World Economic Forum Annual Report 2006/2007

World Economic Forum Annual Report 2006/2007 33Dina Habib Powell, Assistant US Secretaryof State for Educational and Cultural Affairs,and former Jordanian Ambassador to the US,Karim Kawar, President of the Kawar Groupof Companies. Key topics included climatechange as a priority for the US Government,the increasing importance of public–privatepartnerships to support foreign diplomacy, andthe need for reform of international organizations.The Young Global Leaders also played active rolesat the Forum’s regional meetings. YGL LindaRottenberg, Co-Founder and Chief ExecutiveOfficer of Endeavor Global, USA, co-chaired theWorld Economic Forum on the Middle East 2007;and YGL Malvinder M. Singh, Chief ExecutiveOfficer and Managing Director of RanbaxyLaboratories, India, co-chaired the Forum’s Africameeting in Cape Town in June 2007.Moreover, at the meeting in Santiago de Chile,YGLs worked side by side with beneficiariesand other volunteers to construct two homesin one of Santiago’s poorest areas. And at theWorld Economic Forum on the Middle East inJordan, YGLs accompanied HM Queen Raniaof Jordan on a ‘Dignity Day’ visit to Al-JubaihaSecondary School for Girls in Amman.As well as the above, throughout the year, theYoung Global Leaders continued to build themomentum behind task forces in the fields ofhealth, education, global governance andsecurity, and the environment.The Schwab Foundation for SocialEntrepreneurshipThe Forum works closely with the SchwabFoundation for Social Entrepreneurship toshowcase successful social innovators whohave combined business principles with a publicpurpose. Together we have created a uniqueplatform upon which these visionary pragmatistscan come together with business, public, mediaand cultural leaders. The aim is to establishconcrete initiatives that transform social andenvironmental challenges and create sustainablelivelihoods for the poor and excluded.Both social entrepreneurs and Forum membershave seen significant benefits from this closeworking relationship. Entrepreneurs have beenable to mobilize millions of dollars of investmentfor their operations, and companies have gainedmarket intelligence, enhanced their brandvalue and increased their ability to attractand retain talent.The World Economic Forum has the abilityto convene the very best leaders and sharethe best ideas to overcome the hurdlesthat currently restrict the impact thatentrepreneurs have on their communities.Linda RottenbergCo-Founder and CEO, Endeavor Global, USA