Advice For the New MD Office Director

On November 3, SEEP Annual Conference  participants gathered to hear Shari Berenbach, new director of USAID’s Microenterprise Development office, discuss her strategic vision and priorities.

Shari shared her initial thoughts about where USAID needs to focus: improving rural and agricultural finance, reaching vulnerable populations and the very poor, embracing small and medium enterprise development, and advancing innovation. However, she reversed the usual plenary format and consulted the audience to shape USAID’s strategy. Seventeen groups of practitioners put their heads together and offered a range of thought-provoking suggestions for defining USAID’s role in microenterprise development, improving outreach to the very poor, and strengthening collaboration with the SEEP Network. But perhaps the best advice came during a surprise visit from Shari’s predecessors at the Microenterprise Development office, Beth Rhyne and Kate McKee:

• Be bold! Don’t be afraid to challenge your partners and your agency.
• Look for strange bedfellows. Inspiration and innovation can come from the most unlikely of partners.
• Engage with CGAP and its donor members to share USAID’s voice and offer leadership.
• Be optimistic daily…even when you don’t feel like it. Your team and your partners need you to find the silver lining in every challenge.
• Question the common wisdom. Ask yourself if we really have the right answer or the full picture.

Best of luck, Shari – we look forward to the 2011 SEEP Annual Conference and hearing how well you acted on everyone’s advice!