MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Women’s World Banking’s (WWB) Center for Microfinance Leadership and University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business Host Advanced Leadership Course

Women’s World Banking (WWB), an organization that provides technical and advisory services to its global network of microfinance institutions (MFIs), has partnered with Wharton’s Aresty Institute for Executive Education to host its first advanced leadership course for microfinance professionals in March. The one-week workshop gathered 22 senior executives from 15 countries to discuss scenario planning, talent development, risk management and leadership skills.

“It’s not going to be enough for microfinance leaders to exhibit the same leadership skills that leaders of other financial institutions might have,” Ms Mary Ellen Iskenderian, President and Chief Executive of WWB, announced at the workshop. “They have to lead high-performing, sustainable institutions and they must also be able to retain that social mission that the businesses started with.”

The workshop, which will be held twice a year, is funded by a three-year, USD 3.5 million grant from the MasterCard Foundation, a private Canadian foundation that supports microfinance.

By Stefanie Rubin, Research Associate

About Women’s World Banking (WWB):

Women’s World Banking (WWB) is an organization that provides technical and advisory services to its global network of microfinance institutions (MFIs). Founded in 1976, WWB is based in New York. As of February 26, 2010, WWB had 40 members working in 28 countries, and served over 20 million microentrepreneurs.

About the MasterCard Foundation:

Based in Canada, the MasterCard Foundation is an independent, private foundation with over CAD 3 billion (the equivalent of USD 2.9 billion) in assets. The foundation’s goal is to enable people living in poverty to improve their lives with increased access to microfinance and education. The Foundation was established in 2006 by a gift of shares of MasterCard Worldwide during the company’s initial public offering.

Additional Resources:

Source Article: Financial Times: “The Bigger Picture for Microfinance,” http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/92658688-3ac9-11df-b6d5-00144feabdc0.html

Women’s World Banking Center for Microfinance Leadership News: “Women’s World Banking’s Center for Microfinance Leadership hosts its first Advanced Leadership Workshop in Philadelphia,” http://leadership.swwb.org/node/61

MicroCapital Universe: Women’s World Banking (WWB): https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Women%27s+World+Banking+%28WWB%29

MicroCapital Universe: MasterCard Foundation: https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=MasterCard+Foundation

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