Final Exam Essay

Leadership Subject Mr. Teuku Reza

Name

: Rienta Primaputri

ID

: 016201100015

Major

: International Relations 3

Faculty

: School of International
Relations, Communication, and
Law.

President University | 8th Semester.

1. Who is this person and why have you found him important? (100w)
For me, Dr. Muhammad Yunus is the most inspiring role model for his priceless and timeless
contribution to the fight against global poverty which has had a particularly strong impact on
improving the economic prospects of women and their families 1. He was awarded as Nobel
Peace Prize, the first Muslim recipient of Congressional Gold Medal and The President
Medal of Freedom. Most importantly Dr. Muhammad Yunus has successfully showed
everyone that the impossible- like alleviating poverty as worst form of violence- is in fact
possible through the concept of microcredit. This remarkable man is the founder of the
Grameen bank2.

2. How has his vision affected his ideas to shape the country? (200w)
Dr. Muhammad Yunus has had phenomenal success helping people lift themselves out of
poverty in rural Bangladesh by providing them with credit without requiring collateral. He
developed his revolutionary micro-credit system with the belief that it would be a cost
effective and scalable weapon to fight poverty3. The revolutionary approach of microcredit
came up in 1974 when Professor Muhammad Yunus launched an action research project with
his students to a poor village, Jobra where he learned the economic realities of the poor. He
found that it was possible with this tiny amount not only to help them survive but also to
create the spark of personal initiative and enterprise necessary to pull themselves out of
poverty4. As the result, it leads to the establishment of Grameen Bank Project which is 100%
owned by poor Bangladeshi women. With these microloans and policies of microfinance, He
has aided in increasing the income level in Bangladesh, along with increasing the amount of
1 Unknown. (2013, 04 19). Dr. Muhammad Yunus, first American Muslim recipient of
Congressional Gold Medal . Retrieved March 7, 2014, from The Arab American News:
http://www.arabamericannews.com/news/news/id_676

2 Bank, G. (2010, December). Biography of Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Retrieved March

7, 2014, from Grameen Bank | Bank for the poor: http://www.grameeninfo.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=329&Itemid=63
3 Production, S. (2010, December). Muhammad Yunus. Retrieved March 7, 2014, from The
New Heroes : http://www.pbs.org/opb/thenewheroes/meet/yunus.html

4 Allison, J. (2013, August 12). Taking Loans to the Micro Level: Muhammad Yunus.
Retrieved March 10, 2014, from Big Smarter, Think Faster: http://bigthink.com/100biggest-ideas/taking-loans-to-the-micro-level

people coming out of poverty. At this point, 80% of families in Bangladesh have access to
microcredit, and in 4 years, 100% will5.

3. How has he successfully handled all challenges? (200w)

I believe enormous changes through which his model social enterprises have produced did
not come in one night. It took immense efforts. Although debates all over towards his
methodology of microfinance, His strong resilience and commitment on poverty eradication
can be seen on how this system still bravely worked in an opposite way to the conventional
bank system where usually bank loans goes to the rich, He prefer carried on giving out
Micro-loans to the poor6. However a revolutionary leader like him insisted the concept of
Microfinance should be literally implemented in the works of financial institution because
according to his opinion based on economy theory, business should not be merely profit
maximization which leads only to selflessness money oriented-business. It should be a mean
to help people instead7. That is what he keeps doing in social business with the microfinance
methodology whose system is largely based on mutual trust and the enterprise and
accountability of millions of women villagers. Surprisingly His social business group now
reaches into all corners of his country with half the population of Bangladesh are users of his
microfinance system. His approach in redesigning concept of 21 st century in financial sectors
is a successful remark.
4. How has the public commented on His leadership, and write down your personal comment?
(200w)
Referring to the enormous positive and revolutionary changes drive by Dr. Muhammad
Yunus in the most pressing situation of poverty which become the severe treat to be faced by
so many people showing that there is a light at the end of tunnel. The methodology of
microfinance through his social business model gives endless hopes to the hopeless. Perhaps
this is an obvious point that Dr. Mohammad Yunus is truly exceptional social entrepreneur
5 World, O. Y. (2012, December 5). Professor Muhammad Yunus adresses the One Young
World 2012 Summit. One Young World Video . US: Youtube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=USddwTvRdJc.

