I felt truly honored to be invited as a featured panelist during Oikocredit International’s 50th-anniversary celebration last Nov. 4, held at the stunning Van Nelle Fabriek in Rotterdam. The energy was palpable the moment I walked in — more than 500 participants from across the world gathered not just to commemorate a milestone, but to reaffirm a shared belief: that finance can and should be a force for good.

The program opened with warm and thoughtful remarks from Mirjam ’t Lam, Oikocredit’s managing director and CEO. Her message set the tone for the day: a reminder that Oikocredit’s mission — rooted in justice, peace, and solidarity — has remained steadfast since 1975.

Oikocredit began with a revolutionary idea: using capital to uplift people and communities rather than simply generate profit. Five decades later, this vision has evolved into a thriving global cooperative with more than 45,000 investors. Through partnerships in microfinance, sustainable agriculture, and renewable energy, Oikocredit’s investments have helped families strengthen livelihoods, farmers improve yields, and communities access cleaner and more reliable energy.

My connection to Oikocredit runs deep. I served on its International Board for six years more than a decade ago, and I remain personally grateful for the way the organization has modelled the power of values-based finance. Seeing this anniversary celebration felt like coming home to a community that continues to inspire me.

This year’s theme—“The Impact Evolution: Changing the World by Investing Differently”—captured not only the spirit of the event but also the urgency of our time. As global inequalities widen and climate risks intensify, the world needs financial institutions willing to challenge old models and pioneer new pathways. The celebration was as much a look forward as it was a look back.

I was invited to speak in a plenary panel titled “Challenging the Financial System – What Can Finance Do Differently?” – a topic close to my heart. It was moderated by Kawien Ziedses des Plantes, Oikocredit’s Director of Strategy & Sustainable Impact. I shared the stage with two outstanding leaders:

• Laura Foose, executive director of the Social Performance Task Force (USA), who spoke passionately about inclusive finance and social standards; and

• Harold Calderón Meza, Oikocredit’s Equity Officer (Peru), who shared how long-term, equity-based partnerships can help communities become more resilient.

Our discussion centered around these questions:

• How can we challenge traditional financial systems and redefine what “good finance” looks like?

• What does inclusive finance truly mean in action?

• How can we move from capital extraction to community empowerment?

• How can Oikocredit continue to lead this transformation?

I was grateful for the chance to share part of my personal journey. Growing up, I witnessed my father — a small land owner — trying to help farm workers who often borrowed money but struggled to pay it back. Those early interactions shaped my belief that genuine social change must come from empowerment, not dole-outs. This belief ultimately led me to establish a microfinance-oriented group of institutions which today serves 10 million clients and insures 30 million lives across the Philippines.

For me, inclusive finance is not just about access to loans or savings. It is about giving individuals — especially women and low-income families in rural areas — the agency to shape their own futures. This principle translates into a holistic approach for our microfinance institutions: alongside credit, we provide microinsurance, education, health programs, livelihood support, and digital solutions that bridge barriers for families in remote communities.

In our panel, I highlighted that inclusive finance must now adapt to climate realities. Typhoons, droughts, and other climate-related shocks disproportionately affect the poor. I encouraged Oikocredit to continue scaling up its work on micro and agricultural insurance, climate finance, and its support for MFIs on carbon credit exchange -- innovations that can help shield vulnerable communities from the uncertainties of climate change.

Partnerships that empower

Throughout its history, Oikocredit has shown that finance anchored in values can create lasting impact. Its partnerships with MFIs, cooperatives, and social enterprises around the world have:

• Strengthened governance and institutional resilience;

• Directed responsible investments to underserved communities;

• Enabled the growth of mutual insurance models; and

• Encouraged sustainable practices through initiatives like carbon-credit exchanges.

Our moderator, Kawien, closed the session with a powerful reminder: that it is time to invest where mission and money align, where governance empowers people rather than portfolios, and where communities are not mere beneficiaries but equal partners.

Oikocredit’s 50th anniversary marks more than a celebration of past successes. It is a reaffirmation of its socially-transforming mission. As we look ahead, I am inspired by the organization’s continued commitment to people-centered finance —and hopeful that together, we can build a more equitable, resilient, and inclusive future.

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"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." – Winston Churchill