8:30 - 8:40 AM

Introduction and Welcome
Edward A. Snyder, Dean, University of Chicago Graduate School of Business

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8:40 - 9:30 AM

Keynote Address: Transforming Microfinance into a Global Financial Markets Instrument

Marilou Uy, Director, Financial Sector, The World Bank

We set the stage for examining the broadening convergence of business and microfinance and creating a dialogue between practitioners, professionals within the commercial financial sector, and future leaders in business and society. Where does the financial sector currently stand regarding microfinance? What are the opportunities and incentives for business to enter the industry and expand its scope of engagement? What role can business play in transforming the microfinance industry and helping it achieve greater scale and impact?

9:45 - 11:15 AM
Panel I: The Challenges and Opportunities of Commercialization
     Robert Annibale, Citigroup

     Vikram Akula, McKinsey & SKS India

     Jonathan Morduch, NYU Wagner School

     Greg Casagrande, South Pacific Business Development

     Louise Schneider, Women's World Banking

     Moderator: Cate Ambrose, The Economist

In the past decade, microfinance has seen a number of successful non-governmental microfinance institutions moving to transform into regulated financial institutions as well as the entry of commercial banks. This panel will explore the challenges and opportunities in this environment at both an organizational and a macro-level. Many organizations are facing pressure to improve their efficiency, develop clear performance measurements, and scale more rapidly. At the same time, commercialization is raising issues related to regulation, changes in how lower-income markets are segmented and targeted, and market segmentation, and the relationships between retail, wholesale, and multilateral institutions.

11:30 - 1:00 PM
Panel II: The Next Stage in Evolving Models for Microfinance Services and Products
     Mauricio Moura, Unibanco Brazil

     Rick Halmekangas, Opportunity International

     Robert Townsend, University of Chicago

     John Fischer, Accion International

     Moderator: Rhonda Schaffler, International Year of Microcredit, UNCDF

The panel will begin by highlighting the primary models of microfinance delivery and services that have proven to be successful among existing microfinance institutions. From there, the panel will consider how these models will evolve as the industry continues to grow and commercialize. How will market demand also change and grow? New innovations and trends in product development, marketing, and distribution will also be discussed.

1:15 - 2:30 PM
Lunch and Learns (running concurrently)

A. Microfinance in Brazil

Eduardo Carlos Ferreira, Unibanco Microinvest

An overview of the microfinance industry in Latin America with a specific emphasis on Brazil. What microfinance models have been particularly successful in Brazil, from both a business perspective and a social perspective? What are the challenges?

B. Leadership and Career Development in Microfinance

Julie Peachey, Grameen Foundation USA

Vikram Akula, McKinsey & SKS India
As the microfinance industry continues to grow in size and complexity, its need for talented managers and other professionals will also grow. What are the human capital needs in the microfinance industry, and how can MBAs add value in this field? What are some of the career path options, and how can one go about building a career in microfinance?

C. SROI Analysis Workshop

Leslie Barcus, CGAP & Microfinance Management Institute

Annette Krause, UNCDF
Microfinance institutions and programs are facing increasing pressure to develop systematic and standardized approaches to measuring both their performance, both in terms of financial as well as social returns. In fact, this will be critical to attract increased investment and to access capital in mainstream financial markets. A case will be presented to explore how microfinance institutions can go about creating and implementing systematic ways to measure performance.

D. Branding Microfinance

Beth Houle, Opportunity International
As the microfinance industry continues to grow and evolve, it will become all the more important for organizations involved in microfinance to consider both the strategic position of their organizations as well as the industry as a whole. In what ways should organizations be thinking about branding, and what are the issues related to branding at the organizational, community, industry, and country/region levels?

2:45 - 4:15 PM
Panels III & IV (running concurrently)

Panel III: Charting the Frontier of Financial Innovation and Strategic Risk Management
     Bhagwan Chowdhry, UCLA Anderson School

     Andre Laude, IFC

     Saurabh Narain, Shorebank Advisory Services

     Sam Moss, Gray Ghost Microfinance Fund

     Maya Chorengel, Dignity Fund

     Moderator: Tom Coleman, Microfinance Consultant

What are the drivers of financial innovation in the microfinance industry? This panel will examine current and emerging financing approaches and the respective roles of microfinance and commercial financial institutions in driving innovation. Barriers to innovation and how these barriers can be addressed will also be discussed. The panel will also consider the issue of strategic risk management issues for organizations involved in microfinance and share ideas and best practices for how organizations can protect themselves and their various stakeholders from risk.

Panel IV: From Best Practices to Processes: How can Microfinance Institutions Optimize their Impact by Addressing their Operational, Technological, and People Needs?
     Anna Paulson, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

     Kip Darcy, HP

     Mary Laraia, LaSalle Bank

     Michael Eber, Grameen Foundation USA

     Moderator: Rob Gertner, University of Chicago Graduate School of Business

This panel will examine some of the operational issues and innovations to be found in microfinance institutions. In particular, the panel will focus on how organizations can utilize technology to increase their effectiveness and impact, introducing specific cases of innovative technology development and utilization. The discussion will address not only how organizations can utilize technology, but how they can acquire the technology they need. The panel will also consider the human resource challenges faced by microfinance institutions. Panelists will share ideas and best practices about how organizations can attract and retain the best talent and develop leadership within their organizations.

4:25 - 5:45 PM
Closing Panel: What Lies Beyond the Frontier? Exploring the Future of Microfinance as a Global Financial Markets Instrument
     Mary Houghton, Shorebank

     Robert Annibale, Citigroup

     Alex Counts, Grameen Foundation USA

     Richard Taub, University of Chicago

     Moderator: Christina Barrineau, UNCDF

We ask some of the leading thinkers in microfinance, political economy, and development economics to engage in a dialogue on the future of microfinance. Where will the current convergence of business and microfinance lead the industry? What additional issues can we anticipate arising as a result of current trends? How can we transform microfinance from being a marginalized development tool to an integrated part of the global financial system? And finally, what action can each of us take to increase the impact of microfinance?

6:00 – 8:00 PM
Networking Reception and Closing Celebration

Join us in celebrating the close of an intense day of dialogue and learning with a cocktail and some hors d’oeuvres at our networking reception.

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