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Women as Microfinance Leaders, Not Just Clients

Harvard Business Review

We're a network of microfinance organizations; we exist to share practices and develop the leadership skills required by a sector that has grown up fast. And as you might be aware, microfinance is a phenomenon that, while it did not set out to be "for women," has mainly turned out to be.

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The Innovation Mindset in Action: Shantha Ragunathan

Harvard Business Review

Sasikala, a Block Development Officer (BDO), talked to the Kodapattinam villagers about microfinance , only Shantha, of all the villagers, saw the opportunity and took action. Undeterred, Shantha persisted until she persuaded the required number of people to sign up for the microfinance project. I knew I wanted to succeed.

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How Social Entrepreneurs Can Have the Most Impact

Harvard Business Review

Civic Ventures had recently released its first survey of baby boomers and found at least half were interested in “ encore careers ” helping others. Huge companies like IBM have created programs to train and transition retirees into social sector roles. In the broader U.S. Meanwhile, 19,000 high-scoring college graduates across the U.S.

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Entrepreneurship Needs to Be a Bigger Part of U.S. Foreign Aid

Harvard Business Review

.” Laudable as these may be, USAID, the State Department, and other government agencies should really be backing programs that stimulate and support scalable, innovative, job-creating businesses – the kinds of companies that are antidotes to mass unemployment and economic hopelessness, not microfinance.

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How to Make Room in Your Work Life for the Rest of Your Self

Harvard Business Review

If the hum of your career has become so deafening that you struggle to hear those other parts of your life, you’re not alone. For example, one person—a pastor, karate teacher, and yoga instructor—told us about reconciling her jobs into a fulfilling career.

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