WEF 2018 Meetings in Davos
In Davos, the concept of the year was “women.” But, the topic that followed or perhaps even somewhat surpassed the topic of gender equity was the fact that President Trump was coming to Davos for the first time and “what shall he be saying to the whole world?”
After Christine Lagarde, Executive Director of IMF, announced that the estimate for the world’s economic growth has been raised to 3.9%, all the eyes to turned to President Trump.
In the meantime, a serious number of people had quite valuable addresses on different grounds. I should mention a few that I could follow. One is Chancellor Angela Merkel and her comments on data and the information economy by asking “who owns the data?” And she stressed that ownership of data should not challenge participatory social model and economic prosperity. Between her address and French President Emmanuel Macron’s address, there was a speech organized for Yuval Noah Harari, Oxford University graduate professor of Hebrew University of Jerusalem – with his controversial books. He raised the question of ownership of data and the digital dictatorship that may appear to be not in far future. Like many, I was quite impressed by his address.
Machine learning and brain science are in front of us and as the biological organisms are algorithms, we are all expected to change. With the merger of biotech information and InfoTech algorithm power and we may expect that will figure out that what you would do or alternatively describe you what you should do. This is the expected to be digital dictatorship. The algorithms can be your therapist. Adversely, they can also be your risk, as “somebody” can hack your brain in order to tell you what to do.
I have few comments from my side. I kind of believe that we may look at the future in this issue a little more optimistic.
Algorithms, as yet, still work under ceteris paribus environments.
There is a famous Google joke: The guy calls the pizza shop around the corner of his house and says that he wishes to order pizza. The operator on the other end of the line says “would like to have the usual?” He asks how do you know the usual or what I shall order? The operator says Google has bought the pizza shop and we have your records here in the screen in front of me. You order a pizza with sausage and salami and you separately order a fashion magazine for your partner from the news stand. You can order that from here as well from now on. But, I can see a comment inserted here that your cholesterol levels are quite out of acceptable range. The guy leans back in shock says in a whisper mode, I have a new partner and we want to have a veggie pizza and she is interested in an outdoor sports magazine. By the way, I expect that I will overcome my cholesterol condition with my new life style.
In short, people do change.
The digital dictatorship now recognizes the past about us but doesn’t, as yet, expect the future, even if biotech is there. If we look at it from the order side, from the societal point of view, it may be quite a pessimistic outlook and once we are all classified into boxes or a categories, it will be very difficult for us to be able to get out of those boxes. She reads this, she eats this, she drives this, she likes this etc. But these all change by time. We change by time.
What are, unfortunately, not changing at a very good pace are gender diversity, all kinds of diversities, unfair income distribution, poverty, corruption, grey economy, child and people abuse, terror, wars, crime, damage to the nature and environment and all kinds of unfairness in general. To kind of help to all these dimensions, the key is the level of education in a country or society and the quality of this education is another must dimension that needs to be measured neatly. The road map to clear out all of these problems are quite well studied and already put forward. But, unfortunately, not many action are taken regarding all these issues which we all agree to solve, once we listen to them.
In other words, we unfortunately all have a very short memory. We see, understand and applaud, but we don’t take the required action on many issues. We go on with the business as usual.
Enlighten Us All “First” with Digital Transparency – Before Taking Over
From an optimistic point of view, may be we will be able to see every evening on the TV, not only whether the stock market has moved up and down, but we can also be able to see what has happened to the gender gap, corruption, end poverty, environment friendliness, income distribution, chances of terror or level of education indices’ have done today, or this month. We can see or measure these at in each and very society or country. This has priority and it will be the “digital transparency” and in my humble opinion this may be a very good sign or even a digital breakthrough. We first need to see the scorecards for the countries, before “somebody” takes over us. What are the KPIs and what have we accomplished. If the intention is to take over people before they ask questions, I believe, it is too late now.
The governments need to have their scorecards and they need be measured on that. So, digital transparency is good and nothing to be scared of, if you look at it from this perspective. So, I have expectation from the “digital transparency” at least before it becomes a “digital dictatorship”.
Secondly; Yes!, we have huge data but this can’t be used against us. In early 60’s people were scared of the TV commercials that they will brainwash people. Yet, today, more or less all of us believe that this car is the best car and this drink shall bring joy to our dinner table. But, we have also seen the other side of the coin as well. When the best car manufacturer has financial difficulties and the new car is unfortunately no longer the best car or too much of this drink is not considered healthy at all. But, there is definite regulation on how these ads may affect us or influence our psychology. Regulation will definitely come together with the digital transparency and the digital dictatorship dimension will be lessened. The effect, however, may, of course, be there.