6 Black, L. (2012, September 12). Muhammad Yunus: the model social enterprise leader?
Retrieved March 7, 2014, from International Hub: http://www.theguardian.com/socialenterprise-network/2012/sep/12/muhammad-yunus-social-enterprise-leader

7 Yunus, P. M. (2012, February 23rd). Interview with Muhammad Yunus. (C. Leow,
Interviewer)

and true leader a master craftsman whose works shifts mindsets about the global fight
against poverty8. I am inspired on how he is able to contextualize the realities of the present
and visualize the future. I am not surprised how his methodology of micro-credits gradually
implemented in nearly 100 countries outside of Bangladesh. According to one expert in
innovative government, the program established by Yunus at the Grameen Bank is the single
most important development in the third world in the last 100 years and I dont think any two
people will disagree9. Erin Carlyle also impressed how he brings out his own ability to help
others and stood for the son of poor Bangladeshi 10. I have no words left to express how
amazing leader he is.

8 Ashoka. (2012, April 18). From Boy Scout To Microcredit Pioneer: Lessons On
Changemaking From The Life Of Muhammad Yunus. Retrieved March 7, 2014, from Forbes:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/ashoka/2013/04/18/from-boy-scout-to-microcredit-pioneerlessons-on-changemaking-from-the-life-of-muhammad-yunus/

9 Pape, S. (2012, April 3). Interview with Muhammad Yunus - Awarded the 2006 Nobel Peace
Prize. (S. Pape, Interviewer)
10 Yunus, D. M. (2013, November 18). Muhammad Yunus: Changing The World One Small
Step at A Time. (T. P. Forbes, Interviewer)

Bibliography
Allison, J. (2013, August 12). Taking Loans to the Micro Level: Muhammad Yunus.
Retrieved March 10, 2014, from Big Smarter, Think Faster: http://bigthink.com/100biggest-ideas/taking-loans-to-the-micro-level
Ashoka. (2012, April 18). From Boy Scout To Microcredit Pioneer: Lessons On
Changemaking From The Life Of Muhammad Yunus. Retrieved March 7, 2014, from
Forbes: http://www.forbes.com/sites/ashoka/2013/04/18/from-boy-scout-tomicrocredit-pioneer-lessons-on-changemaking-from-the-life-of-muhammad-yunus/
Bank, G. (2010, December). Biography of Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Retrieved March 7,
2014, from Grameen Bank | Bank for the poor: http://www.grameeninfo.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=329&Itemid=363
Black, L. (2012, September 12). Muhammad Yunus: the model social enterprise
leader? Retrieved March 7, 2014, from International Hub:
http://www.theguardian.com/social-enterprise-network/2012/sep/12/muhammadyunus-social-enterprise-leader
Pape, S. (2012, April 3). Interview with Muhammad Yunus - Awarded the 2006 Nobel
Peace Prize. (S. Pape, Interviewer)
Production, S. (2010, December). Muhammad Yunus. Retrieved March 7, 2014, from
The New Heroes : http://www.pbs.org/opb/thenewheroes/meet/yunus.html
Unknown. (2013, 04 19). Dr. Muhammad Yunus, first American Muslim recipient of
Congressional Gold Medal . Retrieved March 7, 2014, from The Arab American News:
http://www.arabamericannews.com/news/news/id_6676
World, O. Y. (2012, December 5). Professor Muhammad Yunus adresses the One
Young World 2012 Summit. One Young World Video . US: Youtube :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USddwTvRdJc.
Yunus, D. M. (2013, November 18). Muhammad Yunus: Changing The World One
Small Step at A Time. (T. P. Forbes, Interviewer)
Yunus, P. M. (2012, February 23rd). Interview with Muhammad Yunus. (C. Leow,
Interviewer)