The World Economic Forum [WEF] – DAVOS in NYC – 2002
"Grace Interrupts Karma”
By Julie Meyer

Klaus Schwab moved his forum to New York City to demonstrate solidarity with the city this year, and as it was my first pilgrimage to DAVOS, I will forever compare future WEF’s to that of this one in NYC. 

Throughout the week, as I went in and out of the Waldorf Astoria where the Forum was taking place, I confronted protestors whose presence was at jarring odds with the discourse in the Hotel about how to improve the state of the world. That was Schwab’s founding mission. To bring together the right people who would be in a position to improve the state of the world. Whether it was Bono promoting the erasing of Third World Debt or opening up US markets to developing nations, or Bill Clinton discussing what should have been done in Argentina, heads of state, Nobel prize winners, celebrities, and CEOs of major multinationals were debating concrete steps to address the root causes of social inequality. Were the protestors outside uninformed or did they just assume that the rich club inside could want to do them no good? Or was it more subtle as Hillary Clinton pointed out that most of the world likes Americans and America, but think that they are basically selfish and are trying to engineer maximum return to themselves?

I ran into a friend of mine from the Bahrain at the WEF who when I asked what she had thought of it, she said, “a little too American-centric.” I had to stop myself from too quickly responding, “As opposed to Bahrain-centric?” What no one wanted to mention until someone did mention it is that the US is paramount if not omnipotent, and it’s power and might is growing and consolidating, and is set to increase over the next 2 decades. Whether it recognises that with power comes responsibility, and with leadership comes a recognition of the interdependence of the world is far from clear.

Having built an entrepreneurial network in under 12 months in 100+ cities, it was fascinating [and wholly humbling] for me to compare my original ambitions for First Tuesday with the World Economic Forum. The WEF is the world’s foremost networking opportunity precisely because the purpose of coming together is a much more important cause than to network. Despite not having proven its business model, First Tuesday rose to a certain height because it too had a cause – to help smart entrepreneurs win and to further the entrepreneurial spirit in Europe. Great businesses have always had a cause in addition to solving problems and making money.

Georges Ugeux, Head of the New York Stock Exchange, gave the WEF a Gala to remember forever. Once you put on a party like that one, you should agree never to do it again as you can only disappoint in comparison. Sabeer Bhatia, founder of Hotmail, is onto his next success. He, like so many smart entrepreneurs, is sourcing key talent, ideas and resources out of India. Kenneth Roth of Human Rights Watch seemed to be again and again the most well-informed man in the room with his detailed knowledge of what international institutions the US was and wasn’t supporting.

You really had to be there, but some of the most memorable lines – memorable for delivery, for effect, or for what wasn’t said are listed below: 

Top Ten Quotes from the World Economic Forum:
1. “Lousy Governments Matter.”
2. “Do what’s right, Do what’s best, Let God take care of the rest,” President Arroyo of the Philippines
3. “Try to be a good leader. If you are out to be a “great” leader, you will build monuments to yourself. Focus on being a good one.”
4. “Leadership is about creating the conditions of trust.” Colin Powell, Secretary of State, United States
5. “Good business leaders know more about timing than speed.”
6. “Americans have really joined the world family by feeling vulnerable and sharing our vulnerability.” Desmond Tutu
7. “Let’s take advantage of the new mood that we can do something to change the world.” Queen Rania of Jordan
8. “Globalisation is not working for the majority of the human race.” Bono
9. “We have settlements. It’s like having a baby, you can argue about who is the father, but the baby is there.” Shimon Peres
10. “Grace Interrupts Karma.” Bono