World Economic Forum
World Economic Forum in collaboration with Accenture
Cultivating leadership for sustainable success
Behavioural Strategy Advisory, Leadership Coaching, Design and Implementation of Behavioural Experiments
Equipping leaders with the tools to create responsible and sustainable workplaces.
Sparking change from inside out
About World Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum has long been at the forefront of addressing global challenges, and the Young Global Leaders (YGL) program brings together exceptional individuals determined to make a difference. These leaders wanted to do more than just champion responsible leadership—they wanted to live it every day in their organisations.
When there isn’t time to get behaviour wrong
Challenge
It's easy to talk about change, but making it happen is a different story. The real challenge was taking ambitious goals and turning them into consistent, everyday actions that their teams could adopt.
The YGLs needed a practical way to engage their teams and shift deeply ingrained behaviours. Vague promises or one-off initiatives wouldn’t cut it. They needed a clear, measurable approach that could be tested, improved, and implemented without overwhelming anyone.
The question was straightforward: How could they create real, lasting change that their teams could embrace and act on?
“Through behavioural experimentation, organizations can de-risk change and fully unlock human potential."
Small experiments, big shifts
Approach
We knew the answer lay in behavioural experimentation. Together with the team at Accenture we contributed to a framework. By diagnosing current behaviours and then testing new, bold ideas in a low-risk way, we helped the YGLs design quick, practical experiments that would nudge their teams towards more sustainable actions. Each leader worked closely with their teams to craft experiments that fit their unique organisational needs, ensuring that change wasn’t just theoretical—it was actionable and measurable. We worked closely with BH Compliance and Pano AI.
Three-Phase Approach:
Decode: Assessed current behaviours using Accenture’s Sustainable Organisation Diagnostic, identifying key areas for improvement.
Ideate: Collaborated with leaders (YGLs) to brainstorm and refine impactful experiments aimed at activating target behaviors.
Test: Ran small pilots to validate ideas, gauge effectiveness, and generate measurable outcomes.
Pano AI: Preventing wildfires with AI
Enhancing team dynamics through emotional intelligence
Pano AI was one of the YGL’s partnered with Alterkind. A start-up focused on wildfire prevention they experienced early success and grew rapidly. Their mission to protect communities was clear, but the pressure to perform in a fast-moving environment made it difficult for team members to openly share challenges or ask for help. This lack of openness was limiting creativity and collaboration within the team.
Leading by example, one conversation at a time
The Strategy
We focused on the behavioural capability of Emotion and Intuition, aiming to foster an environment where vulnerability was not only accepted but encouraged. Leadership was pivotal; by openly discussing their own challenges, they modelled the transparency they wished to cultivate throughout the company.
Leadership Modelling
The initiative began with senior leadership sharing personal challenges at the start of team meetings.Structured Sharing Sessions
Each meeting reserved the first 20 minutes for team members to voice personal concerns and seek support, facilitating a routine of openness.Active Listening
We coached the team on active listening techniques, ensuring that discussions focused on understanding rather than immediate problem-solving.Empathy Pipeline
To sustain cultural change, we pinpointed Pano AI's recruitment practices to prioritise empathy alongside technical skills.
Emotion at work
Impact
This shift to a more emotionally intelligent workplace led to:
Increased Engagement
Meetings became more interactive, with team members eager to contribute, reflected in a significant rise in active participation.
Improved Problem-Solving
With barriers removed, the team engaged more deeply in collaborative solutions, enhancing their effectiveness in wildfire detection strategies.
“It really helped us cut through the noise and focus on what actually worked. It gave us something we could act on right away."
Arvind Satyam, Chief Commercial Officer, Pano AI
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Lauren Alys Kelly
Megha Thakker (Accenture)
Emily Barrett (Accenture)
Joshua Rhodes (WEF)
Tinna Nielsen
April Durrett
Joe Hildebrand
Simon Hayward
