Friday Afternoon Breakout Sessions
We invite you to select three sessions to attend on Friday afternoon.
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
From Silicon Valley to Sub-Saharan Africa: Innovations Shaping the World | Read More »
The technology industry and microfinance came of age at roughly the same time. Increasingly, Opportunity International is implementing innovative technology solutions to meet our clients’ needs. What can we learn from the principles and practices established by some of the world’s most innovative companies? How is innovation being applied to solving poverty and hunger? Join the discussion. Facilitator: Rob Meloche, VP, marketing & communications. Panelists: Ben Chelf, co-founder and chief technology officer, Coverity; Bill Draper, general partner, Draper Richards LP, and author, The Startup Game: Inside the Partnership Between Venture Capitalists and Entrepreneurs; Aleksandr Kalanda, CEO, Opportunity Malawi; Steven Levy, senior writer, Wired
Location: Grand Peninsula C
Location: Grand Peninsula C
A Working Solution to Global Poverty: Introduction to Our Programs | Read More »
People new to Opportunity International will enjoy this overview of our vision, along with the nuts and bolts of how we do our work. Learn how our core microfinance tools—savings, loans, insurance and training—are being used to transform the lives of over 2.5 million people in more than 20 countries. Session Leader: Dennis Ripley, senior VP, international business development
Location: Grand Peninsula A
Location: Grand Peninsula A
Agricultural Finance: Cultivating Hope | Read More »
Agriculture is recognized as the key to revitalizing sub-Saharan Africa’s rural regions and significantly reducing the level of poverty. Learn about Opportunity International’s innovative and holistic approach to providing small-scale African farmers with comprehensive financial tools that help them grow more crops, increase their family’s income, and feed their villages. Session leader: John Magnay, senior agricultural advisor
Location: Bayside Room
Location: Bayside Room
2:45 pm – 3:45 pm
Portfolios of the Poor: Why Savings Matter | Read More »
People living in poverty cope with incomes that are not just low, but also irregular and unpredictable. They also lack high quality, reliable financial instruments and instead use complex, multilayered portfolios of equity and debt to manage their cash flow. In this session we’ll explore the importance of formal financial services, particularly savings, to people in the developing world. Daryl Collins, co-author, Portfolios of the Poor; Simona Haiduc, VP, international business development
Location: Grand Peninsula C
Location: Grand Peninsula C
Why Women? Why Now? | Read More »
Learn more about why and how Opportunity International invests the majority of our dollars in serving the most vulnerable people on the planet—women. Panelists will share stories of hope and transformation from their daily work or Insight Trip visits with clients. Facilitator: Ruth-Anne Renaud, VP, women’s philanthropy. Panelists: Deborah Farrington, founder and general partner, StarVest Partners, L.P.; Diane Griffin, VP, program management; Nadine Pembele, training director, Opportunity DRC
Location: Grand Peninsula B
Location: Grand Peninsula B
Meet Our Leadership | Read More »
Take this opportunity to get to know the decision makers of one of the world’s leading microfinance institutions. Members of our senior leadership team will share their vision for Opportunity International, their expertise and their passion for serving impoverished people in the developing world. Bring your questions. Facilitator: Betty Jane “BJ” Hess, chair, Board of Directors. Panelists: Rick John, senior VP & CFO; Mark Lutz, senior VP, global philanthropy; Jennifer Mitrenga, senior VP, outreach & new initiatives; Bill Morgenstern, CEO; Dennis Ripley, senior VP, international business development; Connie Stryjak, chief human resources officer; Jon Yasuda, senior VP, resource development
Location: Grand Peninsula A
Location: Grand Peninsula A
Doing Business for the Greater Good | Read More »
Social entrepreneurs are individuals who bring innovative solutions to the most challenging social issues, offering both ideas and capital in support of wide-scale change. Meet young entrepreneurs whose visionary business models reflect not just the bottom line, but their philanthropic commitment as global citizens to sustainable development. Facilitator: Liesel Pritzker, founder and board chair, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity. Panelists: Amanda Britt, founder and president of Panzanzee, LLC; Raan Parton, creative director, Apolis Activism; Amy Taylor, manager, The Heart of CAbi Foundation
Location: Bayside Room
Location: Bayside Room
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Global Food Security: Call to Action | Read More »
As the hunger crisis persists in places such as the Horn of Africa, the urgent need continues for agricultural development, nutrition assistance and humanitarian response—both short and long term. Join this discussion that explores the moral, economic and global security justifications for a comprehensive and coordinated strategy to address worldwide hunger. Facilitator: Dennis Ripley, senior VP, international business development. Panelists: Ambassador Tony Hall, director, Alliance to End Hunger; Dr. Julie Howard, U.S. Government Deputy Coordinator for Development, Feed the Future; John Magnay, senior agricultural advisor
Location: Grand Peninsula C
Location: Grand Peninsula C
Banking on Africa | Read More »
Since 2001, Opportunity International has created banks to address the financial needs of poor, isolated communities in Africa. Learn about our strategy for large-scale growth, including cost-reducing innovations, delivery channels and partnerships that help us bring banking services to impoverished Africans where they live and work. Facilitator: Lydia Baldridge, campaign manager. Panelists: Kevin Compton, affiliated partner, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers; Aleksandr-Alain Kalanda, CEO, Opportunity Malawi
Location: Grand Peninsula B
Location: Grand Peninsula B
Developing the Next Generation of Bankers | Read More »
Recruiting, hiring and retaining key staff—from loan officers to CEOs—who are technically excellent and who embrace a culture of serving people living in poverty with client-centered products is critical to our success. Find out more about Opportunity International’s partnership with Credit Suisse to build a comprehensive leadership and staff development initiative across our operations in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Facilitator: Connie Stryjak, senior VP, human resources. Panelists: Anessa Chui, program manager, Credit Suisse, Hong Kong; Nadine Pembele, training director, Opportunity DRC
Location: Grand Peninsula A
Location: Grand Peninsula A
Fighting Poverty with Technology | Read More »
Technology is a critical tool in the fight against poverty, allowing Opportunity International to bring microfinance services to the most marginalized and remote clients. Learn how technologies such as cell phones, biometric fingerprint identification, satellite and GPS are enabling us to bring low-cost, convenient and reliable financial services to the unbanked. Facilitator: Harry Turner, CEO, Global Microfinance Operations. Panelists: Richard Leftley, president and CEO, MicroEnsure; Daryl Skoog, senior VP, technology; Geoffrey Thige, chief operations officer, Opportunity Kenya; Robert Westcott, CIO, Global Microfinance Operations
Location: Bayside Room
Location: Bayside Room
Saturday Morning Breakout Sessions
We invite you to select two sessions to attend on Saturday morning.
