute to the critical fundraising success of my alma mater felt like a great opportunity that I couldn’t pass up. It’s been rewarding to know that the work I’ve been a part of for nearly 7 years has had a direct impact on the lives of future generations of Hoyas.

What’s been your biggest achievement at Georgetown so far in your career?

In my first role in OA as a Senior Development Associate, I was able to produce customized dashboards for each of the four development officers on my team. From my early days in Advancement, I realized and always prioritized being able to make sense of the data of my team’s fundraising efforts. When I joined SI, I wanted to transfer over those same data and GU360 skills. Given such, my biggest achievement at Georgetown so far has certainly been the successful implementation of the Recognition Options tool in GU360 Salesforce. I led a data project (with great support from my teammates Caitie and Emily!) that transformed how our organization manages our fundraising information. I helped convert a large,
complex library of fundraising line items written by SI (900 lines of data collected over 10+ years) into a centralized digital database, ensuring everything was structured, accurate, and easy to access. This shift will only continue to improve our organization’s efficiency, reduce manual work, and make it much easier for the Development team to have immediate access to the plethora of available funding opportunities for their donors—ultimately helping them make informed decisions in their gift discussions.

How did you end up in your current role? Did you have previous experience?

I am currently a Senior Analyst on the Strategic Initiatives team! Prior to this role, I was a Senior Development Associate for the Southeast and MidAtlantic Development team. Early on, I knew that I found higher ed and the nonprofit realm to be meaningful, encouraging work, however, I also knew that my career preference wasn’t to serve in an external facing role. I have always been more of an introvert and being able to join SI in a role that heavily focuses on the strategy, messaging, and narratives that shape our fundraising has been a very rewarding professional experience. We have a
really special team!

What’s one fun fact about yourself that most people don’t know?

I am a really big train and metro enthusiast! I was born and raised in
Brooklyn, NY, and anyone who grew up there knows that the transit system is a key component of the ethos of the city. As a child (and adult) my favorite place in NY was always the transit museum in Downtown Brooklyn. On the lower level of the museum, there are two tracks that have train cars that operated in the early 2000’s dating back to the 1920’s. It’s a really great way to go back in time in a city with so much character and rich history.

How does your work align with the broader mission at Georgetown & Advancement?

In my role, my work closely aligns with GU’s broader mission of advancing knowledge in service of the common good through collaboration, intellectual rigor, and ethical leadership. By developing and refining strategic academic and programmatic initiatives that address societal and institutional priorities, I directly support Georgetown’s commitment to impactful scholarship and global engagement. SI’s work is rooted in the Jesuit principle of cura personalis—care for the whole person—and emphasizes thoughtful, people-centered collaboration and stewardship in advancing university priorities. Our team’s focus on cross-campus partnership, philanthropic engagement, and translating academic vision into actionable opportunities reflects Georgetown’s values of service and
responsibility—ensuring that we can all become who we are called to be.