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A Davos Spring: A First-Timer’s Impressions from the World Economic Forum

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Back when I was a girl on a hill outside of Johannesburg, dreaming of sucking up the world’s pollution with a <a href="https://news.vmware.com/esg/2030-esg-agenda">giant vacuum</a>, I never imagined I would one day climb another hill—in a gondola, no less—with heads of state, billionaires, and even a few members of royalty. But at the World Economic Forum (WEF), held in the Swiss village of Davos, moments like this are the norm.

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I was invited to the Annual Meeting of the Forum to share a business perspective on the role <a href="https://news.vmware.com/esg/vmwares-journey-to-net-zero-and-you">nature-based solutions</a> play in strategies to achieve net-zero, like VMware’s <a href="https://www.vmware.com/content/microsites/en/global-impact.html">2030 Agenda</a>. And our team had a packed agenda. We were there to speak with global leaders about sustainability and the twin transitions happening in energy and digitalization, listen to policy concerns about digital and enterprise sovereignty and share our perspectives on the importance of a secure, interoperable and sustainable multi-cloud platform.

But as a first-time WEF participant, I didn’t fully know what to expect. Davos certainly attracts some of the world’s richest and most powerful people, leading to a fair amount of critique of the event’s ratio of discussion to action.<a href="#_ftn1" id="_ftnref1">[1]</a> Would the first WEF gathering since the beginning of the pandemic be more of the empty promises Greta Thunberg called out previously?<a href="#_ftn2" id="_ftnref2">[2]</a> Or could the current zeitgeist engender dialogue that leads to real solutions?

In my view, the answer is probably a bit of both.

A somber tone for the event was set by bookending addresses from <a href="https://www.weforum.org/events/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2022/sessions/special-address-by-volodymyr-zelenskyy-president-of-ukraine-8fb26bbcb1">Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky</a> and German Chancellor Schultz. While sobering, I still found optimism in the conversations. Yes, I heard ambitious promises and some action plans that seemed fuzzier than others. And yes, the parade of luxurious black “internal combustion engines” pulling up—mere steps from the Congress Centre—for meetings to discuss the urgency of net-zero efforts was not lost on me.

Digesting some of the contradictions, here’s the reality that I kept reminding myself of: we don’t have the luxury of using purity tests to discount discussions as important as addressing climate change, inequality and food security. These complex, interconnected and global issues need every nation, every industry and every business leader at the table and engaged. And the World Economic Forum absolutely succeeds at assembling many of the stakeholders who are in positions to move the needle.

Something that surprised me was the breadth and nuance of the discussions. There were very few “single-issue” conversations. Instead, there was a consistent thread of interconnected dialogues like energy, agriculture, health, digital transformation, cyber resilience and social justice, along with impacts of changing global structures and multilateralism.

For example, the war in Ukraine was obviously top of mind for every attendee. But I was struck by how many speakers drew a clear connection between the war and countries’ dependence on fossil fuels. Accelerating the transition to clean energy was presented as not only a way to achieve better environmental outcomes, but as a way to create more resilience and better foreign policy outcomes.

This search for win-win solutions defined many of my conversations at Davos. While there was a clear recognition that a better future will demand certain tradeoffs, there was also a wariness of polarization and the idea that we’re playing a zero-sum game. Put simply, it’s not a matter of investing in climate or energy, health or digitization. The world needs to invest in climate and energy and health and digitization—and when we do, the sum will be greater than the parts and we’ll all benefit.

By the end of my week in Davos, many connections were made, many conversations were had,  and I was witness to many commitments announced.<a href="#_ftn3" id="_ftnref3">[3]</a> Will this lead to measurable outcomes? It’s too soon to know for sure. The months and years ahead will reveal the actions behind the good intentions.

But my final impression from the World Economic Forum was one of hope.

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After riding that gondola up to the ski chalet where the closing event was being held, I found myself among many of the “Davos elite” I’d brushed shoulders with the whole week —and I still felt a bit out of place. But then I spotted a table of young people—the Global Shapers,<a href="#_ftn4" id="_ftnref4">[4]</a> a group of amazing leaders under 30 who were invited to Davos to share and evolve their ideas for a better future. I recognized a few of them. They had been the first in line after my own session earlier in the week, eager to talk about how innovations like ML and LiDAR could support carbon auditing and verification for companies like VMware who have made commitments to planting <a href="https://news.vmware.com/esg/vmwares-journey-to-net-zero-and-you">trees</a> as part of our commitments. So, I approached their table—and they were kind enough to welcome me with open arms to join their table.

We immediately launched into a spirited discussion, and I got to hear more about their passions and projects. For instance, I learned about a project to regenerate and reforest the Sahel, an area stretching coast-to-coast from Senegal to Djibouti. But beyond the specifics of any one conversation, what struck me most about these Global Shapers was their clarity of purpose and optimism. It wasn’t a matter of if they would achieve their goals—but when. And that attitude was contagious.

