Two weeks ago, I spent an evening with about 30 SEAM members (students for engagement and activism in micro-finance) at Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA. We got down to the realities of the current micro-finance scene. The failure of several large MFIs and what contributed to their downfalls. We followed that with how to run a smaller MFI, serve customers' needs, and still produce good and reasonable net income and return for investors. I call it the $1.0M model.
Lastly, we discussed how to break into the micro-finance industry. The attendees really appreciated the discussion as most of their speakers extol the wonders of micro-finance, but never address the current situation after the recession.
Last night, I returned to UC Berkeley to have the same discussion with about 30 students in a DECAL (democratic education at CAL.) It was a very fast-paced talk as we only had 50 minutes to cover everything that I spoke about in 90 minutes at Stanford University.
It occurred to me that as I contemplate full retirement and approach 65, we really have a need to train the next generation of managers as we step off the stage. There is much work to be done and speaking to these students is just a very small step toward the goal.
Currently we have a new intern in Honduras who just graduated from Tufts University. Diana Baide will be spending 3 months with us in the position of Junior Loan Officer. When she completes her internship, she'll be followed by a graduate student in Public Policy from the University of Maryland, Adrian Carroll. Hopefully another graduate student from UC Berkeley's Goldman School of Public Policy will join him.
These students will be the future of this country so it is a good way to share our knowledge to them.
Posted by: invoice Factoring | November 25, 2012 at 08:19 PM