Joining the conversation at Davos 2020

January is a time to reset, take stock and absorb new ideas – a time to look ahead and get stuck in to our work with a fresh sense of purpose. So it can be no coincidence that the World Economic Forum (WEF) picks the first month of the year for its annual meeting in Davos.

The event, and the myriad others under its umbrella, set the agenda for business and beyond. And this year, we’ll be there too, sharing our vision for a positive human future and business’s critical part in making it happen. We’re looking forward to it all the more given the theme for Davos 2020: Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World.

Writing a new business manifesto

The WEF has issued a rallying call for delegates to develop a ‘Davos Manifesto 2020’. It says businesses must renew or reinvent their purpose to tackle challenges like limiting climate change, protecting biodiversity and agreeing how to implement the technologies behind the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

“I’m excited. The Davos Manifesto 2020 aligns so well with our optimistic view, as outlined in our New Leadership Agenda,” says Frazer Bennett, our Chief Innovation Officer. “Leaders can, and will, embrace the opportunity ahead of them if they have a clear purpose that informs all that they do. This is vital to how businesses grow, through building the right partnerships, attracting and growing talented people, and inspiring new products and services for the 21st Century.

“In fact, as leaders, we’ve never been afforded a better opportunity to find innovative ways to seize on the forces shaping our world and grow our businesses while at the same time contributing to an improved planet and a positive human future.”

We’re thrilled to join in the conversation at Davos first-hand. Frazer will be on stage to discuss how businesses can harness sustainability to grow. And our own Yobie Benjamin, an expert on consumer innovation, will be speaking about the future of food and agriculture.

The week, with its many conversations with global leaders, is great chance, too, for us to test some of our own ideas, particularly around how leadership can move away from tried and true methods, and instead channel the innate creativity and ingenuity of their people.

We’ll be reporting from Davos throughout the week. Be sure to stay tuned to the Insights Hub and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. You can find out why our Chief Innovation Officer, Frazer Bennett, believes purpose is key to attracting and retaining customers in this summary of his Davos talk. And if you happen to be in town, get in touch. We’d love to say hello.