From April 16-20th, the WWB Center for Microfinance Leadership welcomed senior leaders in Philadelphia, USA for the 4th Annual Advanced Leadership Program. Participants hailed from 22 institutions in 19 different countries, representing all regions of the world.
The program, co-hosted by WWB’s Center for Microfinance Leadership and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania’s Aresty Institute of Executive Education, is designed specifically to meet the needs of experienced leaders in the rapidly evolving microfinance sector. The week long program covers key topics such as building top management teams, advanced negotiation skill-building, effective governance, and succession planning.
In an effort to teach participants the very latest approaches to strategy and leadership, two new modules were introduced this year: Crafting Contagions and New Business Opportunities in the 21st Century. Crafting Contagions focused on the powerful effect of word of mouth on creating consumer buzz around new products and increasing brand recognition. New Business Opportunities in the 21st Century examined global trends and challenges and opportunities in an increasingly interconnected world.
Participants completedthe peer learning aspect of the program with an impressive array of Innovation Learning Projects. For these group projects, participants were asked to identify and present an innovative solution to a current challenge or new opportunity facing their institutions. Their presentations addressed some of the most pressing challenges of the microfinance sector today such as reducing employee turnover, expansion away from the credit-led approach and increasing the reach of financial services to new markets such as youth.