That’s when I realized that this might be one of the most important parts of the World Economic Forum. It’s a convening that allows people and ideas to reconnect with the power of possibility. To remember that big things are achievable. To recharge our batteries for the journey ahead.

This article may contain hyperlinks to non-VMware websites that are created and maintained by third parties who are solely responsible for the content on such websites.

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<a href="#_ftnref1" id="_ftn1">[1]</a> NPR, “Is Davos As Bad As Critics Say? Global Leaders Weigh In,” January 2020.

<a href="#_ftnref2" id="_ftn2">[2]</a> The Washington Post, “Greta Thunberg Says World Leaders’ Talk on Climate Change is ‘Blah Blah Blah’,” September 2021.

<a href="#_ftnref3" id="_ftn3">[3]</a> Fortune, “Davos 2022 Had Some Moments of Real Importance,” May 2022.

<a href="#_ftnref4" id="_ftn4">[4]</a> World Economic Forum, “Global Shapers,” 2011.

The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2022 Davos allowed us to reconnect, remember and recharge for the journey ahead.

A Davos spring: VMware's Nicola Acutt shares impressions from the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting.

Impressions from the World Economic Forum

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The @wef annual meeting allowed us to reconnect with possibilities, remember big things are achievable and recharge for the #ESG journey ahead. Read more from @VMware @NicolaAcutt. #wef22 #sustainability #VMware2030

Despite the upheaval caused by COVID-19, the last few years have also prompted many of us to reconsider our priorities and think about what we value most in life. I acknowledge that having the time and energy to do this hasn’t been an option available to everyone. But for those of us that have been able to work flexibly during periods of lockdown, having some extra time in our days has been a silver lining in what has been a difficult few years.

For me personally, I have found myself thinking more about what I hold dear.

Living sustainably and taking care of our planet is something I care very deeply about, and I’ve often thought about how each one of us can contribute to building a more sustainable future.

It’s something we’ve become increasingly conscious of in my own family. Last year we completed a home renovation project, and as part of that, we installed rooftop solar panels and battery storage to return any remaining energy back to the grid. At the same time, we substantially upgraded our insulation to make the house more energy-efficient. We also installed an electric vehicle charge point, in anticipation of a time in the not-too-distant future when we hope to swap out our current car for an electric or hybrid vehicle. And with the threat of drought being a constant long-term concern in Australia, we installed large water tanks to capture as much rainwater as possible. This water-saving strategy allows us to use rainwater for toilets, clothes washing and in the garden. In our garden, we’ve started growing vegetables, fruit and herbs that we use in our cooking here at home.

Like many others, we are looking for ways to make environmentally sound choices, and to be a part of a wider system that drives sustainability. But we don’t just want to make a difference at home.

Increasingly people want to bring their personal passion for sustainability to the workplace. It’s no secret that employees, and younger employees in particular, are increasingly seeking out employers that share their values.1 But it’s also true that not every organisation lives up to the statements it makes about sustainability.2

Even so, the more we see individual employees wear sustainability on their sleeves, the more we’ll see them drive organisational change and work towards a net-zero future.

This Earth Day, VMware aims to drive home how all employees can make an impact in the fight against climate change. Sustainability is something that’s very important to us as a company. It is a value that we strive for throughout our operations, supply chain and technology innovations for our customers.

Having spent some time reflecting on how individuals can maximise their impact at work, I'd like to share five key ways that you can make your passion for sustainability part of the values you live out at work.

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Many companies publicly espouse a commitment to sustainability, but does this mean they genuinely “walk the talk”? When exploring a move to a different company, consider whether a potential employer’s stance on sustainability issues aligns with your own personal values.

One of the things that makes me particularly proud to work at VMware is our company’s unwavering commitment to sustainability. We are not shy about our efforts to become more environmentally efficient, and we have published an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy, our <a href="https://www.vmware.com/company/esg.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2030 Agenda</a> ⁠— a decade-long commitment to building a more sustainable, equitable and secure digital future.

Quite simply, in the same way that consumers can speak with their wallets, employees can act on their commitment to environmental causes by choosing to work for an employer that takes sustainability seriously. This might require conducting some background research and putting forward questions about sustainability in job interviews. These could include:

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If an employer doesn’t have sound responses to one or all of these questions, it might be time to think twice about whether it is the right company for you.

Keep your eyes and ears peeled for opportunities to make a difference in the sustainability space, even in your everyday work. Is there a logistics process that could be made more efficient and need fewer vehicle trips involved in deliveries? Could buildings lighting and cooling be used more efficiently?

And don’t forget the IT technology your company runs on. According to the <a href="https://www.iea.org/reports/data-centres-and-data-transmission-networks" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">International Energy Agency</a>, data centers account for around 1% of global electricity use, with data networks using about the same amount again. Energy use can be a significant financial cost in running technology infrastructures and in companies’ overall operating expenditures.

