Ola Ahlvarsson: Snacks from the World Economic Forum, Dalian, September 2009

It’s an elite party, quite much the movers and shakers of the world. From academicians, to the political clout, the big names in Wall Street, to the entrepreneur of different kinds, the World Economic Forum (WEF) team brings the elite of the elite thought leaders under one roof.

Ola Ahlvarsson, the chairman and moderator of SIME has been a regular feature at the WEF sessions, and has been conferred the title of “Global Leader of Tomorrow” in the previous WEF session held in Davos, Switzerland. SIME Stockholm will have some participants from the organizing committee of WEF, so you can get a chance to meet and talk to them when in Stockholm.

This year, the annual WEF event was held in Dalian, China on September 10, 11 and Ola has some interesting thoughts to share from the session he took part in. Below, you can also find take home messages by Sir. Martin Sorell, CEO of WPP WorldWide and Ben Werwaayen, CEO of Alcatel – Lucent.

Ola Ahlvarsson from the World Economic Forum

View Ola’s profile

We are entering the century of Asia (as anyone who has spent time in Asia lately can confirm). The growth is fueled by optimism and an energy that comes from a generation who has a much better life than they had 10 years ago and considerably better than their parents as apposed to many of us living in the western world. But the growth comes at a price in economies where the only currency that counts is money and not life quality or respect for human rights. The Chinese and Indian poverty is a competitive advantage not only to make fake Gucci bags but increasingly to innovate and create. In the century to come military strength is not what defines hegemony but rather the ability to create. The opposite of war is not peace, it is creation.

But Asia is by no means one country and it could be argued that China and India are more similar to our societies than to each other. Or as one of the speakers said: “ “Asia” is just a term coined by the ancient Greeks to explain everyone not living in Europe, it has no meaning as a descriptive term for anything.

The good news is that the Asian century is a party that we are all invited to and international products, ideas and capital will be instrumental in sustaining the expected hyper growth, it is up each one of us if we see that as a threat or opportunity.”

Below are also some take home messages by 2 great thought leaders that created quite an impact during the sessions at Dalian:

Sir Martin Sorell, CEO of WPP worldwide

View Sir Martin’s profile here

“China has been on the wrong side of history for 200 years, this will not be the case in the future.
If you have a legacy business such as WPP it is exceedingly difficult to balance the focus on new innovation and new media models while keeping a focus on what has made us so successful so far. I tell our traditional agencies like Ogilvy and Hill & Knowlton that they have to be more digital. I tell our digital agencies that they have to be more digital… It is easy to be a start up with a clean slate and some VC money. It is more difficult for traditional industries paying attention to things like profits. No one knows how Facebook is doing and if it makes sense over time. No one has proven that CPO based models online actually makes more money than traditional TV or radio. The jury is still out”

Ben Werwaayen, CEO of Alcatel – Lucent

View Ben Werwaayen’s profile here

“We live innovation every day. We are starting to realize all the answers do not lie in MBAs or academia.
Innovation is the challenge…but it is also to look at a problem in a better way. It is a mindset…but it you also need to challenge the wisdom that makes you successful today. You have to understand your point of excellence…it may not be innovation…it may be distribution or a brand.
The worst obstacle to innovation in a company is often the CEO…his role should be one of an enabler to stars. He

should set the agenda “TASK” , the TONE and recruit the TEAM. Your people know when you talk phony and when you are not living the values every day.
Where does innovation go…we call it telephone when we speak…fax when we write…and mail when we type….I think the next step in innovation is about pictures…we show you pictures so that you can better get the picture.”

Check out the WEF Web here

Pictures from Rodrgio’s Blog here

Pictures from WEF’s flickr channel