Lily Lapenna

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Biographical Information

"Lily Lapenna is the Founder and CEO of UK based social enterprise MyBnk. In this role, Lily has been appointed a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2011, selected as an Ashoka fellow in 2010, and named Social Entrepreneur of the Year by the New Statesman in 2008. Her programmes continue to win awards for excellence in financial capability – most recently in 2010 by Children and Young People Now Magazine...

"Lily has mentored and guided the start-up and operations of other Social Enterprises, such as Foodcycle UK. She sits on the Board of Trustees for CIVA (the Centre for Innovation in Voluntary Action) and has not lost her passion for international development and hands-on action – Lily is an advisor to the charity Olive Branch for Children (Tanzania).

"A 2003 graduate of the School of Oriental and African Studies London, with a degree in Development Studies and African Studies, Ms. Lapenna also spent year at the Oriental Institute, Naples, on an Erasmus Scholarship. She began her career in international development in Africa and Asia, focusing on the empowerment and participation of young people through non-formal education. Whilst in Bangladesh, Lily became aware of the positive impact of micro-finance and saving services. She saw how a small loan can unleash potential, and give way to entrepreneurial ideas and lead to self sufficiency and this inspired her to set up MyBnk."