JOURNAL OF LEADERSHIP, ACCOUNTABILITY AND ETHICS
Serving the “Bottom of Pyramid” – A Servant Leadership Perspective
Author(s): Shruti Gupta
Citation: Shruti Gupta, (2013) "Serving the “Bottom of Pyramid” – A Servant Leadership Perspective," Journal of Leadership, Accountability and Ethics, Vol. 10, Iss. 3, pp. 98 - 106
Article Type: Research paper
Publisher: North American Business Press
Abstract:
Pioneering research under the umbrella term “Bottom of Pyramid” (BOP) has stressed that marketing to
the world’s poor is a profitable endeavor for multinational companies. By doing so, companies would
help consumers and contribute towards the social goal of poverty alleviation. This paper argues that
companies that intend to serve the BOP need a servant leadership model with a focus on sustainability.
This claim will be substantiated with a case based analysis from two companies – Hatton National Bank
and Deutsche Bank, who successfully practice the principles of servant leadership in their microfinance
unit.