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 Summary of the 2008 Leadership Conference

 

Note:  Trainings from the conference, videos, and transcripts will be made available to Opportunity Partners via the internal Network Notes e-newsletter over the coming monthly communications.

 

Conference Objectives

1.      To intentionally listen and understand the needs of our clients;

2.      To listen and learn from each other’s experiences;

3.      To listen to what God has to say to us corporately and individually;

4.      To build baseline knowledge across leadership including all Board  Chairs, CEOs, and a second leader (e.g.: Chief Operations Officer, Chief Financial Officer or someone of equivalent seniority).

 

The theme for the conference was: Growth Through Listening Part II. The Bible verse theme was ‘My child, pay attention to my words, listen closely to what I say. Don’t ever forget my words, keep them always in mind. They are the key to life for those who find them and bring health to the whole body.’ Proverbs 4 v20-22.

 

Profile of Conference Attendees

The Leadership Conference served leaders from across the Opportunity global family with a particular focus on Implementing Partner CEOs and a second leader.  61% of conference participants represented program operations (Implementing Partner staff/ board members and Network Services/Program staff); and 30% of total participants were specifically Implementing Partner staff. 18% of participants were accompanying people (e.g.: family) or special guests (e.g.: World Vision). 21% of participants were Support Partner staff/board members.

 

Conference Agenda

 

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 19th

 

Welcome Dinner

Guests were welcomed and we celebrated our 2007 accomplishments with Opportunity Network CEO, Adrian Merryman. Guests met their emcee for the week, former executive at Lloyds and Citigroup and current Opportunity board member, Kadita (AT) Tschibaka. Finally, guests were given a proper Canadian welcome by Canada CEO, Gary Walsh; speaker and author Os Hillman, spoke on the subject of faith at work. Independent recording artist Ken Medema shared his musical gifts with us.

 

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 20th

 

Opening Worship Service

Dianne Ledingham of the Opportunity Canada Board opened our worship service with the reading of Proverbs 4:20-27, our theme verse for the week. Ken Medema led us in worshipful song. Atul Tandon, former senior executive with CitiBank, and current senior vice president at World Vision, shared from his personal experience of following God’s calling. President of Regent College, Rod

Wilson, spoke with us about placing Christ in the Center of our lives and how this is reflected in the choices we make.

 

Session I - Our Vision and the Global Landscape

Adrian Merryman presented our Network vision and an industry overview as well as some of the challenges that lay ahead for microfinance practitioners. Chuck Waterfield drew upon his 20 years of experience in microfinance, having served as microenterprise director for MEDA, CARE and founder of Microfin, and presented on the global competitive environment. Trudi Schwartz, COO in

Mozambique, hosted a panel discussion with a representative from each region to comment on the competitive microfinance environment in their region.

 

Session II - Industry Issues: Pricing, Profits, and Prevarication - Who Will Protect the Poor?

In this session, Chuck Waterfield talked with us about pressing industry issues including sustainability and consumer protection. We also heard from Elizabeth Littlefield (by video), CEO of CGAP, about the importance of transparency and other critical issues in the microfinance industry. In this session guests had a chance to discuss these issues with others at their table and presented their ideas to the larger conference group.

 

“Fireside Chat” with Adrian Merryman

Guests spoke personally with Opportunity Network CEO Adrian Merryman about  issues that were on their mind.

 

Dinner - What It Takes To Be Relevant

Atul Tandon drew from his own rich experiences and talked with us about what it takes to be relevant in banking and microfinance.

 

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 21st

 

Session III – Reveal: Listening To Client Feedback

In this session, we heard from author Cally Parkinson about Willow Creek Church's transformational journey through the process of responding to church member survey feedback, the subsequent spiritual impact on church members, and the implications for our own transformational banks. In this session, Roy Pratt, responsible for Opportunity’s strategic development and network standards, also discussed Opportunity’s market feedback work, and led a panel which discussed, “What are our client surveys making us ask ourselves?”

 

Session IV – Transformation and Application “The Transformation Lens”

In this session, Robyn Robertson, Opportunity’s in-house leader on client transformation, facilitated a discussion about the “transformation lens.” Additionally, we heard from Jim Reiff, CEO in India, Richard Leftley, president of the Micro Insurance Agency and Rodger Voorhies, CEO in Malawi, how they are applying it in the field to good effect.

 

“Fireside Chat” with Cally Parkinson

Guests could come with their questions and talk further with Cally Parkinson about the important ideas she presented earlier in the day.

 

Dinner – Doing the Right Thing, No Matter The Cost, Even When No One Is Looking

In this session, Betty Jane (BJ) Hess, retired senior vice president of Global Operations for Arrow Electronics, Inc., the world’s largest distributor of electronic components, drew from her many years as a senior executive to talk with us about how to best manage corporate growth and to remind us that, as leaders and role models, transformation and change begins at the top – with us.

 

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 22nd

 

Opening Worship

Ken Medema led us in songs of praise and worship. Rod Wilson spoke with us about personal holiness. Trudi Schwartz inspired us with a Scriptural reading. Adrian Merryman and Terry Winters, Chair of the Network Board, blessed our new staff.

 

Session V – Transformation and the "8 Elements of Change", Product Development

BJ Hess opened this session by discussing the “8 Elements of Change” as a take-home model for transforming our businesses. Robin Bell talked about guiding principles for microfinance product development.

 

Session VI - The Future of Microfinance

Continuing with the theme of change, we heard about the exciting innovations in microfinance from a panel of speakers and how these innovations will impact their areas of expertise. Richard Leftley talked about how he plans to use product development guidelines in the micro-insurance industry. Richard Marney talked about edu-finance and Predrag Lalovic, CFO of Opportunity Bank Montenegro, discussed small-medium enterprise lending. Chris Crane, CEO of Opportunity US, talked about leveraging the internet to link donors to microfinance clients and groups, what Kiva is and how Opportunity US is participating in this venture.

 

Closing Luncheon - Where Do We Go From Here?

Adrian Merryman talked about the future in light of all that we have heard throughout the conference. He will also reviewed pearls of wisdom from our time to take away as we returned to our businesses. Ken Medema sent us off with songs of praise and worship.

 

WORKSHOP SUMMARIES

 

1. Human Resource Recruitment and Retention

Jim Lemke and Connie Stryjak discussed some creative approaches to staff recruitment and retention (aka: how to keep your best staff).

 

2. Advances in Management Information Systems (MIS)

Daryl Skoog, Frank Livingston and Robert Boerstler shared the status of new technology development, upcoming pilots, and how these can help your microfinance programs in the future.

 

3. Investment Services – Emerging Developments

Clay O’Brien and Ken Vander Weele reviewed 1) the Loan Guarantee Fund – what is it, current status, and upcoming opportunities, 2) Acquisitions – what to look for and how to vet opportunities, and 3) Hedging – what’s coming and how Investment Services can be helpful.

 

4. Client Surveys – Process and Output

Sarah Nolan, Mary Pennington, Roy Pratt and Tracey Talentino covered the client survey process, implementation and feedback logistics (a “how to” to save yourself time), and key messages to-date.

 

5. Transformation and Product Mapping

Robyn Robertson reviewed the transformational product mapping exercise conducted with the Micro Insurance Agency and discussed how this can be done for good results in your program (leave no stone unturned).

 

6. Lending Products for the Future

Richard Marney discussed Edufinance loans as a small-medium enterprise loan product.