In a global moment defined by economic and geopolitical volatility, rapid digitization, and rising inequality, leaders in inclusive finance are being asked to do much more than grow institutions and manage risk. They must rethink how capital, policy, and innovation work together, and how their leadership must evolve as they seek to connect underserved communities with responsible financial solutions.

During the week-long 2026 HBS–Accion Program on Strategic Leadership in Inclusive Finance at the Harvard Business School campus in Boston, participants reflected on these challenges from across the ecosystem.

After engaging with expert faculty, connecting with global peers, and diving into case studies on the latest advancements in the field, their insights reveal how different sectors are approaching inclusion, and where their priorities increasingly overlap.

Investors: Leading change from inside large institutions

For investors, one of the clearest themes was the challenge of advancing inclusive finance from within complex organizations.

Luke Cheang, Vice President of Business Development at Saison International, described a key learning as the importance of internal leadership. “As I complete a decade of work experience and transition to a leadership role, the biggest takeaway is the critical element of managing up to drive change and conducting intrapreneurship from within large organizations,” he said. “The program offered a rare opportunity to deepen and sharpen my understanding of leadership and financial inclusion.”

Elvina Garayeva, Head of Debt at Incofin Investment Management, highlighted the strategic value of diversity across the field. “There are many ways and business models to reach impact, and there is space for all,” she said, underscoring that inclusive finance is not a single strategy, but a broad spectrum of approaches working together.

Reflecting on her experience, she said, “The program creates a unique platform for global inclusive finance players to exchange, debate, brainstorm, and come up with conclusions through specific real life case studies.”

Fintech leaders: Making hard decisions with impact as the compass

For fintech leaders, the program surfaced the tension between speed, scale, and responsibility.

“More than 60 participants from 29 countries came together, representing banks, fintechs, regulators, and key players across the ecosystem, all driven by a shared goal: creating real impact in financial inclusion,” said David Muñoz, CEO of the Chilean fintech Creditú.

He added, “It was an intense and deeply enriching experience — one that pushes critical thinking, challenges assumptions, and forces you to make complex decisions guided by a single compass: improving the lives of the most underserved communities.”

Regulators: From static rules to adaptive policy

Regulators observed how policymaking must evolve alongside markets and new technologies.

Barbara Oku, Head of Policy and Legal at the at the Resolution and Restructuring Department of the Bank of Ghana, shared that her biggest takeaway was that “policy is not static.” Effective policymaking, she noted, requires “clarity of purpose, openness to different views, and strong engagement with stakeholders to make decisions more effective and impactful.”

Oku also pushed back on the idea that engagement undermines authority. “Constructive engagement, both within institutions and with external stakeholders, does not weaken authority; rather, it strengthens the quality and impact of decision-making,” she said.

Walid Anwar, Assistant Chairman of Egypt’s Financial Regulatory Authority, echoed this systems-level view. He emphasized that risk management today is no longer only about mitigation, but about “building adaptive, resilience-driven frameworks that can anticipate and absorb systemic shocks.”

Anwar also pointed to digital transformation as a strategic lever, noting that technology can be used not just to expand access, but to “redesign financial infrastructure to be more inclusive, efficient, and scalable.”

The program offered participants from the private sector a rare opportunity to directly engage with regulators and explore how their relationship with them can be more constructive and impactful in today’s rapidly changing environment.

Multilaterals: Keeping the customer at the center

Leaders from multilateral institutions emphasized the importance of learning across contexts and staying grounded in the needs of end users.

Sarah Twigg, Gender Solutions and Impact Lead for Asia Pacific at IFC, said that learning from peers working in different environments helped her “look at inclusive finance challenges through a different lens.” Comparing models across sectors and regions reinforced that similar goals can be achieved in very different ways.

Twigg also highlighted the importance of customer-centricity, noting the program’s “strong focus on the needs of the customer.” She said, “I came away with a clearer sense of how we can leverage technology, AI, and people together to deliver solutions that can work for financial inclusion.”

Sharing insights across sectors

Across investors, fintech leaders, regulators, multilaterals, and beyond, one message stood out: effective leadership in inclusive finance today requires collaboration that prioritizes consumers’ needs.

The HBS-Accion Program offers a rare opportunity for leaders to step back from their daily work and deepen this collaboration alongside innovative peers from across the globe. If you’re interested in joining the 2027 program, happening April 4-9, visit the program web page to learn more and sign up for updates on the application process.