Dr. Vikram Akula, Founder of SKS Microfinance & Author of "A Fistful of Rice: My Unexpected Quest to End Poverty through Profitability" October 27, 2010

With a portfolio close to $1 billion, SKS Microfinance is one of India’s largest and fastest growing microfinance organizations helping millions of people transition from paupers to successful business owners.

Akula will discuss how he was able to combine philanthropy and capitalism to solve global problems in a new way. Most recently, SKS Microfinance won approval from the Securities Exchange Board of India to proceed with an IPO which would make it the first microlender to go public in India.

But critics wonder if capitalism and altruism can truly exist? Akula outlines the limitations behind traditional microfinance systems and explains how his for profit model is the key to reducing poverty in India.

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