Top 10 Social Entrepreneurship Sessions at #WEF25
We will be paying attention to these conversations relevant to social entrepreneurs and innovation at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting (#WEF25) happening this week in Davos, Switzerland.
Also see our list of not-to-miss artificial intelligence sessions.
- New Development Actors for the 21st Century
- Reinventing Digital Inclusion
- 2025 Schwab Foundation Awards
- Investing in Diversity
- Sticking with Start-ups
- Social Innovation in Action
- Climate Finance: More Actors, More Tools
- AI: Lifting All Boats
- Blended Finance’s Broken Promise and How to Fix It
- One-Person Enterprise
The following session descriptions and speakers lists were copied from WEF’s online program:
New Development Actors for the 21st Century
Track: REIMAGINING GROWTH
21-Jan-2025 | 13:00 CET
The global aid and development landscape is increasingly positioning the private sector at the forefront of a new approach to development. With the impact-investing market now exceeding $1 trillion, there is a growing opportunity for investment capital to reach new markets. Who is driving this new vision for development to create market-driven, social and economic progress in frontier markets?
Speakers
- Ernesto Torres Cantu Head, International, Citi
- Mirek Dušek Managing Director, World Economic Forum
- Hassan Sheikh Mohamud President of Somalia, Office of the President of Somalia
- Anna Bjerde Managing Director of Operations, World Bank
- Badr Jafar Chief Executive Officer, Crescent Enterprises
Reinventing Digital Inclusion
Track: INDUSTRIES IN THE INTELLIGENT AGE
21-Jan-2025 | 16:15 CET
As technologies reshape our world, the digital divide risks deepening unless urgent action is taken. To ensure everyone can benefit from the intelligent age, we need to take practical steps to bridge digital gaps. What innovative solutions ensure that the future of technology is accessible to all and digital inclusion remains at the heart of global progress?
Speakers
- Paula Ingabire Minister of Information Communication Technology and Innovation, Ministry of Information Communication Technology and Innovation of Rwanda
- Karen Tso Co-Anchor and Journalist, CNBC International (Europe)
- Strive Masiyiwa Founder and Executive Chairman, Cassava Technologies
- Robert F. Smith Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Vista Equity Partners
- José María Álvarez-Pallete Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Telefónica
2025 Schwab Foundation Awards
Track: INVESTING IN PEOPLE
21-Jan-2025 | 16:15 CET
Each year, the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship recognizes and supports the world’s leading social innovators for their collective efforts in creating a just, equitable and sustainable world for all. Join us for the 2025 Schwab Foundation Social Innovation Awards ceremony to celebrate this year’s outstanding changemakers.
Speakers
- Hilde Schwab Chairperson and Co-Founder, Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, World Economic Forum Geneva
Investing in Diversity
Track: INVESTING IN PEOPLE
21-Jan-2025 | 17:30 CET
Inclusive business strategies and economic policy targeting workforces, suppliers and companies’ broader ecosystems have in recent years emerged as increasingly mission-critical for business performance in all parts of the globe. In an era when innovation, adaptability and resilience are paramount, how are new champions of inclusive leadership reshaping the future of economic growth and competitiveness across the world? This session is part of the World Economic Forum’s Future of DEI workstream.
Speakers
- Luana Génot Executive Director, Identities Institute
- Ebru Özdemir Chairperson of the Board, Limak Holding
- Katy Talikowska Chief Executive Officer, The Valuable 500
- Jochen Wegner Editor-in-Chief, Zeit Online
- Duncan Crabtree-Ireland National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator, Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
Sticking with Start-ups
Track: REIMAGINING GROWTH
22-Jan-2025 | 10:15 CET
The past year marked the lowest rate of unicorn creation since 2017, yet venture funding levels remain substantially higher than pre-pandemic averages. With investors considering sustainable value creation over growth at all costs, what funding models can help ensure that entrepreneurs have access to enough capital for future innovations? This session is linked to the Future of Venture Capital Initiative of the World Economic Forum.
