Establishing a keen passion for finance and economics after studying and achieving a PhD in Economics, Muhammad wanted to help others with their finances. Upon returning to Bangladesh, Muhammad joined the Department of Economics at the University of Chittagong as the chairman. Later in 1976, he began to offer financial support to the poor, supplying them with loans that were collateral-free. He named this project Grameen Bank, the project which would later become the fully established Grameen Bank proving loans to the poor individuals of Bangladesh. The Grameen Bank is widely successful, hosting an average of 8.4 million borrowers helping an incredible 97% women with one and a half billion dollars every year. Philanthropic at heart, Muhammad is continually working to better the lives of others and has since received a Nobel Peace Prize alongside Grameen Bank for his efforts to create economic and social development.
Passionate to further the economic and social development of those less fortunate than himself, Muhammad established the Yunus Centre in 2008. Muhammad established the think tank with a number of missions on their agenda, with the main being the Poverty-Free World Campaign. A strong believer that poverty is unnecessary and imposed on individuals by society, Muhammed is certain that creating a world free from poverty is a matter of will. The Yunus Centre works to gather partners and networks worldwide, promoting the eradication of poverty from Bangladesh by 2030. The centre also works to increase awareness of existing poverty eradication institutions, acts as a resource centre for social business, spreads Muhammad’s breadth of knowledge on eradicating poverty and also delivers academic programmes encompassing Muhammad’s knowledge on social business.
Revered within his sector, Muhammad has been highly rewarded throughout his career. He is one of just seven individuals to have been awarded the trio of the Congressional Gold Medal, Presidential Medal of Freedom and a Nobel Peace Prize. Muhammad has also been honoured with over 50 different honorary doctorate degrees, from universities in countries such as Belgium, Costa Rica, Japan, Peru, Spain, Thailand and the UK to name a few. In 2010 New Statesman listed Muhammad in The World’s 50 Most Influential Figures 2010 list and in 2012 he was credited by Fortune Magazine as one of the 12 Greatest Entrepreneurs of the Current Era.
As an international keynote and motivational speaker, Muhammad has delivered countless lectures worldwide. Appearing on a number of TV programmes, such as The Oprah Winfrey Show and The Colbert Report, it is without a doubt that Muhammad’s expertise is highly sought after worldwide with some of the largest influential names seeking his prowess. Invaluably knowledgeable in the world of finance and economics, Muhammad delivers incredible keynote speeches discussing everything from poverty to social enterprise and microcredit. An incredibly influential figure, Muhammed is truly a special keynote that cannot be missed.