8:30 am – 9:15 am
Microinsurance: A Powerful Safety Net | Read More »
Opportunity’s MicroEnsure, the world’s first microinsurance intermediary, provides protection against the many risks faced by those living in poverty. Today, more than 3.2 million clients can fall back on our crop, loan, health, life and property insurance products in times of hardship or disaster. Learn how MicroEnsure is working with mobile phone companies and other partners in Africa and Asia to provide a safety net to many more people in the developing world. Session leader: Richard Leftley, president and CEO, MicroEnsure
Location: Grand Peninsula C
Location: Grand Peninsula C
Meet Our Leadership | Read More »
Take this opportunity to get to know the decision makers of one of the world’s leading microfinance institutions. Members of our senior leadership team will share their vision for Opportunity International, their expertise and their passion for serving impoverished people in the developing world. Bring your questions. Facilitator: Betty Jane “BJ” Hess, chair, Board of Directors. Panelists: Rick John, senior VP & CFO; Mark Lutz, senior VP, global philanthropy; Jennifer Mitrenga, senior VP, outreach & new initiatives; Bill Morgenstern, CEO; Dennis Ripley, senior VP, international business development; Connie Stryjak, chief human resources officer; Jon Yasuda, senior VP, resource development
Location: Grand Peninsula B
Location: Grand Peninsula B
Banking on Education | Read More »
A quality education empowers students with the skills and abilities to secure higher paying jobs, build strong families and help in the economic development of their communities. Discover how Opportunity’s Banking on Education program is increasing educational opportunities for more than 120,000 children in underserved neighborhoods in Ghana, Malawi and Uganda. Facilitator: Char Caldwell, VP, resource development. Panelists: Liesel Pritzker, founder and board chair, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity; Geoffrey Thige, chief operations officer, Opportunity Kenya
Location: Grand Peninsula A
Location: Grand Peninsula A
Involving Your Children in Philanthropy | Read More »
Join the discussion on strategies for parents to actively teach philanthropy to their children, and to prepare them to lead the family philanthropy in the future. This is an interactive session, so bring your ideas and your experiences to share. Session leader: Chuck Day, director, gift planning services
Location: Bayside Room
Location: Bayside Room
9:30 am – 10:15 am
Agricultural Finance: Cultivating Hope | Read More »
Agriculture is recognized as the key to revitalizing sub-Saharan Africa’s rural regions and significantly reducing the level of poverty. Learn about Opportunity International’s innovative and holistic approach to providing small-scale African farmers with comprehensive financial tools that help them grow more crops, increase their family’s income, and feed their villages. Session leader: John Magnay, senior agricultural advisor
Location: Grand Peninsula C
Location: Grand Peninsula C
Standing Up for Opportunity | Read More »
Become an advocate for microfinance and Opportunity International’s work to end global poverty. Join our supporters as they share techniques, tools and best practices for engaging your friends, family, neighbors, business and faith community in our life-changing work. Facilitator: Sonya Perez-Lauterbach, manager, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity. Panelists: Amelia Gingold, communication relations, Sunshine Sachs & Associates; Dick Leathers, member, Board of Governors; Monica Perez, Denver co-chair, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity; Betsy Perdue, board member, Women’s Opportunity Network
Location: Grand Peninsula B
Location: Grand Peninsula B
Microinsurance: A Powerful Safety Net | Read More »
Opportunity’s MicroEnsure, the world’s first microinsurance intermediary, provides protection against the many risks faced by those living in poverty. Today, more than 3.2 million clients can fall back on our crop, loan, health, life and property insurance products in times of hardship or disaster. Learn how MicroEnsure is working with mobile phone companies and other partners in Africa and Asia to provide a safety net to many more people in the developing world. Session leader: Richard Leftley, president and CEO, MicroEnsure
Location: Grand Peninsula A
Location: Grand Peninsula A
Innovating to Meet Community Needs | Read More »
Listening closely to our clients often leads to the development of new programs and services tailored to a community’s specific needs. In this session, you’ll learn about Opportunity International’s floor and roof loan product in Colombia, our community development initiative in Nicaragua, and a land titling and home improvement loan program for clients in Ghana. Facilitator: Diane Griffin, VP, program management. Panelists: David Allman, owner and chairman, Regent Partners; Craig DeRoy, founder and CEO, Medeem LLC; Jim Frantz, Opportunity Colombia
Location: Bayside Room
Location: Bayside Room
