Is there a significant overlap between the needs of global companies for growth and the needs of the poor? If companies are to exploit this nexus on a large scale, how must perceptions and practices within companies change? What strategies can best guide companies through this unfamiliar terrain? These questions are central to the purposes of this conference. The conference begins with insights from a business strategist, responses from corporate leaders in two critical sectors, and a proposal for principles that can guide corporate engagements with low-income communities.