Speakers
- Hemant Taneja Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, General Catalyst
- Mohit Bhatnagar Managing Director, Peak XV Partners
- Kate Ryder Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Maven Clinic
- Brian Sozzi Executive Editor, Yahoo Finance
Social Innovation in Action
Track: INVESTING IN PEOPLE
22-Jan-2025 | 11:30 CET
With over 10 million social enterprises globally, contributing $2 trillion annually to the economy, social innovation is driving transformative change. How can business and policy-makers harness the impact of social innovation to meet economic and societal challenges?
Speakers
- Nicola Galombik Executive Director, Yellowwoods
- Raj Kumar President and Editor-in-Chief, Devex
- Barbara Frei Executive Vice-President and Chief Executive Officer, Industrial Automation, Schneider Electric
- Chantal Line Carpentier Head, Trade, Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development Branch, Division for International Trade, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
- Muhammad Yunus Chief Adviser, Bangladesh Government
- Parks Tau Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Ministry of Trade and Industry of South Africa
- Hilde Schwab Chairperson and Co-Founder, Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, World Economic Forum Geneva
Climate Finance: More Actors, More Tools
Track: REIMAGINING GROWTH
22-Jan-2025 | 16:15 CET
To achieve net-zero emissions and reverse biodiversity loss by 2050, funding for equitable climate and nature transitions must increase by over $3 trillion annually. This can be unlocked through new finance models and innovative partnerships to accelerate and scale green solutions. How can private capital, from grants and impact investing to family offices and sovereign wealth funds, be harnessed to catalyse systems change for people and planet?
Speakers
- Ray Dalio Founder, Dalio Family Office
- Dilhan Pillay Sandrasegara Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Temasek
- Lutfey Siddiqi Special Envoy of the Head of the Interim Government, Chief Adviser’s Office
- Beatriz Martin Jimenez President, Europe, Middle East and Africa; Member, Group Executive Board, UBS
AI: Lifting All Boats
Track: INDUSTRIES IN THE INTELLIGENT AGE
22-Jan-2025 | 17:30 CET
As the race for AI leadership intensifies, access to resilient digital infrastructure, advanced computer capabilities and strong public-private investment are essential. A few countries are sprinting ahead, securing their competitive advantage, while others struggle to keep up. What strategies can bridge this growing AI divide and ensure more equitable access to AI benefits globally? This session was developed in collaboration with The Economist.
Speakers
- Hatem Dowidar Group Chief Executive Officer, e&
- Brad Smith Vice-Chair and President, Microsoft
- Bill Thomas Global Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, KPMG
- Paula Ingabire Minister of Information Communication Technology and Innovation, Ministry of Information Communication Technology and Innovation of Rwanda
- Kristalina Georgieva Managing Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- Vijay Vythianathan Vaitheeswaran Editor, Global Energy and Climate Innovation, The Economist
Blended Finance’s Broken Promise and How to Fix It
Track: INDUSTRIES IN THE INTELLIGENT AGE
23-Jan-2025 | 13:15 CET
Ten years after public and private financiers committed to support emerging economies in achieving the sustainable development goals, the financing gap has grown by $2.5 trillion to $4.2 trillion. What lessons can governments, multilateral development banks and private investors draw from efforts to boost blended finance and how can they close the financing gap? This session is linked to the Transition Finance initiative of the World Economic Forum.
Speakers
- Odile Françoise Renaud-Basso President, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
- Hayashi Nobumitsu Governor, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)
- Sara Pantuliano Chief Executive, ODI Global
- Jon Johnsen Chief Executive Officer, PKA
- Leila Fourie Group Chief Executive Officer, Johannesburg Stock Exchange
One-Person Enterprise
Track: INDUSTRIES IN THE INTELLIGENT AGE
24-Jan-2025 | 10:15 CET
As AI evolves from a support tool to a co-pilot, the dynamics of building and running a company are changing. Companies are increasingly relying on technology enabling one individual to achieve what previously required entire teams. How far are we from a true one-person unicorn and what does this mean for the future of employment and capital?
Speakers
- Benjamine Liu Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Formation Bio
- Kanjun Qiu Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Imbue
- Dan Murphy Anchor and Correspondent, CNBC
- Mitchell Green Founder and Managing Partner, Lead Edge Capital
- Sarah Franklin Chief Executive Officer, Lattice
- Richard Socher Founder and Chief Executive Officer, you.com
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