Harvard Business School-Accion
Program on Strategic Leadership for Microfinance
Expand your strategic thinking about serving clients at the base of the pyramid, through sharing with peers and exploring real life cases. Consider your role in financial inclusion while deepening your knowledge of business strategy and management with the foremost thinkers in the field. Raise the caliber of your leadership skills while debating the challenges facing the microfinance industry as a whole.
The six-day Harvard Business School-Accion Program on Strategic Leadership in Microfinance offers leaders from around the world an exceptional opportunity to connect with peers while engaging with some of the HBS faculty's foremost thinkers in business strategy and management. The HBS Executive Education learning model immerses the world’s most promising managers in a transformational experience that combines the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and tools—with professional, intellectual, and personal development.
Building on seven highly successful years, the 2013 course offers a curriculum for all financial inclusion leaders engaged in expanding financial services to under-served clients around the world – from microfinance practitioners and conventional commercial banks to investors and regulators. Through this unique course, HBS and Accion have brought together leaders from more than 70 countries – including nearly 150 CEO’s, presidents, executive directors, and managing directors, from some of the world’s leading providers of financial services to the poor.
The program addresses key strategic issues arising out of the dual goals of economic and social value creation that define microfinance. Topic areas include industry change, managing in competition, organizational growth, and creating economic and social value.
“My experience at HBS is unforgettable. This training provides an opportunity to detach from everyday work and reflect on some of the "macro" issues related to "micro" finance. Having the opportunity to discuss and analyze challenging aspects of the industry amongst a sophisticated group of practitioners and qualified lecturers has allowed me to bring back fresh thoughts on how best to address challenges my organization is facing in its complex environment.”
Ranya Abdel Baki, Executive Director, Sanabel Network Egypt
“As a CEO of my organization I was able to get practical insights through case studies that have improved my leadership skills, which has in turn helped me to manage my teams to be able to deliver better results at a low cost.”
Wilson Twamuhabwa CEO, UGAFODE Microfinance Limited (MDI) Uganda
Participants in the 2013 program can expect to leave the course with an enhanced perspective on their leadership roles as well as insights on commercial finance that will shape their strategies in a rapidly changing industry. Another key takeaway is the lasting connections developed as a result of the dynamic peer-to-peer learning that takes place in the small group discussions about issues pertinent to the group.