In Search of My Davos Moment

Last Year I participated in the World Economic Forum Special Meeting on Economic Growth and Job Creation in the Arab world. While there, I was wondering if real magnitude comes out of these World Economic Forum meetings or if it’s just a nice place for global leaders come together and have theoretical chats about making the world a better place.

And then I learned about the so-called Davos Moment. A Davos Moment occurs when two or more empathetic, proactive individuals unexpectedly cross paths while attending the Annual Meeting in Davos. Many times, these moments result in fundamental changes in individuals’ lives, the lives of others, or even the future of a nation. In a famous example of a Davos Moment, Nelson Mandela changed his mind about nationalizing the private sector in South Africa because of an unplanned discussion he had with an investor from the Far East. One discussion changed the path of a nation. In another example, Muhtar Kent of Coca-Cola launched the Haiti Hope project as a result of a dialogue that occurred in Davos. The result was a $9.5 million investment in 25,000 mango farmers over 5 years, enabling them to double their farm incomes and build sustainable futures.

After learning about the Davos Moment, my concerns were put to rest. And I realized that the Annual Meeting is an open invitation for human beings to practice authentic dialogue, something that is rare in today’s world. Authentic dialogue is one of the fundamental things that set us apart from any other creature.

In Taleeda, a non-profit foundation I founded, we are working to build sustainable social enterprises using a flexible platform. I have an aspiration at Davos, to discuss how to further build this platform and make my foundation sustainable. I’m in search of my Davos Moment and I’m determined to find it.