Meet The Leader

CEOs and startup founders share their favorite books that have changed their minds and careers. Topics include business classics, surprising selections, and the Bible. The book recommendations helped leaders manage teams, time, and energy while making critical shifts in their lives and mindsets.

2023 saw an unprecedented number of forcibly displaced people worldwide - 110 million and counting - all thanks to climate calamities, conflict and more. Kelly Clements, the deputy high commissioner of the UN's refugee agency shares the unique ways businesses around the world have stepped in to help tackle this problem, putting training in place to help refugees become economic drivers or even designing education solutions that help children in remote areas stay in school. She also shares what gives her hope, what keeps her up at night and the traits she depends on most to drive this work – insights that can help leaders of any stripe tackling complex challenges.

Demanding transparency and accountability aren't just the right things to do - they're key to tackling big global goals and rooting out things like corruption, self-dealing and undue influence. Ahead of International Anti-Corruption Day, we speak to Delia Ferreira Rubio, a lawyer, anti-corruption expert and the former long-time chair of global society organization Transparency International. She helps leaders look at the big picture to make things happen, sharing what's needed to build cultures of integrity - and the risks that can emerge if key steps aren't taken. Recorded at the Annual Meeting in Davos in 2023

As the climate summit COP28 kicks off this week, and Egypt hands the summit baton to Dubai, Egypt's Minister of International Cooperation discusses what any negotiation needs to be effective. In her role, Rania Al-Mashat helps drive economic diplomacy and she shares the phrases that can help build common ground, the personal traits that can forge perseverance and the mindsets that are key to make trust and action possible. This conversation, recorded during UN Week in New York this September, also explores some of the key priorities leaders will explore for climate action this year and what should be kept in mind to drive progress.

Executive coaches Mitzi Short and Lori Marcus share a tactical approach to careers and promotions to help women get their work noticed while eliminating gender bias in the workplace. These coaches, two of the 6 members of Band of Sisters (a group of former executives turned authors and speakers), discuss the the block and tackle of promotions: what experiences you must have on your CV for C-Suite roles; what development conversations you should be having with your boss (or your direct reports); and if you're a male leader, how you can be a better sponsor across your organization to help position women and people of color for leadership positions and opportunity. Band of Sisters: https://thebandofsisters.com/ Excerpts from Band of Sisters' recent book "You Should Smile More" This stubborn barrier is widening the gap for women in leadership: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/11/stubborn-barrier-widening-gender-gap-women-leadership/ How 'sponsors' can achieve gender parity in leadership: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/11/sponsors-can-achieve-gender-parity-leadership The 4 insidious phrases prevent the gender gap in leadership from closing: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/11/4-phrases-gender-gap-leadership

Matthias Maurer, an astronaut for the European Space Agency, returned home from his first space mission in May 2022 after 177 days living and working on the International Space Station (ISS). There he helped to conduct more than 35 experiments benefiting biology and robotics and more - an experience that drove home for him the need to protect space and maximize its potential. He spoke with Meet The Leader at the Annual Meeting in Davos about his experience, sharing what's needed for collaboration to balance a growing space economy and the need for stronger space governance. He also shared what his degrees in engineering and economics have tight him about problem solving - and what his astronaut's training can teach any of us about collaboration - and tackling climate action. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can leaders best navigate layoffs -- and rebuild for the future? Melbourne-based software firm Culture Amp recently conducted research on this question -- and then unexpectedly faced cuts of its own. CEO Didier Elzinga shares insights from the research and his applied experience, including common myths, surprising findings, and strategies his firm used to recalibrate and reprioritize. He also shared the tough realities leaders must keep in mind during times of change as well as his thoughts on how leaders can better protect healthy cultures at any time. He also shares his lessons learned from his previous career in visual effects - and how story telling insights from those days help him manage change as a leader today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Melting arctic ice will have knock-on effects around the globe, impacting farms, homes, livelihoods and more. But making people care about melting ice or the Arctic - things most people will never see firsthand - can be almost impossible. Unless you get creative, that is. Arctic Basecamp (a group of arctic experts and scientists), has found a range of creative ways build awareness, including: a special basecamp during Davos (where visitors can learn the latest research by day and some spend the night like polar researchers in below zero temperatures), attention-getting apps, and ice cream booths that drive home the fact our favorite foods are vulnerable to climate change. There's even a new metaverse experience developed with Accenture on Polar Tipping Points (as part of the World Economic Forum's larger Global Collaboration Village). Meet the Leader talked with founder Gail Whiteman and board member and actor Rainn Wilson about how they strategically "speak science to power," to grab the attention of changemakers from grassroots activists to heads of state. They also discuss how they target and connect with a 'moveable middle" a segment of the population open to change and willing to consider new ideas and approaches. Related article:https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/10/climate-change-messaging-rainn-wilson-arctic-basecamp/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first black female CEO of one of the largest privately-funded global non-profits discusses the experiences that helped her learn how to be a better advocate for others. These experiences range from a father who served in the NAACP tackling civil rights in 1960s South Carolina, to her own life journey serving as a trial lawyer, a Baptist minister and in the military during Operation Desert Storm. Angela Williams will explain what she's learned about partnering and rallying others for a cause - and what every leader must know about engaging others and getting your point across. Related article: Great leaders ask these 4 questions: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/10/leadership-advocacy-mobilization-relies-on-understanding/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Roland Busch, CEO of Siemens, is at the forefront of digital transformation and sustainability. He discusses the urgent need for reskilling in a rapidly changing job market. Roland emphasizes empowering managers to make decisions closer to frontline teams to stay competitive and shares his journey of reshaping leadership through inclusivity. He draws from his physics background to simplify complex challenges and highlights Siemens' commitment to carbon neutrality by 2030. Tune in for insights on adaptive workforce strategies and the future of team dynamics!