Off my bucket list: attending the World Economic Forum 2024

By Claire Barnhoorn - On

World Economic Forum, WEF24, Davos. An invitation to this global stage to share my mission and vision was once on my bucket list. Overheard by someone earlier in 2023, who made this happen. Today, two days later, I’m still punching myself. I truly attended the World Economic Forum. “What’s it like?” I’ve heard a few times over the last few hours, but I’m unsure how to explain my first WEF Davos experience. But one thing I know is an overwhelming feeling of gratitude.

A snowy mountain village

A 12-hour train ride from the seaside of The Hague, through agricultural lands, mountains, and industrial areas, up to a snowy mountain village in Switzerland. Known from TV, where the rich and famous gather (insight nr 1: the minority) behind gates and badge controls. A village where truly dedicated, incredible people, from human rights advocates to those pushing system change run into corporate CEOs or VPs, share a coffee with Investors, being invited to serendipitous lunch meetings with Government officials or coalitions (insight nr 2: SDG Tent is one of the best places for these serendipitous meetings).  

My vision shared at the World Economic Forum

The vision I shared: to tackle the biggest challenges globally, we can talk about funding this (incl investing) and what needs to be solved or solutions available. However, if we sum these two up: it’s what is happening in the middle where the real magic is to happen. Through our (sustainable) supply chains and the market, especially in LMICs (Low and Middle Income Countries). A strong call for creating fair and responsible markets and supply chains, with procurement and sourcing being crucial (insight nr 3: the importance of supply chains (not only up- but also downstream) truly needs more attention in Davos). 

As a note, hence my big WHY of founding Solvoz years ago for NGOs, Health agencies and impact agencies:

  1. to bridge the funding gap through increasing efficiency in aid and health,
  2. to target SDGs through sustainable procurement implementation and
  3. to create fair markets in LMICs.

Expressing my gratitude

As per my intro of this post, I am enormously grateful to the Philips Foundation and Philips who invited me to speak about the importance and systemic change required in our supply chains: Robert Metzke, Anette Hendrickx Charlotte Farrar Jan-Willem Scheijgrond Elena Calamo Specchia Joyce van Nielen Marnix van Ginneken. Empowered and thankful for meeting incredible women in Davos pushing for truly powerful change: Floor Saris, Sandrine Henton, Jessica Espinoza, Marijn Wiersma, Joanne Manrique, Neema Kaseje, British Robinson, Sanda Ojiambo Listening to amazing speakers as Alaa Murabit, Shez Partovi MD, Feike Sijbesma, André Hoffmann, Raj Kumar, Isobel Cohen, Michael Newsome, Mark Gough, Sandrine Dixson-Declève

I celebrate all the wonderful people I met. After the discussions and incredible meetings, let’s hold ourselves accountable to make the change when we meet again next year in Davos.