INSEAD in Davos: Cooperation in a Fragmented World

2023 marks the fourth year that INSEAD engaged leaders in Davos alongside the World Economic Forum by convening faculty and experts for conversations in the SDG Tent

For the fourth year, INSEAD once again partnered with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Tent sponsors, InTent, to engage leaders in Davos alongside the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting.

This year, the Hoffmann Global Institute for Business and Society convened INSEAD faculty, leading speakers and experts for two sessions in the SDG Tent. One session provided practical insights on expanding universal healthcare coverage, while the other session explored the mindset needed to increase income and positive impact.

As Academic Partner of the SDG Tent, the Hoffmann Institute designed sessions in line with the SDG Tent focus on mobilizing action to accelerate change. These sessions also advance dialogue on the WEF Annual Meeting 2023 theme of ‘cooperation in a fragmented world’. The first session featured a panel discussion on Achieving the Goal of Universal Health Coverage by 2030: Successes and Challenges from Emerging Market Countries. This practical session on health policy was complemented by a masterclass by faculty Professor Subi Rangan on Integrating Income and Impact: Three Secrets. The WEF 2023 also opened opportunity to bring INSEAD though leadership to other SDG Tent panels and catch up with innovative and influential alumni.

The Hoffmann Institute met with World Economic Forum Head of ESG Initiatives and Institutional Communities Ramya Krishnaswamy MBA'05J to hear her key trends for business and society in 2023. Check out the video and then explore the sessions below in more detail.

Achieving the Goal of Universal Health Coverage by 2030: Successes and Challenges from Emerging Market Countries

The first INSEAD session in the SDG Tent focused on the practical challenge of achieving universal health coverage (UHC) by 2030. Organised in collaboration with the James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Centre for the Study of Wealth Inequality and the Healthcare Management Initiative (HMI), the session featured a discussion by INSEAD Professor Mark Stabile, health experts working with the governments of India, Kenya, Indonesia and the private sector.

Numerous world leaders have made a commitment to UHC and provision of healthcare for all by 2030. This is particularly critical in developing countries so communities can access healthcare services without fear of catastrophic financial repercussions. The panel discussed the challenges and successes in progress towards the universal healthcare goal in emerging market countries. This practical knowledge can help public and private sector actors overcome challenge and deliver on the goal.

Andre Hoffmann opening our session 'Achieving the Goal of Universal Health Coverage by 2030: Successes and Challenges from Emerging Market Countries'

One exchange had global implications that resounded beyond emerging markets. As moderator, Professor Stabile asked how are countries retaining healthcare workers after the pandemic. Panellist Shri Alok Kumar, Principal Secretary of Health and Medical Education in Uttar Pradesh, India spoke on the fragmentation of the Indian healthcare system. It is currently hard for the country to retain medical professionals, especially in rural areas. He asserted that the only way to combat such measures is to train more staff, and with more manpower comes more equal healthcare. Kumar highlighted that India has doubled the number of medical schools in past five years.

Shri Alok Kumar, Principal Secretary of Health and Medical Education in Uttar Pradesh speaking

Prastuti Soewondo, Special Advisor to the Minister of Health in Indonesia then spoke about the barriers to training more professionals in her country. Training as a specialist in Indonesia requires attendance at specific universities, which currently cannot increase capacity as they do not have the faculty needed.

Dr Wangari Ng'ang'a’ang’a, Universal Health Coverage Technical Advisor in the Executive Office of the President of Kenya pointed out that having more trained professionals is useless without sufficient funding. Despite a need for trained medical workers in Kenya to meet demand, unemployment remains high in the country – 5,000 unemployed doctors, 20,000+ unemployed clinical officers and 40,000 unemployed nurses.

Robert Metzke, Senior Vice President of Global Head Sustainability, Philips joined the discussion to highlight the role of technology in building capacity of healthcare providers and delivering better outcomes.

Through this discussion, it became clear that increasing manpower, increasing funding and integrating technology all play a role in lowering barriers to healthcare. A suite of solutions by leaders in both the public and private sectors is needed to achieve UHC.

Integrating Income and Impact: Three Secrets

The second INSEAD session was a masterclass led by chaired Professor of Strategy and Management Subramanian Rangan, who shared three secrets to creating income and impact. Instead of seeking technical tricks or business loopholes, Ragan implored attendees to be more introspective and examine moral identity, character and emotion. These are traits all often overlooked in business, but offer a path to success. To help leader walk this path of purpose, Professor Rangan shared three secrets to square the dilemma of producing both income and impact.

INSEAD Professor Subramanian Rangan mid session

1. Make courageous choices over decisions – Decisions are about information and choices are about identity. Our identity is constructed through choices. The most important things we do in our life are choices not decisions. We need more brave choices to be made over information-driven decisions.

2. Character over competence – Moral character is comprised of three things – being caring, committed and courageous. This involves a mental shift from ‘need to do’ attitude to ‘want to do’. Commitment means there will be sacrifice. And courage is needed to do what is right, even if it may end in failure.

3. Focus on non-cognitive skills – There are those that bring joy wherever they go and there are those that bring positive energy whenever they go. Use non-cognitive skills to assess what type of emotion and energy you bring to the room and increase the focus on relationships in leadership.

Now that these secrets are out, Professor Rangan believes leaders who embrace them can do well by doing good. It is clear that our economic system is at odds with a healthy biosphere. These secrets can help spur the big shift needed to move from an output-focused economy to an outcome-focused models.

A full house in attendance for 'Integrating Income & Impact: 3 secrets'. Katell Le Goulven from the Hoffmann Global Institute opening the session.

The Year Ahead

The WEF in Davos often sets the tone for the year ahead. INSEAD sessions showed that collaboration can address challenges like healthcare, climate impacts and geopolitical instability. We heard that new mindsets can help confront these challenges with courage to make the right choices. Based on engagement in the SDG Tent, the Hoffmann Institute looks forward to continuing discussion on these topics and more in 2023.

Part of the INSEAD team on site in the SDG tent

The Hoffmann Institute extends a thank you to InTent for collaborating with INSEAD as the Academic Partner of the SDG Tent alongside the WEF 2023. The Institute remains committed to advancing the SDG conversation throughout the year and looks forward to next year’s World Economic Forum. You are invited to explore engagement in the SDG Tent from previous years – 2019, 2020 and 2022.