Offer Financial Services Proactively
Banking Frontiers|January 2023
Michael Schlein is President & CEO of Accion, a global non-profit that helps provide financial services for those living in poverty. He has been pushing for building economic opportunity through microfinance, impact investing and social entrepreneurship.
Offer Financial Services Proactively

Manoj Agrawal: Given the challenges in financial inclusion during the pandemic, what has been your observation about leadership traits that help microfinance leaders navigate through crises, and what kinds of weaknesses have you seen that need to be overcome?

Michael Schlein: During the pandemic, digital transformation for microfinance providers rapidly went from something that was 'nice to have' to being essential for survival. That's why adaptability and flexibility are such important traits for leaders in microfinance. Leaders need to pivot their organizations and develop digital capabilities to continue meeting their clients' urgent needs - while including clients in the journey to ensure they can use and apply digital tools to their everyday lives.

What risk management practices do you advise microfinance leaders to deeply focus on?

This story is from the January 2023 edition of Banking Frontiers.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the January 2023 edition of Banking Frontiers.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM BANKING FRONTIERSView All
Kamdhenu & Sammrudhi loans top rural customers
Banking Frontiers

Kamdhenu & Sammrudhi loans top rural customers

Unnayan Bharat Finance Corporation (UBFC) Director & Co-Founder Avneesh Trivedi shares the company's attempts to enhance the rural lending environment & deliver better services to its consumers:

time-read
3 mins  |
September 2023
It's going to be a 'world' of CBDCs
Banking Frontiers

It's going to be a 'world' of CBDCs

Practically, every central bank in the world is testing and readying a CBDC system:

time-read
8 mins  |
September 2023
Training for behavioral & social skills is key
Banking Frontiers

Training for behavioral & social skills is key

3 CHROs from the top BFSI companies in India open up about their training and motivation programs aimed at enhancing employee effectiveness. The story is divided into 4 parts: (i) functional and behavioral training, (ii) manager to leadership training, (iii) learning-based training, (iv) motivational programs:

time-read
9 mins  |
September 2023
THE AI COMPASS
Banking Frontiers

THE AI COMPASS

Artificial Intelligence has risen to be the hottest topic of discussion today. It is expected to impact everyone, and the impact could exceed that of war, global warming, supply chain disruptions, geopolitics, and much more.

time-read
10+ mins  |
September 2023
To mentor & coach emerging leaders
Banking Frontiers

To mentor & coach emerging leaders

Manish Shah, MD & CEO of Godrej Capital, outlines his focus areas today and in the future:

time-read
3 mins  |
September 2023
Innovation will unlock India's Mission 'Atmanirbhar’
Banking Frontiers

Innovation will unlock India's Mission 'Atmanirbhar’

Sunita Handa is Chairman, Toyota FSIN and Principal Advisor & TLAB Chairman, Protectt.ai Labs. She shares her current activities and her deep insights on innovaiton in an interaction with Manoj Agrawal:

time-read
6 mins  |
September 2023
Algorithm is the Boss
Banking Frontiers

Algorithm is the Boss

Irem Sayeed, Chief Credit Officer at U GRO Capital, dwells into business focus and modernization at the lender:

time-read
6 mins  |
September 2023
Fintech and Neobank under the same Umbrella
Banking Frontiers

Fintech and Neobank under the same Umbrella

It was started in 1902 to build what came to be called Israel:

time-read
3 mins  |
September 2023
Bajaj Allianz Revolutionizes Employee's HR and IT Experience with WhatsApp, MS Teams, Al and Automation
Banking Frontiers

Bajaj Allianz Revolutionizes Employee's HR and IT Experience with WhatsApp, MS Teams, Al and Automation

A productivity booster shot at BALIC:

time-read
2 mins  |
September 2023
Small Beginning for a Big Opportunity
Banking Frontiers

Small Beginning for a Big Opportunity

AMU Leasing's focus on serving the underserved market of individuals and fleets looking for financing for electric 3-wheelers and 2-wheelers:

time-read
3 mins  |
September 2023