A Shaper in Davos “we know what the future should look like”

*By Eduardo Vazquez Global Shaper Week Blog Two 

Why do you think it’s important to have youth representation at Davos?

The French author Francois de la Rochefoucauld once said “The only constant in life is change”. This is true of humans and of business. Today, the world has changed and a new demographic dynamic has emerged: 50% of the world’s population is under the age of 27.

Forty years after the first meeting was held in the Davos Congress Center, the World Economic Forum has decided to include Global Shapers, who are under the age of 30, at Davos. We must celebrate the fact youth will now be formally represented at Davos not only because we are a majority but also because so many great things have been done by youth.

When Klaus Schwab founded what we now know as the World Economic Forum in 1971, he did so in the spirit of uniting stakeholders with the will and power to improve the state of the world.  What started as a good intention has yielded peace talks, social initiatives, new social business models, think tanks and most importantly, has served as a platform to actively collaborate in shaping a better world. I am sure the presence of Global Shapers at Davos will be a milestone event, one which will enhance the World Economic Forum’s mission to improve the state of the world.

What issues would you like to bring forward on behalf of Gen Y at the Annual Meeting?

My generation knows things are not going the right way. Inequality and lack of opportunities have become our greatest challenges. But we want to do our part. We live in an age when to be young and to be indifferent can no longer be synonymous. It is true that some have decided to do nothing. Others have decided to protest and take to the street hoping their stand will make a difference. And there are also many women and men actively engaged in transforming their communities. We want to collaborate and learn from each other. The sooner we unite the sooner we will succeed.

We need to shape new models in order to achieve the Great Transformation we are all looking for. Let’s use technology and education as weapons of social change. Let’s create a business friendly environment so my generation can create its own jobs. Let’s work together regardless of our age and we will soon learn that we are all fighting the same war against poverty and lack of opportunities.

How have your current and previous leadership experiences prepared you for the Annual Meeting?

At the age of 15, I founded my own NGO named HELFEN (which means help in German). We created a scholarship fund for public high school students. Today, I am a board member of an NGO named SER MEXICO, “Be Mexico”, which works to empower citizens with a sense of responsibility and entrepreneurship. I am also Vice President of Economic and Market Intelligence at HARBOR intelligence, a research firm based in Monterrey México. The company has clients in more than 20 countries around the globe and specializes in Macroeconomics as well as the Steel and Aluminum Markets. These various experiences have taught me that we as a generation have the power to change the world, to build our future. This is why I wanted to attend Davos; I am sure I will find fellow women and men that share the same passion for helping, sharing and building a better world.

What are you hoping to bring back to your community after Davos?

For a long time I have known that we are not alone. There are many battles being fought around the globe and Davos will serve as a platform to help us collaborate and learn from each other. I want to create allies in my fight against poverty and lack of opportunities. We know what the future should look like. We want to: End poverty and hunger, offer universal education, create gender equality, have economic growth with environmental sustainability, and develop a global partnership for change. When I go back to my community I want to align stakeholders around that vision and inspire people and institutions to realize that vision.

*Eduardo Vazquez is Vice President of Economic and Market Intelligence at HARBOR intelligence, research firm based in Monterrey México. He is a board member of SER MEXICO “Be Mexico” a non-profit organization that empowers primary school students with a sense of responsibility and entrepreneurship. Eduardo will be attending the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting as part of the first Global Shapers Davos delegation.