So, any change that can make your operations more efficient and sustainable are likely to save you money in the long term. It’s something VMware works on with clients in industries, including financial services, healthcare and mining.

If we all do our part to lead a more sustainable life, there is greater potential for society-wide shifts that can help to mitigate the pace and severity of climate change.

VMware’s 2022 Earth Day theme — “One VMware, One Planet, One Month, One Challenge” — is lived and breathed through individual actions, collectively throughout the organisation. To provide ideas on how to reduce our carbon emissions, as well as measure our climate impact, we’re challenging employees to download and use the AWorld App, which was chosen by the U.N. to support the ActNow Campaign.

Leading a more sustainable life shouldn’t happen within a vacuum. AWorld empowers individuals to take steps towards living sustainably with the support of their team, and we’ll be offering special rewards for our most highly engaged participants. (Healthy competition can go a long way!)

Another way companies empower employees to make a positive environmental impact is with opportunities for Service Learning. 

This includes Service Learning with environmental nonprofits, whether that be in the area of bush regeneration, developing green urban spaces, planting trees, growing organic food and more.

Consider whether your company offers employees time off to serve with nonprofits, and take advantage of it to support an environmental cause. Some companies like VMware also may have employee matching gifts programs. This gives an added boost to an employee’s own donation by matching the amount they contribute to a charitable cause. The <a href="https://www.vmware.com/company/foundation.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">VMware Foundation’s Citizen Philanthropy approach</a> does this by providing a platform for VMware people to contribute time, talent and financial resources to their nonprofits of choice.

It’s our collective responsibility to build sustainable workplaces and environmentally conscious societies, but for real and meaningful change to take place, this needs to be powered by passionate individuals who lead the way forward.

These are the change-makers and forward-thinkers who take on the mantle of sustainability ambassadors in an organisation. They might develop environmental sustainability initiatives in a local region or help employees to adopt sustainable mindsets to manage food waste in the office. They can influence purchasing decisions to reduce energy consumption and to prefer plastic-alternative products. At VMware, our <a href="https://blogs.vmware.com/careers/2022/04/celebrating-earth-month-with-vmware-citizen-philanthropists.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sustainability Ambassadors</a> use their passion to advocate for VMware’s ESG initiatives and influence their colleagues to take action with customers.

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Employees have the knowledge, skills and passion to create change for the better. There is power in numbers, and if we work together, we can create a more sustainable future — One VMware, One Planet, One Month, One Challenge at a time.

This article may contain hyperlinks to non-VMware websites that are created and maintained by third parties who are solely responsible for the content on such websites.

1Deloitte, “The Deloitte Global 2021 Millennial and Gen Z Survey,” April 2022.

2Harvard Business Review, “Overselling Sustainability Reporting,” May-June 2021.

Read five key ways that you can bring sustainability to work, drive organizational change and work towards a net-zero future.

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Karen Egan is the Senior Vice President Global Support, VMware, based in Cork, Ireland. She is responsible for ensuring customers are successful in adopting the company’s newest technologies in their public and private clouds and ensuring customer success with VMware solutions, overseeing critical accounts and escalations for all VMware customers.

Karen joined VMware in 2007 as a manager within the Technical Support team. Since then, she has remained in the Global Services division. Prior to this, Karen has worked for several American corporations including Motorola and Apple. Most recently at Motorola, Karen ran the support and new product introduction for 2G and 3G OMC products. With a background as a Software Engineer, Karen also developed and supported the development of software for Apple, specializing in the development of applications used in the manufacturing of desktop computers.

With 24 years of experience in the Software and IT industries, Karen’s passion for customer management earned her VMware’s Global Support Person of the Year award in 2014. She was also named as International Leader of the Year at the FDM Everywoman in Technology Awards. Karen holds a BA in Math and Computing and a Higher Diploma in Applied Science (Modeling and Numerical Computing), both from University College Cork.

Karen Egan

Karen Egan is the Senior Vice President Global Support, VMware, based in Cork, Ireland. She is responsible for ensuring customers are successful in adopting the company’s newest technologies in their public and private clouds and ensuring customer success with VMware solutions, overseeing critical accounts and escalations for all VMware customers. Karen joined VMware in 2007 as a manager within the Technical Support team. Since then, she has remained in the Global Services division. Prior to this, Karen has worked for several American corporations including Motorola and Apple. Most recently at Motorola, Karen ran the support and new product introduction for 2G and 3G OMC products. With a background as a Software Engineer, Karen also developed and supported the development of software for Apple, specializing in the development of applications used in the manufacturing of desktop computers. With 24 years of experience in the Software and IT industries, Karen’s passion for customer management earned her VMware’s Global Support Person of the Year award in 2014. She was also named as International Leader of the Year at the FDM Everywoman in Technology Awards. Karen holds a BA in Math and Computing and a Higher Diploma in Applied Science (Modeling and Numerical Computing), both from University College Cork.

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