Podcast: A journey with changemakers in inclusive finance and social entrepreneurship #3
Episode 3: From Founder to Visionary: Alex Counts' Plan for Coordinated Impact
Discover the podcast: Episode 3
Welcome to our podcast series
The Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation continues its podcast series that brings you transformative stories of leaders from the Grameen family who are reshaping the landscape of inclusive finance and social business across the globe. In this third episode, we sit down with Alex Counts, founder of Grameen Foundation and pioneering architect of microfinance for over 30 years, to explore his vision for a unified and coordinated Grameen movement.
What you'll discover
Alex Counts shares his remarkable journey from a decade-long apprenticeship with Professor Muhammad Yunus in Bangladesh to founding Grameen Foundation, leading it for 18 years, and remaining an adviser and friend of the organization to this day. Discover how the microfinance sector has evolved from a revolutionary idea, that the world's poor are bankable, into a global movement, and how strategic coordination among Grameen organizations can amplify collective impact in an era of rapid technological change.
Key Highlights
- The revolutionary insight : How Professor Yunus proved that poor women are bankable and that financial services can be delivered profitably while creating measurable social impact
- Breaking geographical barriers : Understanding why the Grameen model succeeded in unexpected markets, from India to the United States and the critical role of maintaining core values in adaptation
- Digital innovation with purpose The opportunities and risks of technology in financial inclusion, and why a "magical app" alone cannot solve poverty
- Coordinating the Grameen family We can model our network after successful universities, where different schools and departments have autonomy but there is also a unified brand and strategy to ensure coordination and coherence
- Staying grounded in mission : The urgent need to preserve Professor Yunus's core values in an age of AI and rapid market change, ensuring microfinance remains relevant to those who need it most
Why this matters
As the world faces unprecedented challenges, from artificial intelligence to geopolitical shifts, the Grameen family must function as a coordinated movement while maintaining the human touch and moral compass that defines our mission. Alex Counts' vision for strategic collaboration offers a roadmap for amplifying our collective impact on poverty alleviation and financial inclusion.
Perfect for
Impact investors, social entrepreneurs, development professionals, policymakers, nonprofit leaders, technology innovators, and anyone passionate about creating meaningful change through coordinated action, inclusive finance, and social business.
Key quote
" If we can use technology, but not have technology use us, I think we can create real change. " – Alex Counts
Listen now and be inspired by a leader who continues to shape the future of inclusive finance.
" A Journey for Change in Inclusive Finance and Social Business. " Where impact meets innovation.
Subscribe to our podcast series to stay updated on upcoming episodes featuring other transformative leaders from the Grameen family who are driving change across continents and sectors.
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