Sandra Ernst

Sandra Ernst has a diverse and extensive work experience. Sandra is currently the Chief Operating Officer at Igloo (formerly Axinan) since May 2021. Prior to this, from November 2017 to May 2021, Sandra worked as the COO and Head of Operations, Compliance, and Finance at CardUp, where they built and led the operations functions across various business lines and markets, implemented governance, risk, and compliance frameworks, and developed risk frameworks and manuals.

Before joining CardUp, Sandra was the Founding CEO of SmartFunding.sg, a P2P lending and invoice financing company, from April 2016 to July 2017. Sandra successfully raised seed funding and launched the MVP platform within a short time frame.

From an investment perspective, Sandra worked as the VP Investments in Private Equity Real Estate at AREA Group Of Companies from 2013 to 2016. Sandra played a key role in raising funds and managing the due diligence process. Additionally, they led a project to establish Malaysia's first real estate investment trust focused on education assets.

Sandra also has experience in Islamic finance, specifically in the Executive Islamic Capital Markets role at Axis-REIT from 2013 to 2014. Their responsibilities included ensuring Shariah compliance for a REIT and establishing standards for new real estate assets.

In the early stages of their career, Sandra worked as an Analyst in Asset Backed Finance and Data Warehousing at BearingPoint in 2010, and as a Trainee in the Handling and Quality Management Department at Lufthansa Cargo in 2009.

Sandra began their career in banking, working as a Banking Professional in Cooperative Banking at Genossenschaftliche FinanzGruppe Volksbanken Raiffeisenbanken from 2001 to 2006.

Sandra Ernst obtained their Bachelor's degree in International Business Management from Oxford Brookes University. Sandra then pursued further education, completing an MSc in Arab World Studies with a focus on Islamic Finance and Arabic at Durham University. Sandra also studied at The University of Edinburgh, earning a Master of Science (MSc) in Arab World Studies. Prior to their undergraduate degree, Sandra attended the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, where they obtained a Bachelor Professional of Banking (CCI)/Gepr. Bankfachwirtin (IHK) with a specialization in Corporate Finance, Corporate and Banking Law, and Accounting. Sandra also has some association with Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule Regensburg, although the details of their degree are not specified.