Top takeaways from Davos

I attended a session called “Technology for a Resilient World,” and the message is clear that organizations are using technology to make the world cleaner and safer. ESG (environmental, social, and governance) is no longer just a marketing campaign. Smart organizations have understood for some time that taking ESG seriously can have wide-ranging benefits that can help them outperform competitors that are just going through the motions. That’s why I’ve always said that purpose and profit are not mutually exclusive; they go hand in hand. When you layer in technology, it becomes a force multiplier.

There are so many creative people that are passionate about solving workforce shortages and closing the skills gap, especially as digital transformation continues to be a critical business strategy. In Davos, I learned about StepUp. One, an organization that is dedicated to reskilling and empowering refugees to become digital professionals. As these types of programs continue to mature, I’m hopeful they will have an impact on addressing the skills gap while also boosting the economy by developing a skilled workforce.

I’m still energized by all the incredibly inspiring leaders and exchanging of ideas at WEF and the plans that people and companies have in place to address some of the most challenging global issues. If I had to distill what I’m taking away from the event down to one word, it would be “resilience”. Humans are resilient and we’re able to come together and double down on complex issues. We proved it with COVID, we’re proving it with ongoing challenges like supply chain disruptions, as well as global transformations like the new world of work and so on. After experiencing my first trip to Davos, I’m even more convinced that when we come together and dream big, we can truly make the world work better for everyone.