News & Views

“Navigating a crisis – Communications compass for business leaders” an exclusive roundtable discussion for CEOs or COOs.

On 21 June 2011 the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies launched a new Executive Certificate – Advocacy in International Affairs in partnership with the international communications consultancy LEIDAR.

The World Economic Forum has hired Arne Cartridge as a new team member to lead the development of global partnerships for food security, in collaboration with the UN Secretary-General’s office and the New Vision for Agriculture team.

Over the past few weeks, LEIDAR has been supporting EcoWorks International (EWI), an NGO particularly involved in Haiti. EWI is unique in the world of development in the sense that its mission is to break the cycle of poverty through a comprehensive approach that combines economic development and quality of life projects. To achieve this, EWI has developed a 5-year development plan that includes the creation of an economic engine: a 20,000 chicken egg farm that will create jobs, provide essential proteins and generate profits that will be re-invested in the local economy. EWI expects that by the end of the first year of operations, the egg farm will generate $100,000 in profits already. These profits will be used to build schools, provide vocational education, build healthcare centres and expand access to drinking water.

I am very glad to share the news about a great addition to our LEIDAR consulting crew. Christophe Lecureuil, a French national, is a senior communications and public affairs practitioner, with 20 years of corporate, consultancy, institutional and NGO experience, who has worked and lived in London, Brussels and Geneva. He is coming on board in April 2011.

In the past few weeks, many blog posts and editorials are dealing with the dramatic developments in the Middle East, exposing their leaders, their tactics and public statements.

When I was in journalism school some 20 years ago, news was focused on the facts—the who, what, when, where, why and how. Today, the “news” seems to increasingly focus on the spectacle—with little or no explanation of the facts.

February always reminds me of Christmas. That’s when I finish writing the thank you notes diligently penned at my desk. As a child, I enjoyed the crisp white card and new ink pen, but what to write beyond “Thank you…” was difficult. Like most childhood activities, however, ease came with practice – and soon became habit. When going for my first job interviews, I followed Daddy’s advice to write handwritten thank you letters to each of the people who interviewed me. This was the best advice I ever got.

Having just completed the annual round of Davos preparations for some of our clients, I have digested hundreds of pages of Davos talk around subjects such as the population reaching nine billion before 2050, the new realities and the new norms, the risks for a jobless recovery and employment battles between east and west. The challenges are huge, and world leaders have some delicate issues to navigate.

How on earth is a globally operating firm able to develop its own international business strategy, diverse services, solutions and a truly global spirit if its leadership is lacking the Asian, the Western, Central & Eastern European, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, African or South American aspects and cultures?