What I almost agreed 100% and liked the most among Professor Harari’s comments was about the past: “Many politicians play on the people with the notions of fear, explosion of anger and hatred as they put forward the “nostalgic fantasies” of going back to the past. I must tell you ‘it was not fun’ and ‘you wouldn’t like to go back there’ and secondly ‘it is not coming back’.” Just the mere fact that he said that “past was not fun” must have an effect on the votes and the politicians who hope to take the people to the past should think twice, judge the present well and promise to take all the people to a bright new future.
Oxfam has published that the half of the world’s population received no share of the wealth created globally in 2017. Oxfam’s Executive Director Winne Byanyima shared the report “An Economy for the 99 Percent” in Davos. The development happens with sharing not with holding tight to the assets or even wasting them.
Political Leaders in Davos
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s contributions at women and education topics were very valuable. He said employing more women is the smart thing to do. He also said hiring, promoting and retaining women is the key to narrow the gap between the rich and the poor. Also he said in his panel with Malala “investing in women and girls education is the most effective way of making a real and lasting difference in the developing world. Malala, who had received Nobel Peace Prize and was shot by Taliban on her way to school in Pakistan, said that women must be able to choose the way they dress, as opposed to being told on how to dress by her community, parents, friends or husband. This saying represents a real challenging statement for the women of the Islamic world.
Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi noted three issues: the world needs to be more sensitive to the environment, to solve the issue of terrorism and to pay attention to extreme protectionism.
Likewise, Argentine’s President Mauricio Macri explained that his country could not go quite far with protectionist policies but had progressed with global trade.
When we come back to President Trump and his address, President Trump has certain characteristics that are worth noting. First of all, I have a humble impression that he likes himself quite a lot or alternatively he has a large ego. Unfortunately, I have noted that many self-made business people and some CEO’s fall into this trap. When you fall into this trap, the demand becomes “You will need to address my ego first!” The President demonstrates this requirement in many opportunities. The heads of autonomous institutions in the US, do not think that they have any obligation or responsibility to subordinate or to speak in a manner that will appeal to the ego of the new and demanding president. Respect is enough, but they don’t take orders, as they are the professionals with their own respective track records. Of course, this creates some tension, as well as a gap. There are of course a number of people or candidates that note this gap and come out with the comment or an offer that “Sir, if you give me the opportunity, I will not only say “yes sir!”, but I will also worship you!” And the matter gets more confused than necessary.
In the meantime, the members of the press do not hesitate to ask questions. In a press conference, questions not only relate to how great America is and how great the President is, but also some hostile or difficult questions start to come up, President Trump says “thank you!”. After a few “thank you”s, the explanation is given , “thank you” means “thank you, you may go”. But the press don’t mind and continue ask questions and he again says “thank you” means “thank you, out now!, by giving further explanation. In the past, staff had the task to welcoming and showing the way out for the visitors. Now, he’s handling it himself, like many managers, who used to make reservations thru their assistants, but now they are doing the plane or rental car reservations themselves for their travels. The President assumes the task of showing the way out for the press.
In my professional life I have seen a serious number of corporate leaders from factory managers to real business leaders who act as if “they are the king”, as well as a less serious number of friendly leaders who wish to listen to others opinion, before making their decisions -or giving the orders. My management style falls into the second group. But, it is not an easy style. My assistant one day told me that I say too much “please” and the people coming out of your room tend to think that they will do what they are told to do, if they please. She told me “Please tell them ‘it is orders!’” I told her “why should I bother to order around, they need to figure out that it is orders from the organization chart, the title or even from the size of the room. They will learn. Don’t worry!” My experience is that when you bear with the time to listen to the others to make the decisions and when you leave the position, there will be an structure behind you that can run by itself. If you order around and decide on everything there will be no structure behind you and the progress will stagnate. The organization will change from people who acts on their own to people who only takes orders. But, I have also seen that when the managers that replace democrat managers and when they start to order around than both the structure and the success are seriously gets damaged.
