Back to Davos!

My return to Davos elicits a multitude of contrasting feelings. What a privilege to be able to be present, what an opportunity and what a responsibility. Access to the great, the good and the not so good! This is again an opportunity to shift the paradigms of the leaders whose words and deeds shape our world. This is an opportunity to connect with that one person who can help me take my dreams to the next level of impact. Idealism; the joy and the curse of the social entrepreneur! But it’s now an idealism tempered with reality. I know that the business of Davos is business and luck and wisdom are required to say the right things at the right time to the right people.

So much apprehension and excitement. Leaving Zurich station and beginning the long climb up to Davos, I will experience a lifting of my spirit as beauty transforms into yet more beauty. On arrival, I will go up to my hotel at Schatzalp (without doubt the nicest in Davos), and there look forward to meeting up with people who have become friends. It will certainly be my role to persuade those social entrepreneurs that are new to Davos, that after having solved the problems of the world at the hotel’s fire side, a sled is the best and only way get from the hotel to the village!

We few, we passionate and privileged few, we band of brothers and sisters -Davos awaits. May we do justice to our opportunity, enjoy the ride and not crash in the process.

Garth Japhet

 

Editors Note
Garth C. Japhet, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Heartlines, South Africa
Social Entrepreneurs; Schwab Fellow of the World Economic Forum

Heartlines seeks to use the power of mass media and new technologies to bring about positive social change on a mass scale.