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, I ASK GLOBAL LEADERS ABOUT THE ‘NON-POLITICAL’ COMPANY LEADER:
The ‘non-political’ company leader.
In 2020/2021, we saw feathers ruffled when leaders like those from Google Coinbase declared certain “political activism” was a distraction. Employees walked out since of course, in many ways, we’re in a generation that have been told to bring “our full selves to work”, including our belief systems.
But how do we as leaders, manage what feels like a double bind?
I ask global leaders,
Niels B. Christiansen, CEO of the LEGO Group,
Stanley Bergman Chair of Henry Schein,
Joseph Ucuzoglu, Global CEO Deloitte to weigh in at #Davos2023 World Economic Forum.
Here’s what they said, do you agree?