Even the election speeches President Trump came out of this ego motto. The American people said we need to change. Trump won because he expressed the change in his campaign. The slogan “Make America great again!’” has been perceived as if America has lost being great, an easy mistake to make, as we were all going through a recession for many years. The President was able to score the bill. However, such an introverted slogan has worried the whole world, especially Europe. “Let’s make America great again!” Shall this be at the expense of other countries? Right now, the value of the American dollars is very low and this is expected to lead to more exports from the US and open the doors for production in America. This exchange rate may not be thought to be long-term, but now fear of currency is added to fear of campaign slogan.
The day before his Davos address, President Trump met with British Prime Minister Theresa May and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In Netanyahu meeting, threatening Palestine with aid cuts, was only an addition to his twits and directions to the press. I am anxious and I fear that this protocol is not going to make America great again.
If that happens, I do not know US’s leadership will be filled with what in the world, but China is on the upswing and Europe is starting a serious recovery. I think all G20 countries see this as an opportunity. Of course, it is not only President Trump’s attitude or twits, but also the lack of subtle and accountable foreign policy has been an eye opener for all the other countries. To sum up, if America is not great again, in the mood right now, it seems to me that no one will feel sorry.
This issue is well caught by the headline of Deutsche Welle, “Trump is coming to tell to the whole world how great America is.” “America is great, but people are poor” were the cartoons that were widely seen.
When WEF Founder and President Klaus Schwab welcomed President Trump to the stage for his address and when hisses were heard in the room, he raised his voice and said now “it is essential for us to listen to you directly to you” to the President. It was a right move for a well-mannered host. In his farewell message President Klaus said “we’ll certainly be among the hard working men and women who does their duty each and every day, making this world a better place for everyone. Thank you very much.”
When Trump said “America First” does not mean America alone. This was, at least, a retour from protectionism. Shall other countries be pushed to protectionist policies or will they stay in fair and global trade, is still in the grey. But one shade less, perhaps.
Overall, it was a “sticking to the text and listening to the advice” speech was quite a good move and a good decision on the behalf of the President.
Women at the WEF Meeting
Representing the pinnacle of accomplishment across governments, businesses, civil society and academia, the Co-Chairs of the Annual Meeting 2018 were: Sharan Burrow, General Secretary, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), Belgium; Fabiola Gianotti, Director-General, European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Geneva; Isabelle Kocher, Chief Executive Officer, ENGIE, France; Christine Lagarde, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Washington DC; Ginni Rometty, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, IBM Corporation, USA; Chetna Sinha, Founder and Chair, Mann Deshi Foundation, India and Erna Solberg, the Prime Minister of Norway.
This is a remarkable list. I am sure there may other influential women as well who were not present there. But, this many women leaders ever seen together at a WEF meeting in Davos was a first time.
I had met Sharan Burrow personally earlier. She is a queen of trade unionism and an important speaker. I shared the same platform with her on the G20. Gianotti was also together with the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Malala at a session on strengthening the education of women and young girls where Malala pointed on the fact women should decide on their own clothing and not others.
Isabelle Kocher, one of the two CEOs, is head of the natural gas, power giant French company. “Removing economic, social and environmental differences from the middle is an unexplored growth area for companies,” revealing that her responsibility goes beyond the production of energy.
Christine Lagarde, the Executive Director of the IMF, who has been supporting gender issues in general as a key for growth and repeated the theme in her work and asserts that women mean more income for the respective countries. In this divided world, for a future together, the women are needed, but we still vastly see inequality. Christine Lagarde was in Turkey many times, she organized luncheon for women in business and civil society during her visits. Despite her very tight schedule she was in Ankara at the very first launch of W20, making the key address during Turkey’s Presidency of G20. She was in Berlin during the W20 meeting under German G20 Presidency. She invites the world economy into serious discipline and growth, and she attracts attention in every opportunity that women’s participation is a fragile, but important anchor for sustainable growth. Empowering women economically and women’s participation in the labor force are boosters of economic growth.
Erna Solberg is the leader of a conservative party that won her second election in Norway. She is a typical humanist, egalitarian and success-oriented iron lady. Lagarde and Solberg wrote an article together “It’s Time to Let Women Thrive” just before the meeting in Davos.
Ginni Rometty, the CEO of IBM said that data, or rather, information should not be confused with knowledge. Sinha is a feminist banker who has provided financial opportunities to 11,000 women in India.
