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Inside Grameen 2009

In December 2009, we gathered an international group of social entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, and innovators in Bangladesh. We spent five days getting under the skin of Grameen, the world’s best-known social purpose company. And, wow, what a week!
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At Grameen’s HQ in Dhaka we dialogued with Grameen founder and Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus. We went to the villages to meet with the grassroots staff of the bank and its borrowers.

In Bogra, five hours north of the capital, we were guests of the Grameen Danone Foods Ltd. This joint venture is perhaps the world’s best-known collaboration between a large multinational and a social enterprise.

Accompanied by the Bangladeshi staff and the Danone Communities team from Paris, we went from factory floor to the doorsteps of the villagers who buy the high nutrition yoghurt. We saw – warts and all – how this pioneering social business is attempting to align the resources and power of the two brands to benefit the poor of Bangladesh.

Inside Grameen was only possible because of the amazing hospitality, openness and generosity of spirit of our friends at Grameen and Danone. We thank you so much.

Some feedback from participants:

“In 5 days I experienced more than I normally do in a whole year. My thoughts again and again return to all the fantastic things we experienced, I also keep thinking about you all as fantastic travel companions.”
- Hans Erik Brønserud, CEO, Middelfart Sparekasse, Denmark

“I learned so much and was so impressed with the people we met in all walks of life. The access we had to Professor Yunus and the Grameen and Danone organisations was exceptional.”
- Dr Rhiannon Rowsell, Director Corporate Responsibility & Reputation, Astra Zeneca, London