Published in October 2012, Being the Change: Inspiring the Next Generation of Inclusive Business Entrepreneurs Impacting the Base of the Pyramid, highlights the personal stories of the leaders of some of IFC’s inclusive business clients. These clients have developed innovative and successful business models that expand access to goods, services, and livelihoods for poor people, while generating strong financial returns.
Based on interviews with 14 founders and CEOs of IFC client companies, the report identifies a number of lessons on inclusive business, including the need to balance short-term returns with long-term goals and the importance of knowledge of local conditions, needs, and capabilities. The stories also reflect the overarching optimism these leaders share about the future of inclusive business.