W20 at Davos
When I was invited to Davos as the Founding Chair of W20, by the current Chair of W20 – W20 Argentina. Knowing the protocol behind WEF, I hesitated. I was anyway travelling at the time and I said “no” to myself, but then a number of friends told me “you must go!” I said to myself “Let me take advice for a change.” Now, I am very glad I made it to Davos. I witnessed that the wind in the air in Davos blows knowledge and power.
The W20 Argentina meeting was held in the presence of Argentina’s First Lady Juliana Awada, President Mauricio Macri’s wife.
The Co-Chair of W20 Argentina Andrea Grobocopatel chaired the W20 meeting in Davos. In my understanding the First Lady Awada was also behind the organization of the W20 meeting and instituting a place to host W20 in Davos, Casa Argentina.
Argentina’s First Lady Juliana Awada was apparently behind the setting of Casa Argentina as well as the W2O meeting. She is not only elegant, but also has a very elegant and right attitude towards people and issues.
Daniel Funes De Rioja, Chair of B20 Argentina, Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary General of SEGIB, the Ibero-American Secretary General, Julie Teigland, EY Regional Managing Partner, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Angelika Huber-Strasser, KPMG Head of Corporates, Germany, Amada Ellis, former New Zealand Ambassador to the United Nations, Vanessa Erogbogbo, She Trades, ITC, Monica Flores Barragan, ManpowerGroup President, Latin America, Laura Liswood, from Council of Women World Leaders and the author of Loudest Duck, Kayitesire Marie Laetitia from CEPAR of Rwanda, Regula Schegg and Shea Gopaul from GAN (Glabal Apprenrenteship Network) and Fabiana Ricagno, the President of the Commission for Communication in Argentina and Veronica Cheja, Urban were the participants I could record. My apologies for the people I have missed.
The Chair of B20 Argentina, Daniel Funes De Rioga, touched upon an important point regarding the organization of G20 and business women issue in his speech. He mentioned that B20 Argentina has very valuable business women within itself. He is happy to see and to have a separate W20, because he said W20 provides a valuable road map for B20 to enhance the women’s existence in businesses, which is necessary for the success and sustainability of all of us. This comment, as well as his being there throughout the meeting, were very precious.
It is always a debate to claim that women need to enlarge their businesses to be in the head tables and higher circles. However, I was a representative of the local ABB organization in Turkey for many years and found place in head tables and business circles, but where the issue and the priority becomes the promotion of either your own or professional businesses. You can, of course, say more than few words about the status of women and about enhancing and promoting women in the organizations but usually it falls into second priority in the task list of a business women, who already have multitasking and quite a busy schedule with a lot of targets. A dedicated road map is also essential for smaller women owned businesses, because they provide subvention or the tires for the bigger businesses, in terms of law firms, accounting firms, advertising, PR or HR firms and the like. So, W20 is a tool for diversity of the business world. Being a business women and lobbying for a road map to have more women in the economy are not the same things.
Argentina is an agricultural products producer and a serious player in the food and wine industry. Historically, the role of women in agriculture is very important for the gross national product of any country and women’s role in the agricultural products can never be undermined. W20 Argentina has taken this topic to their W20 priority. I applauded this decision because it needs attention for better results. Rural women was a topic in W20 Istanbul Declaration and I am very proud that the first W20 declaration has not lost its relevance to the road map for women to move the world ahead.
Sharan Burrow, General Secretary, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), Belgium
Fabiola Gianotti, Director-General, European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Geneva
Isabelle Kocher, Chief Executive Officer, ENGIE, France
Christine Lagarde, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Washington DC
Ginni Rometty, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, IBM Corporation, USA
Chetna Sinha, Founder and Chair, Mann Deshi Foundation, India
Erna Solberg, the Prime Minister of Norway
Daniel Funes De Rioja, Chair of B20 Argentina
Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary General of SEGIB, the Ibero-American Secretary General
Julie Teigland, EY Regional Managing Partner, Germany, Switzerland, Austria
Angelika Huber-Strasser, KPMG Head of Corporates, Germany,
Amada Ellis, former New Zealand Ambassador to the United Nations
Vanessa Erogbogbo, She Trades, ITC
Monica Flores Barragan, ManpowerGroup President, Latin America
Laura Liswood, from Council of Women World Leaders and the author of Loudest Duck
Kayitesire Marie Laetitia from CEPAR of Rwanda,
Regula Schegg and Shea Gopaul from GAN (Glabal Apprenrenteship Network)
Fabiana Ricagno, the President of the Commission for Communication in Argentina
Veronica Cheja, Urban