It was our eighth Global Talent Summit. It would have been our 9th but the pandemic took us completely virtual in 2020 and then we took a break in 2021 to figure ourselves out. We were so grateful that our community gave us some excellent feedback and helped us co-design a new kind of event, one that we think will set the tone for how we do things in the future.
So, we designed GTS 2022 much like a theater play, in three acts.
In Act One, we organized around a community of learning. Titled “from resignation to reinvention and how to prepare for the next normal” this segment featured a series of “lightning talks” to illustrate new trends in education, work, and the workplace. The talks inform on the issues, how they intersect, and how partners and key experts are rewriting the playbook.
In Act Two, our community of practice came together to debate these new learnings. We took the learnings from the first act and applied them in main stage discussions as well as table talks allowing every participant an opportunity to contribute.
And in Act Three, we formed together a community of action. After learnings and debate, we took part in workshops to apply our skills and forge partnerships and solve for a future of education and future of work that is inclusive, accessible, and equitable.
I often—actually almost always—get this question: why is Diplomatic Courier, a global affairs magazine, talking about jobs?
Being based in the United States my answer has always been, having a job and a good life is not just the American Dream—it is a Global Dream.
And in my answer, I always quote my go-to for everything since I personally discovered the Gallup World Poll. When people around the world are asked about what is most important to them, what would make their lives better, the answer is: a great job. Not just a job. A great job.
Over our years planning this conference, however, we have noticed this wish has turned into anxiety. In the mainstream media, the headlines are alarming. In the political world, rising populism and anti-establishment sentiment in the United States, Europe, Brazil, and around the world, gives a glimpse to how this anxiety can manifest in elections and beyond.
With the help of our innovation labs, research, and our convenings like the Global Talent Summit, we are studying the megatrends through our think tank the World in 2050. We study five megatrends:
1. Exponential technologies radically reshaping the world.
2. Disruption from climate change and the energy transition, which has already begun.
3. Societal distrust and fragmentation surging.
4. Democratic and governance institutions under pressure.
Our fifth megatrend asks the question: does the workplace care less about education and more about skills? In a way, Global Talent Summit set out to answer this very question at its inception, and the debate continues on today.
This year’s summit’s brain trust, which includes both our speakers and delegates, are endeavoring to answer that question with nuance and thoughtfulness and we are particularly proud to bring our partners, friends, and collaborators together for the first in person Global Talent Summit post-pandemic.
The essays compiled in this anthology reflect key takeaways from GTS in October 2022. We hope you find them useful and will reach out to us if you wish to contribute to a future edition. Thank you for being a part of this year’s Global Talent Summit. We look forward to learning and creating together.
