Muhammad Yunus

Muhammad Yunus is famed for being the ‘Banker to the Poor’, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, and pioneering entrepreneur. Globally respected for his fight against poverty, Muhammad is one of the most high profile figures in banking, social entrepreneurship and global impact economics. Revered for establishing over fifty groundbreaking business ventures and his commitment to third world countries, as a speaker Muhammad is truly one of a kind, with an unrivalled life-story and future insights.

After home to Bangaldesh, from gaining his PhD in Economics abroad, Muhammad was motivated by the immense suffering that his community was enduring due to poverty and was inspired to develop his revolutionary micro-credit system. Founding Grameen Bank in 1976, the premise was to offer small loans without requiring collateral to afford impoverished people the opportunity to develop. Achieving phenomenal success, Muhammad’s vision now has more than 250 institutions in nearly 100 countries, helping millions gain a better quality of life through entrepreneurialism. One expert in innovative government suggested that the program “is the single most important development in the third world in the last 100 years”.

Not content with his already incomprehensible impact on world poverty, in 2008 Muhammad founded the Yunus Centre, a think tank dedicated to eradicating poverty by 2050. Through social business, Muhammad aims to incubate and maintain social initiatives on a local and global scale through training, education and a ‘learning by doing’ method. As the chairman, Muhammad is at the forefront of the operation, championing future entrepreneurs in creating long lasting change.

For dedicating his life’s work to improving others, Muhammad has been recognised with over one hundred and ten awards from ten different countries. A testament to his history defining achievements, Muhammad was jointly awarded the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts alongside the bank in creating ‘economic and social development from below’. In 2009 he received the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom and a year later the Congressional Gold Medal, a testament to a lifetime of achievement. Equally revered for his entrepreneurial spirit, Muhammad was ranked as one of the Top 12 Business Leaders by Time magazine in 2006, amongst other distinguished awards.

A businessman whose contributions to social entrepreneurism, banking and poverty flighting will go down in history, Muhammad Yunus is one of the most inspirational figures in the industry. An influential keynote speech from Muhammad is guaranteed to leave a long-lasting positive impression on everyone fortunate to hear him speak.