KERAMIDA at the World Economic Forum in Davos
/KERAMIDA attended the World Economic Forum last week at Bloomberg House in Davos, Switzerland, following an invitation from Bloomberg.
By: Cindy Madrick, Senior Vice President
Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the World Economic Forum at Bloomberg House in Davos, Switzerland, following an invitation from Bloomberg for KERAMIDA to participate in its January 20–23 programming.
Representing KERAMIDA, I joined global leaders, policymakers, and industry executives for conversations shaping the year ahead. One of the most impactful sessions I attended, Leading Through Volatility: The New Logic of Resilience, focused on leadership and resilience in today’s changing world. The discussion featured John Doyle, President & CEO of Marsh, and Christian Ulbrich, CEO & President of JLL, and was moderated by Mallika Kapur, India Director at Bloomberg New Economy. The conversation explored how leaders are navigating non-linear risk, fragmented trust, and rapid change, reframing resilience as a matter of responsibility and results, not just survival.
Throughout the week at Bloomberg House, I followed a wide range of high-level discussions. These included a conversation with Al Gore, former U.S. Vice President and Founder and Chairman of The Climate Reality Project, hosted by David Rubenstein, Co-Founder and Co-Chair of The Carlyle Group, focused on climate leadership and global action. I also listened to T.H. Anita Anand, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, discuss diplomacy and global cooperation in a conversation moderated by Lisa Abramowicz of Bloomberg TV.
Additional sessions included insights from Steve Witkoff, U.S. Special Envoy for Peace Missions, moderated by Annmarie Hordern, Chief Political Correspondent for Bloomberg TV; Admiral Rob Bauer, former Chair of the NATO Military Committee, moderated by Mark Miller, Global Editor at Bloomberg Live; and a special, unscheduled appearance by Andrzej Duda, former President of Poland, who addressed the evolving situation in Ukraine and Russia. I also attended a discussion with Gita Gopinath, Gregory & Ania Coffey Professor of Economics at Harvard University, moderated by Francine Lacqua, Anchor at Bloomberg TV, which focused on global economic resilience.
Two additional conversations offered particularly strong leadership perspectives. A discussion with Nigel Farage, Leader of Reform UK and Member of Parliament, centered on fiscal discipline, generational leadership change, and the need for leaders with education and experience in sustainability, climate change, artificial intelligence, and energy. He emphasized the importance of adapting governance to the pace of modern business as he prepares for a future run for Prime Minister.
Another inspiring session featured Reginald DesRoches, President of Rice University. Born in Haiti and raised in New York City, President DesRoches shared his academic journey through UC Berkeley, where he earned his doctorate in structural engineering, and spoke about his role as a transformational leader. He discussed reshaping Rice University’s Academic Quadrangle, expanding academic offerings, including a new undergraduate business degree, growing study-abroad programs, integrating AI into education while reinforcing critical thinking, and significantly expanding the student body.
I also spent time attending sessions at the UAE House, hosted in conjunction with the Forbes Middle East Hub, which focused on global cooperation, innovation, and investment. Highlights included Global Standards, Regional Growth: The Future of Trust and Commerce, featuring Ahmed Galal Ismail, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Holdings, and H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism, as well as a session on the US–UAE AI Acceleration Partnership with Peng Xiao, Group CEO of G42, and David Sacks, Chair of the U.S. President’s Council of Advisors on Science & Technology.
Across these conversations, a consistent theme emerged: effective leadership, whether in government, higher education, or business, requires vision, the ability to learn from the past, and the willingness to embrace future technologies while thoughtfully guiding people through change.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent KERAMIDA at Bloomberg House and to gain insight from these important global discussions.
