Events & Presentations

May 3, 2013, New York City, USA

This year’s Microlumbia Microfinance Conference features Accion International CEO Michael Schlein as its keynote speaker. Three expert panels will address the topics of Microfinance and Technology, the Politics of Microfinance, and Microfinance’s Lessons for Impact Investing. CFI’s Adriana Magdas is among the experts in the Microfinance and Technology panel. A non-profit and staffed by Columbia Business School students, Microlumbia provides growing microfinance institutions with pro-bono consulting services and debt capital while stimulating interest in the field among a new generation of future business leaders.

April 12-13, 2013, Boston, USA

The Inter­na­tional Devel­op­ment Con­fer­ence at Har­vard Kennedy School of Gov­ern­ment is a yearly student-organized, student-run con­fer­ence ded­i­cated to fos­ter­ing a con­struc­tive dia­logue between lead­ing aca­d­e­mics, prac­ti­tion­ers, pol­icy mak­ers and stu­dents con­cerned with cre­at­ing a bet­ter world. The Con­fer­ence is hosted at the Kennedy School and is a joint effort between stu­dents at Har­vard and Carnegie Mel­lon Uni­ver­sity. Danielle Piskadlo, Senior Program Specialist at CFI, is moderating the Conference's Financial Services to the Poor: Meeting New Challenges panel.

April 3-4, 2013, Lima, Peru

The Council of Microfinance Equity Funds (CMEF), a council of 25 private equity funds, will gather in Lima in early April for their semi-annual meeting, themed “Where are the future global flows of equity funds heading?” Members will conduct a global mapping exercise to determine where equity investments are being made, what the investment drivers are, where exits are expected to take place, and how these investment flows might change in the future. Continuing the discussion on “balanced returns” that began at the recent SPTF’s social investor roundtable in Belgium, the CMEF will examine how greater clarity can be achieved around expected returns, and how the differences in social and financial objectives among investors can be more effectively communicated. This CMEF meeting will also place a lens on Latin America through discussions of existing hot spots or emerging high-activity areas which could lead to over-indebtedness or portfolio problems in the region.

April 1-6, 2013, Boston, USA

Now in its eighth year, the HBS-Accion Program on Strategic Leadership in Microfinance is the first executive education program to provide high-level management and leadership training to those shaping the microfinance industry, including CEOs of leading microfinance institutions and executives of mainstream banks entering the microfinance market. The HBS-Accion Program is part of the HBS Social Enterprise Initiative. Leading the program are HBS faculty members V. Kasturi Rangan and Michael Chu. The course will begin with an intensive immersion into the microfinance industry and the operations of leading microfinance institutions, provided by HBS Faculty and experienced Accion practitioners. The program will then address fundamental challenges of doing business at the low-income segment of the financial sector. These topics will be explored in ways that are relevant not only for financial services providers, but also investors and regulators who are interested in helping to expand financial inclusion.

March 30, 2013, Philadelphia, USA

Now in its seventh year, the Penn Microfinance Conference brings together professionals, academics, students, and organizations that seek to discuss and learn about the present and future impact of microfinance in our world. The theme of this year’s conference is Di-ver-si-MFI-ca-tion: The New Landscape of Microfinance. In wake of increased regulation, ethical crises, and the commercialization of microfinance, diversification has become a critical component for the survival and sustainability of microfinance. Discussions will explore how MFIs are diversifying their offerings and business models, how the microfinance industry will sustain itself given these changes, and the way microfinance is adjusting to mainstream finance. In addition, finalists of Pitch For Impact, the elevator pitch contest co-organized by Penn Microfinance and PennSEM, will present their business ideas at the conference. Sergio Guzmán, Lead Specialist at the Smart Campaign, is among conference presenters.