Reflections from Summer Davos in Tianjin, China

Last week I attended the World Economic Forum Summer Davos gathering in Tianjin, China. I wanted to share my highlights in the hope they provide some useful insights:

- Having the opportunity to speak at The Playful Entrepreneur session. I shared my beliefs on purpose, servant leadership and how the need for 'Jedi' entrepreneurs to come together into 'one project' to accelerate the regenerative economy. A new narrative is emerging around the Age of We.

- Sharing an elevator with Premier Li Keqiang and walking into a party with him and observing how people react to the second most powerful man on the planet!

- Reframing my understanding of China in the global economy. I had thought that China was a larger importer of IP than exporter but realized they will soon out innovate much of the West. Particularly when it comes to aspects like healthcare, big data, AI, IoT. Given data is the new gold, China is sat on the worlds largest mine. 1/4 of all engineers in the world are from China. This was my 5th trip to China and each time I understand further what exponential growth really means for an economy. 

- China's Human Rights record and approach to individual freedom has a long way to go. I found many policies ethically disturbing but recognize China has a certain advantage around the culture of its citizen's loyalty to China. Comparatively the West has more of a 'cult of the individual'. 

- Gaining a better understanding of the extent of the global arms race around cybersecurity. We are woefully underprepared for this rapidly unfolding crisis and I was delighted to see how much of a systemic solution Averon is. We are in WW3 - The War on Trust.

- 20+ meetings, 10 press interviews and about a hundred helpful conversations. Delighted to see so much opportunity and zeitgeist around Civana and Averon. 

- Catching up with many of the 50 Young Global Leaders attending and such an inspiring group of Global Shapers that have left me even more optimistic for our collective future. 

- Exploring China's digital landscape - 800m Chinese are now online. 700m of them have only EVER accessed the internet through their mobile phone.

- Jack Ma's comment on LQ - we need more love intelligence.

- Having the best interactive VR experience of my life that engaged all senses as I went from being a seed to a great tree in the Amazon only to then experience being burnt down. See Treeofficial.com. VR is an Empathy Machine.

- Meeting incredibly inspiring women tackling the gender inequality issues in powerful ways. In my opinion, this is one of the single greatest acupuncture spots for us to work on to reform our world. There is much healing needed from millennia of male domination. Everywhere in nature celebrates the mother - it is time humans did the same!

- Experiencing magic and serendipity everywhere. The more I notice and pay attention the more the volume and frequency of it increases. Life is better experienced with an open and generous heart.