What did I learn at Davos?

That afternoon, all Davos 50 Shapers were in that one room, where we had spent the past two days together. Through the time, we got to know each other’s name, interest, and daily jobs. With some, we even had shared our passion, fear, and sense of humor.

I looked around to fellow Shapers and the wonderful individuals I was privileged to be friends with. Waves of excitement and somberness hit once in a while. It was the end of Global Shapers’ private program, but it was far from the actual end. The World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting – the very reason we were at that one room together – was only about to start. As Andrea Bocelli was perhaps rehearsing his piece for the Opening Concert, we were doing our stretches for the Annual Meeting marathon. At that point, we were ready. At that point, we had to be ready.

Now that I am home, I wish everyday that “it has not even started yet.” I wish to re-feel that moment of anticipation, that moment before we jumped into one big pool of surprises and prospects. Shapers who had been to Davos are always at loss of words when it came to explaining the experience. “You have to be there to understand” was a common remark. While many have utilized practical steps and strategies to approach the Forum’s Annual Meeting, this time, I hope to humbly share some major personal insights from the Annual Meeting.

Assumption of the best toward each other.

Encounters in Davos could be full of surprises. There were the A-list individuals whom we all would want to meet, some of whom you would actually meet. There were also those whose profile you might miss, yet when you unintentionally chatted over coffee queue, they had some great and unique point of view on life. The more people I met and talked to, the more I sensed the general respect among participants. We were all at equal footing, regardless of our age, country of origin, and jobs. We did not question each other’s intentions as the conversations happened. What brought us all together was the Forum’s mission, which is to improve the state of the world. We had the best assumption of each other and that greatly impacted the dynamic at the Annual Meeting.

Such an approach is very much different than what we generally deal with, especially at a professional setting. When we meet a certain individual for work purposes, we would definitely put into mind a personal goal and an expected goal from the other end. The meeting could hopefully bridge the two goals, so both could be realized through a certain partnership between the parties. Yes, it is effective, but it also narrows interaction to professional identities, responsibilities, and deliverables. The full trust and ample positivity in Davos was something I really appreciated and it never hurts to embrace the Annual Meeting from that perspective. Of course, as Global Shapers, we should not discount ourselves from sincerity and good intention as we are interacting with other participants and paving our ways to realize our goals. The Forum’s mission should ideally be integral to our activities, both during and beyond the Annual Meeting.

I had my goals coming to Davos. Yet I returned home with way much more than I expected. I built not only professional relationship with certain individuals but also personal rapport with fellow Shapers and other participants. I account these gems to the Forum’s dynamic of assuming the best of each other, which resulted in high respect among individuals attending the Meeting.

Short window of opportunity to be the best out of ourselves.

The Annual Meeting was officially four days long. Global Shapers’ private program took place for two days before the Meeting started. We had that six days and that’s it. It was a long period of time – individuals who were mere strangers when we first met in Zurich suddenly became dear friends I cherish and admire. Yet, it was a very short period of time – opportunities came and went and before we knew it, we were at the airport, checking in for our flight home.

Such time pressure impacted how participants brought themselves. They dressed their best. They spoke their best. They did all their homework of labeling business cards. They forwent fun night outs to ensure their schedules are all set for the next day. Choices were made with clear judgments and priorities were set. Everyone wanted to be the best of themselves.

I’d like to think that all of us in the Global Shapers Community are hard workers. We (successfully) navigate between having a realistic, market-sensible job and giving back to our local community. We explore all possible thoughts and ideas to ensure that we are working towards our vision. Yet, how often do we become conscious of becoming the best version of ourselves? How often do we deliver our best pitch at a meeting or carefully compose an email? The Davos attitude to really become exceptionally good was crucial. Being continually reminded of the time cram during the Annual Meeting has helped me to refocus and recharge, especially post-Davos. Time is precious and the clock is ticking. The best thing we can do is to be better and better in being ourselves.

Shapers shaking it off.

Everyone has their own experience and perspective of Davos. I spent the few days following the Annual Meeting just replaying many memorable moments that were crammed in the one-week period. The more I reflected, the more I am grateful for the Global Shapers Community, specifically this year’s Davos 50. They very much define those memorable moments, be it for intelligent insights on public healthcare or for MTV-worthy dance moves that their future grandchildren would be proud of.

First of all, the Global Shapers Community team did a beyond-excellent job preparing us for the Annual Meeting. We had a comprehensive briefing, both on the technicalities of Davos as well as on the serendipitous beauties that Davos could offer. As members of the GSC team shared their thoughts and advices, I became more convinced that job well done required way more than responsibility. Job well done has a price tag of passion, commitment, and most of all, joy. I am grateful to the GSC team not only for preparing us well but more so for putting their hearts into all of us Shapers.

The GSC team’s passion and joy resulted in a very strong bond among the Davos 50 Shapers. Being as young, as confused and as excited, we all had each other in navigating the Annual Meeting. We shared information, we helped each other with scheduling and using TopLink app, and we made sure that everyone stayed safe. Their bright minds as well as their generous hearts are features I don’t find often in my daily routines. My fellow Davos 50 has very interesting perspectives on issues; they could come up with thought-provoking remarks on the most trivial topic, such as sandwiches (I’m not kidding). And beyond that, their willingness to share and not keep things to their own has made interactions much more meaningful. I miss the dynamic greatly and even until today, a lot of times, I wish I have them 50 a poke away so I could pick their brains on challenges I am facing.

It has been a great journey to see where we started and where we are right now. Most of the Davos 50 came to the Annual Meeting not knowing each other beyond our official profiles. Yet we successfully compiled one whole picture book of our cities, presented to stakeholders and sponsors of the Global Shapers Community. Minutes after Davos was over, we agreed to shift our roles from shaping to shaking, and everybody left with that conscious realization to shake it off and shake it off endlessly, Taylor-Swift style. Proud is an understatement and I’d like to remind everyone in the Global Shapers Community just how fortunate we are to be part of this family.

Bringing Davos to home.

Leaving the Annual Meeting, I was a different person with stronger sense of self and purpose, and surely with a personal Airbnb in 49 cities all over the world. It was such an impressive week and I owe it to the Community, to the Forum, and to myself to bring some of Davos to home. The positivity, the energy, and the healthy exchange of ideas are some examples that I could start implementing in my small circle.

It has been undoubtedly challenging. I approached a work meeting with the best assumption of the other party and I ended up doing so much work, without clear terms of exchange of service and goods. I tried injecting ideas on values and respect when a group of acquaintances were discussing the bribing culture in Jakarta and I ended up being the odd one out. Thankfully, I was in the company of fellow Shapers who felt the same. We conversed about the prevalent apathy among members of society and also about feasibility of us shaking the status quo. We have a lot of homework and we need to keep trying. People we met in Davos and their stories have inspired us that all things are possible. Professor Muhammad Yunus never imagined that he would break the dowry culture in Bangladesh, but he did. It was not a smooth story, but he eventually did break it, and countless females have been living in greater peace ever since.

I know that I will continue living some of Davos at home and spreading the World Economic Forum’s spirit to people around me. I know that it will always be in my desire to improve the state of the world. I know that it will not be easy. Then again, I know nothing beats the combination of a sincere heart, a witty mind, and a hint of luck… and as of now, I am committed to working hard and keeping the excitement level high.

Thank you, Global Shapers Community, for a great Davos experience. And hey Shakers 50, see you all on the dance floor, hopefully sooner than later!

This article is published in collaboration with GlobalShapers.org. Publication does not imply endorsement of views by the World Economic Forum.

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Author: Amanda Witdarmono is a Global Shaper from the Jakarta Hub.

Image: WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM