This is part of a bonus series: quick takes from some of my conversations from the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum at Davos for you as you build 2023 as the important decision-maker, leader you are. It features my quick thoughts, a discussion, snippets of a panel that moved me and if you’re intrigued there are fuller recordings either on my Youtube channel or other sources which will be listed below.
Now, the Cliff’s-notes on Davos:
Every January, a highly curated selection of invitees from global business, government, civil society, media, and academia converges on this Swiss town to attend sessions designed to spark productive discussions around the most pressing issues of the day—and ultimately drive impact & action.
Now many people questioned whether the 53rd meeting would still hold relevance in a post pandemic world, given criticism of the “Davos man.”
And as perhaps a biased, first-timer, my answer is an undoubted yes!
I can now confirm, Davos remains an event full of paradoxes. A **modest ski town** near Zurich, Switzerland that otherwise is unassumming, boasts the richest and the most powerful. And yes the juxtaposition is uncanny of perhaps the most climate enthusiasts in a week, and yet, criticism of private jets by billionaires and politicians taking up more carbon footprint than it should. But Davos isn’t just about the keynotes. The meeting is also famous for the networking and deal-making that goes on in the corridors, side rooms, hotel suites, and Barry’s Piano Bar of this Alpine town. As one of the White Badges as a Young Global Leader, I soaked in the opportunity to learn and unlearn, contribute and yes, chat with many a Davos man—so you’re getting my inside look.
In this episode, Silvia Wiesner who joins me fresh off 17 years in Unilever, most recently as Managing Director; chats about her impressions and takeaways including ‘Quiet Quitting’, what the future of leadership requires, regenerative agriculture and so much more.
ABOUT silvia
Silvia is a Consumer Goods Executive, D&I ally, and leadership expert. She has gained deep insights into purpose-led business development during her 17-year commercial career at Unilever (leading teams in roles in Marketing, Sales, General Management).Silvia was selected as a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum in 2021 and sits on the Executive Committee of European Women on Boards, a pan-European NGO driving gender equality in the highest levels of decision making. As Committee Chair for Global Memberships at Paul Polman-co-founded IMAGINE, Silvia helps curate a community of bespoke leaders that use their power for good and that support each other on their personal growth journeys.
She is also member of the LEAD Network, the Club of European Female Entrepreneurs, and The Corporate Governance Institute. Based on the belief that we are the architects of our own future, Silvia is currently contributing to the World Economic Forum workstream on “Defining and Building the Metaverse”. She regularly gives talks on Positive Leadership or Diversity and Inclusion.
FOLLOW SILVIA: https://www.linkedin.com/in/silvia-wiesner/
THE IMAGINE OXFORD EXPERIENCE:
https://imagine.one/oxford-experience/
Leveraging the best of the University of Oxford’s institutions, IMAGINE’s Oxford Experience is an immersive 4.5 day leadership journey developing senior business leaders with passion and power for systems change, and accelerating purposeful partnerships.
Participants are accelerated by a group of world-class faculty from Oxford Martin School, Saïd Business School, the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, the Blavatnik School of Government – and world leaders bringing pioneering insights from philosophy, politics, economics; business, neuroscience and the arts.
Who is this for? Beyond the hats we wear, we are humans who care, storytellers, candid, courageous and playful – all senior leaders with the passion and power for systems transformation, committed to climate action and social equity.
This year we’re a live case study of systems transformation via our food system, convening business leaders across the full food value chain including tech pioneers, investors, and regulators – the humans who can change the game.
