On Jackley and Kiva, from Fast Company:

The Kiva microfinance system is well suited for women—who produce half the world’s food, yet earn just 10 percent of the world’s income—in part because women have proven they will reinvest in their families and their children’s education. Eighty percent of Kiva’s borrowers are women entrepreneurs (that amounts to $256 million in loans for women), who hail from more than 60 countries.

Jessica Jackley champions women, microfinance, tech, and the arts. These critical streams all flow into her captivating speeches, which discuss timely issues around the economy, women's empowerment, and the web. Most importantly, Jackley always remembers to highlight what's at the heart of social entrepreneurship—that relationships and our belief in each others' potential are ultimately the most powerful forces for positive change.