Designer Diane von Furstenberg explains why we need kindness now more than ever

“I am the daughter of a woman who smiled when she went off to a concentration camp.”

The words “I am leaving with a smile” were found etched onto a scrap of cardboard from Diane von Furstenberg’s mother. She dropped it to the ground as she was forced onto a cattle train bound for Auschwitz, hoping it would find its way back to her parents.

It did. And against all odds, so did she.

As the child of a holocaust survivor, von Furstenberg’s life has been defined by generations of bold, brave and resilient women.

Observed during March, this year’s Women’s History Month theme is ‘Moving forward together. Women educating and inspiring generations’. From the lessons learnt from her mother’s resilience to her enduring advocacy for women, von Furstenberg’s life is a testament to generational inspiration.

As a recognition of her lifelong commitment to gender equality, von Furstenberg received the Crystal Award at the World Economic Forum’s 55th Annual Meeting. Gender equality continues to be one of the greatest human rights challenges, yet at the current rate of progress, it will take 134 years to reach full gender parity, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2024.

Belgium-born, American fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg became a princess at 22, marrying Prince Egon von Furstenberg, an aristocrat from one of Germany’s most prestigious families. But that’s not why the world knows her.

She became a household name in 1974, with the debut of her now-iconic wrap dress, which has become a global symbol of female strength and empowerment.

As a lifelong, active philanthropist, von Furstenberg has worked to elevate women across generations. The DVF Awards, which recognize extraordinary women making a difference in their communities, are symbolic of a legacy that has made a meaningful and lasting impact in the fight for gender equality.

At 78 years old, von Furstenberg is reflecting further on her legacy. The recent documentary, Woman in Charge, directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, captures her life’s work, how she navigated a male-dominated industry, built a multi-million-dollar empire and put women at the core of it all.

This year at Davos, Diane sat down with Obaid-Chinoy for an intimate conversation, which began with a preview of the documentary, to discuss her life, lessons learnt and the impact of her legacy.

You can watch the full conversation from Davos 2025 below.

Von Furstenberg’s mother, Lily Halfin, was a Holocaust survivor.

In 1944, she was arrested for being part of the resistance in Brussels and taken to a concentration camp.

“They went to Auschwitz, four days’ travel, five days’ travel, no light, no water, no food. You can imagine what it was.”

As she arrived at Auschwitz, Lily attempted to follow a friend turning right at a fork in the line, but a soldier – who they later discovered to be Josef Goebbels – whipped her and forced her into the line going left.

“She looked at him with so much hate,” von Furstenberg recalls. Only later did she realize he had saved her life, as “the people going into the right were going into the gas chambers”.

“She lived the horror that none of us can even imagine.

“But because of that, she wanted me to have a big life and a big life I had. And she also told me. Never be a victim, yes – no matter what, never be a victim.”

As the daughter of a Holocaust survivor and a woman in the fashion industry, Diane’s life has been a constant reminder of the power of choosing kindness over hate.

In a world increasingly defined by polarization, kindness is no longer a personal virtue to von Furstenberg, but a leadership strategy.

“Right now, there's a wave of rage, a wave of machoism – and so the one thing we cannot be is angry about it …We have to be as much women as we can, which means nurture,” she explained.

“Once you are in charge, you realize that you have a new power… you have a power of kindness.”

Her view of leadership goes against traditional norms. Assertiveness, decisiveness and resilience have long been seen as the cornerstones of success, but von Furstenberg believes that kindness is the real asset of leadership.

"Kindness is a currency. You can use it like money, and the more you spend it, the more it multiplies."

It’s a simple yet radical idea. At a time when division is widening, Von Furstenberg’s philosophy really does give hope for a better world.

Von Furstenberg told the audience at Davos, that at the start of each year, she sits down with a fresh diary and writes three words that set intentions for the months ahead. It’s a ritual she has enacted for decades.

"I'm born on December 31st, and I always write my diary. So my new diary on January 1st is very important. It's a new diary, white page and everything. And I always find words for the year."

Some years, the words reflect personal growth, like “gratitude and clarity” or “intention and manifestation”. But this year, her words feel particularly attuned to the world around her: strength, kindness and agility.

"Agility is a word I’ve never used before, but I think in today’s world, it’s the most important one. We can’t predict anything anymore. More than ever, we need to be ready for change, to be adaptable, and most of all, to be tight with ourselves."

“Agility” explains how von Furstenberg has been able to remain so impactful throughout her career. She has spent her life embracing reinvention.

As the next big shift, artificial intelligence (AI), has been the latest test of her agility. As it reshapes and reinvents industries, she sees both opportunity and responsibility in how we approach it.

"I know people are afraid of artificial intelligence, but it’s here. And I personally love it. ChatGPT has become one of my best friends."

"I realized that it's not just about asking AI questions. You can debate with it. The more it learns about you, the more you can have a conversation with it. For me, obviously, AI is a woman!"

If a documentary about your life was released to the world, would you want to watch it first?

For von Furstenberg, the answer was no, opting to remove herself from the creative process of her recent documentary until opening night. But, at 78 years old, the answer was yes to sharing her legacy with the world.

“What is important when you get old, you think, okay, you think about legacy, but what does it mean? Legacy?”

"Legacy is first and foremost the good that you have done, the people you have touched, and the family you created."

Beyond her impact on fashion, von Furstenberg has dedicated her life to championing women through philanthropy, mentorship and social responsibility. It’s this dedication that earned her this year’s Crystal Award, alongside David Beckham and Riken Yamamoto.

Her decision to step back from the creative progress of her documentary was an opportunity to detach from her own narrative and in doing so, she discovered something new.

"For the first time, I saw my life through someone else’s eyes. And even at 78, I realized, I’m still growing."