How to maneuver the world – World leaders call for action at Global Leadership Forum
The two-days ‘Global Leadership Forum’ that took place from 12 – 13 March 2016 in New Delhi saw world leaders deliberating the need for decisive leadership to create trusted communities and a connected world. The forum highlighted the need for better implementation of Social Capital, sustainable and developing economies with an active involvement of women.
New Delhi, 13 March, 2016: Held at The Leela Ambience Convention Hotel in New Delhi under the aegis of the World Culture Festival, a celebration of The Art of Living’s 35 years of service to humanity, the Global Leadership Forum saw a line-up of leading decision-makers from the public and private sector, development agencies, government, sports and media who examined the dilemmas of leadership and reflect on how they can balance these challenging dichotomies in today’s world for a positive social impact.
The “Global Leadership Forum” kicked off its Day 1 with power packed sessions that saw senior global leaders discussing paradigms of leadership, along with the role of leaders in the current geopolitical and economic landscape. This forum sought to bring together communities and countries for a sustainable world of the future.
Inaugurating the august forum, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Founder of WFEB, Global Humanitarian and Founder, Art of Living, said “A leader always walks the last, and makes everyone move ahead. A leader is not meant to create followers, but rather create leaders. This is the concept of Bodhi Sattva – which originated in India and Nepal. A leader will always seek challenges. Youthfulness to me means challenges. A young leader will be ready to take any challenge which the world gives you. It keep you on your toes, this is what awakens your youthful energy. It inspires you to come up with more enthusiasm and energy beyond your normal capacity. So you all come together and think on global leadership. Thinking, discussing, arguing and disagreeing will all lead to something very good –if done with the right intention and purpose for the right cause”.
Hon. Mr. Suresh Prabhu, Railway Minister, India said ‘We are happy that Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has taken this initiative for this great event. The first human had no concept of nationality and boundaries. The first human was a woman obviously.’
‘There’s a huge exponential growth of population today. If there was no culture and identity, I don’t know if we could have grown like this. Therefore, culture is the essence of the way people live. In our own country, we see different styles of living and culture exhibitions.’
H.E. Mr. Kjell Magne Bondevik , Former Prime Minister of Norway and President, The Oslo Centre for Peace and Human Rights, Norway said, ‘Remember as a leader, we are not to secure our own interest, but because someone wants us in this position. So let us practice servant leadership. Let us use dialogue as a main means. If team members whom we rely on, experience that we only give orders, they will lose interest and integrity to give results and we fail. Let them know we value them. All will feel ownership to the result then. It is about inclusiveness.’
‘Democracy is about how you treat minority, about creating an inclusive society and managing internal conflicts. So let us make an inclusive society. Our common basic values across cultures and national border is human dignity. It lies in the foundation of democracy. Sooner or later, there will be an uprise. Let us take off in this direction for peace resolution. This is our challenge for today.’
Day 2 of the Forum saw discussions about the necessity of social capital with political institutions to achieve development, leaders sharing their personal journeys of success, the role of global leadership community in achieving development, the role of women in leadership and transformations of mindsets to multiply the pace of achieving development.
The Global Leadership Forum witnessed deep discussions including the role of governments in managing natural and human resources and also relations with countries and organizations world-wide; the role of digital and economic progression in creating the reality of ‘Boundaryless nations’; examining the need to pursue a farsighted approach to tracking business trends amongst others.
Amongst the prominent speakers were Suriname’s Vice President A.S. Adhin, Vice President of the European Parliament Ryszard Czarnecki, Forbes CEO Michael S. Perlis, Dr. Gunnar Stålsett, Bishop emeritus of Oslo, Dominique de Villepin, Former Prime Minister, France, Suresh Prabhu, Railway Minister, India, and many more.
Founded by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Art of Living is celebrating 35 years of service to humanity in the form of the World Cultural Festival. The Global Leadership Forum, organized under the aegis of the World Culture Festival sought to bring accomplished leaders from the world to discuss not only the challenges they face but also to share their journeys and successes.