adminZach Aldwin
Milkshake in the BoardroomWhat can you expect when you get over 200 leaders in their 20s, from 190 nations coming together for four days in the city of Geneva with the number one goal of improving the state of the world? One might say that it’s a gutsy plan, an irrational and idealistic way of doing things. Aren’t they too young? Well Coca-Cola, the lead sponsor in Global Shapers, doesn’t think so and neither does the World Economic Forum. The blinders of bureaucracy and red tape haven’t affected their vision. In the words of Professor Klaus Schwab: “If you don’t engage the younger generation then you’re not really changing the world.”
In two years the team at Global Shapers has created over 250 hubs of young shapers in the world and it’s a force to be reckoned with. As part of the World Economic Forum, Global Shapers is a network of city-based hubs developed and led by leaders in their 20s and 30s, who want to develop their leadership towards serving their communities.
The current curator, Tommy Deuschle, was completely impacted by the love, adrenaline and passion that fellow curators have to do big things, represented the Zimbabwe Hub. Here is what he had to say when he got back: “People that want to have a huge impact on their local communities don’t stop to hear the reasons why they can’t. They just do it.”
The theme for this year’s Annual Curators’ meeting was “Finding our Rhythm”. Breakout sessions at the World Economic Forum headquarters, and the Grand Kempinski Hotel pulsed with energy, debates and solutions on worldwide issues. Here’s the thing. There were no dictatorial “talking head” board meetings telling people what to do.
Everything was on the table and the Global Shapers were the ones coming up with ways to do things. Sessions of up to 45 minutes resulted in solid suggestions on how the Global Shapers worldwide could be more collaborative and cohesive in addressing different sectors of society.
Beyond the set programme which lasted the whole day, many did not retire to their rooms (as serious, reasonable people might do) but continued to connect till the early hours of the morning. One of the theme songs that pumped continuously through the speakers of the World Economic Forum headquarters was “I’m on top of the world” by Imagine Dragons. It was the theme that rang in everyone’s hearts as groups participated in activities like “Clean up Geneva,” where Shapers met local city leaders and picked up cigarette butts, bottle caps and litter off beaches of Lake Geneva.
Others translated French books into English. Everyone served with their hands and demonstrated the culture of the Global Shapers community to the host city. The immediate effects of such a collaboration are obvious.
There are better plans, engaging metrics, greater clarity on how projects can start and continue. But I think the intangible results are worth more. The face-to-face relationships that created lifetime friendships from different races, cultures and backgrounds will echo forever.
There’s no telling what will happen all over the world for the next 50 years because of these five days of “Getting the Rhythm Right” in Geneva. As Tommy put it: “I think that the Harare Hub is in for some collaborative projects with different cities from around the world in the near future. Rekindle the fire that says anything is possible and cut off the invisible ties that hold you back.”
For those of you still in your younger years, what’s stopping you from changing the world?
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