February 3, 2006 | The World Economic Forum in Davos, in the
luxurious Swiss Alps, recently ended. Thank goodness.
You’d like to think the forum was accomplishing something in the
lavishly extravagant Alps, but some are entertaining serious doubts.
This year, the Forum leaders placed great emphasis on fashion by
making it clear to invitees that wardrobes were to be just as
important as speeches: each invitee was provided clear instructions
to wear only “sporty or business casual (no tie).”
Two years ago they said no ties too, and were so determined to
eliminate formality that if you showed up with a tie, you were
punished by being forced to donate $4 to UNICEF. (Since when is
donating to an international relief organization considered
punishment?) This year, the WSJ reports, “the collection was more
low-key: there is an honor box for donations with a sign depicting a
tie with red slash through it.”
Apparently, according to the World Economic Forum, when discussing
weighty issues of economic growth for struggling economies, famine,
disease, corruption, insurrection, terrorism, human rights, global
competitiveness, you are all supposed to be laid back and having a
good time.
To Davos organizers, forum fashion is so important that some
portions of the invitee list look more like an invitation to the
Oscars than a serious conversation about global economics. Following
a discussion on Debt Relief in Africa, the forum’s official report
about the session said the highlight was when actress Sharon Stone,
who had been slouching in her chair in blue-jeans, suddenly stood up
and chirped out a request for money for "bed nets" for Africans,
after a remark by the President of Tanzania saying his country was
having difficulty servicing the country’s debt.
Bafflingly, the panelist representing the UN High Commissioner on
Refugees was none other than Angelina Jolie. You’d like to think the
UN would send someone who has actually had a career processing
refugees--perhaps my acquaintance Andy who worked tirelessly
repatriating refugees in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the High
Commissioner, a task that required detailed understanding of The
Dayton Peace Agreement, international property law and other
complicated legal challenges. Andy demonstrated savvy and leadership
in the context of local violence, inefficient bureaucracies,
distrust and much more. But Angelina Jolie wears high fashion and
nabbed Brad Pitt, making her the more obvious choice.
But at least Jolie had more respect than Stone and didn't wear blue
jeans; instead she wore a cute pregnancy suit which the event’s
fashion trackers noted included a bolero style jacket.
But really, why should I care what style her jacket was? I’d rather
know if she said anything besides, “We need to help people.”
Google’s founder Sergey Brin, the former gymnast now
multibillionaire, was apparently wearing a sexy black t-shirt while
boogying on the dance floor. But it begs curiosity—what really
happens on that dance floor? Considering nearly all the attendees
are men, was Sergey line dancing with Clinton and Michael Dell?
Doing a jig with the Richard Branson? Or dancing to Britney Spears
with Giorgio Armani, Zhu Yanfeng, and Boutros-Ghali? I doubt it. But
really, who was he jamming with? And why on earth does Davos even
have a dance floor? I hope someone who attended enlightens me on
this.
A man whose company for many years outperformed competitors to the
benefit of shareholders, customers and the economy, John C. Bogle,
Former CEO of The Vanguard Group, actually understands global
capital markets far better than many of the attendees. Yet he wasn’t
invited. But U2’s Bono was. With this year’s casual fashion
instructions, Bono and his funky sunglasses were apparently in
demand.
Then enters sex. What does sex have to do with global economic
growth? Apparently everything. The World Economic Forum had a
session on sex for the rich and famous. Offered to the attendees was
“All You Ever Wanted to Know about Relationships—But Were Afraid to
Ask” during which the speaker planned to talk about why
“relationships and sexuality may be the only truly universal part of
human life.” Attendees were to be given “tools to overcome old
patterns and keep desire flowing.” As an expert in this area, Brad
Pitt attended Davos wearing a skinny tie--heaven forbid he is ever
caught with a fat tie. Did he offer tips to aging men about how
cheating with a buxom coworker really heats things up? I'll never
know, I wasn't there.
The fashion requirement for the Saturday night Gala Soiree was
“black tie” or “national dress.” A Wall Street Journal journalist
wrote, “Three years ago, Raghida Dergham, who covers the U.N. for
the Arab newspaper Al Hayat, danced with Time Warner Chief Executive
Richard Parsons. Two years ago, she did the same with billionaire
investor George Soros. Last year, it was actor Richard Gere. In each
case, she credits the dress. This year she brought three formal
outfits—one in chocolate brown, one in black, and one in green silk
with a sash. She says she’ll pick one Saturday, based on whom she
most wants to dance with.”
Now that all the private corporate jets, funded by shareholders,
taxpayers and corrupt governments have departed, I would venture to
say that at least some of these rich and famous folks made a mockery
of the people whom they are supposedly trying to help. I wish the
U.N. would send experienced leaders instead of always angling for
who looks best on camera.
Which brings us to the female journalists dancing in their sexy
dresses with random male executives and inconsequential Hollywood
actors. Am I naive to wish they would promote their issues with
dignity, and represent their organizations and countries with class?
To hope that the World Economic Forum would next year stop the
dancing, cancel the sex sessions, and return the bottles of 1959
Pauillac Bordeaux and stick to serious economic content?
‘Shaking their booties’ on the dance floor hardly garners respect.
The issues they should be discussing are complicated, technical, and
require some discipline to solve.
But wait a minute, if the problems were solved, there would be no
need for a party next year. And then what excuse would we have to
throw around fancy wines and fashion merely for image enhancement
and self-promotion?
Jeannine Kellogg, based in Minneapolis, has a Masters in Business
Administration and works in the technology field. Outside of work
she enjoys writing, travel, and teaching piano.
