Robots that fold our laundry might sound futuristic, but don’t justify a new way of operating. And AI that reads our email or searches the web in new ways, won’t tackle the world’s biggest problems. Jake Loosararian, Gecko Robotics Co-founder, explains how technologies such as AI and robotics could do more to tackle stubborn challenges – such as infrastructure failure, to protect lives and prevent catastrophes – if only they had the right data. He breaks down: how big data gaps have held back innovation for the physical world, and how smarter approaches to infrastructure can improve efficiency and safety in sectors like manufacturing or mining, all while reducing emissions. He also offers key questions leaders can ask to better understand what information has informed their AI and why that's critical to continued trust in the technology. Lastly, he takes us through the moment he knew he needed to start Gecko Robotics, the sleepless nights he pushed through to bootstrap it in its early days, and the unique way he has merged worklife and family life to spend more time with his wife and four children.

This interview was recorded at the Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 2025.

About this episode:
Gecko Robotics
https://www.geckorobotics.com/

Episode transcript:
https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/jake-loosarian-gecko-robotics-data-gap-ai/

Future of jobs report
https://www.weforum.org/publications/the-future-of-jobs-report-2025/

Meet the Leader - Adam Grant: Future leaders won't succeed without this key trait
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buVVIpttzUA
Listen: https://tinyurl.com/ys2dtftj
Read: https://tinyurl.com/fbym95jy

Radio Davos - Tech poised to change the world: Top Ten Emerging Technologies 2025
Watch: https://youtu.be/QVTprDQdrZE
Listen: https://tinyurl.com/2nb3c246
Read: https://youtu.be/QVTprDQdrZE

Check out all our podcasts on wef.ch/podcasts:

YouTube: - / @wef

Radio Davos - subscribe: https://pod.link/1504682164

Meet the Leader - subscribe: https://pod.link/1534915560

Forecasts say we’ll need to double food production by 2050 - a tall order given 40% of the earth’s land has been degraded over decades by mining, unsustainable farming and climate change. The head of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Ibrahim Thiaw takes us through this complex issue that impacts economies, human well-being and global security. He breaks down what’s needed to restore 1.5 billion hectares of land and the policies and technologies that can make a difference. He also shares how drought devastated his family and community when just a child and how the destruction and despair he witnessed inspired him to dedicate his life to environmental issues. As he closes out his role as executive secretary this summer, he shares how leaders can sharpen their focus on the issues that matter most.

About this episode:

https://www.unccd.int/

Transcript:
https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/ibrahim-thiaw-unccd-land-restoration-climate

Related report:
Business on the Edge: Building Industry Resilience to Climate Hazards

Related podcasts:
How one global health leader prepares teams for the toughest scenarios: Gavi CEO

The 'triple strength' leaders must develop to drive a sustainable future: OMV CEO

We’re ‘losing the war’ on modern slavery: What business leaders can do - HPE’s John Schultz

Former gymnast and current USA Gymnastics CEO and president Li Li Leung joined the organization after after a turmoil-ridden period marked by an abuse scandal, bankruptcy and rapid leadership turnover. She talks to Meet The Leader about what she did in her first days to rebuild trust with athletes, coaches and gymnastics communities across the country and build new policies that met their needs. She also shares what’s needed for psychological safety and the slate of new mental health resources created at the organization, from therapists to emotional support dogs, that are supporting both athletes and coaches. Lastly, she shares what the sport has taught her about discipline and accepting feedback, and what’s key to coaching teams on results that matter.

About this episode:
USA Gymnastics
https://usagym.org/

Future of jobs report
https://www.weforum.org/publications/the-future-of-jobs-report-2025/

Related Podcasts:
Meet the Leader - Ballerina Misty Copeland: Unlocking potential and a leader’s most ‘vital’ role
https://tinyurl.com/yd7zc3yc

Radio Davos - How sport can save lives: Homeless World Cup
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsXULphhSzo

Meet the Leader - Adam Grant: Future leaders won't succeed without this key trait https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buVVIpttzUA

Check out all our podcasts on wef.ch/podcasts: YouTube: - / @wef Radio Davos - subscribe: https://pod.link/1504682164 Meet the Leader - subscribe: https://pod.link/1534915560

Big change can come with big fallouts and big feelings. Cisco's chief customer experience officer Liz Centoni runs a team with tens of thousands of employees and has 25 years of experience making the tough calls needed to drive needed technological change and earn critical buy-in and support. She shares what she's learned about tackling team fears and frictions head on and the importance of breaking down complex shifts into manageable ‘chunks’ to bring people along. She explains why she recommends leaders embrace the 'power of the pause’ -- and wait to speak in meetings -- and what's needed to get truly honest feedback in pivotal moments. Learn more about her approach – and the empowering lessons she learned about transformation from books like ‘The Courage to be Disliked’ and the famed psychologist Viktor Frankl.

About this episode:
Cisco:
https://www.cisco.com/

Episode Transcript:
https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/liz-centoni-cisco-tough-decisions-big-change

Referenced in this episode:
Book recommendation - The Courage to Be Disliked, by Fumitake Koga and Ichiro Kishimi: https://www.amazon.com/Courage-Be-Disliked-Phenomenon-Happiness/dp/1501197274

World Economic Forum Research - Future of Jobs Report:
https://www.weforum.org/publications/the-future-of-jobs-report-2025/

Related podcast:
7 women leaders on the books that shaped them
https://tinyurl.com/vuketc78

How one global health leader plans for the unexpected: Gavi
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0Sj2YMTzpZj54Q0DMhHVrr

The global retirement savings gap could grow to $400 trillion by 2050 -- a problem that can’t just be tackled by simple saving alone. Meanwhile, we’re living longer and longer, a reality that is changing the way we live in our later years while making it trickier to save. Yie-Hsin Hung, the CEO of State Street Investment Management, will break down this problem and the new multi-prong approaches from all parts of society that will be needed to fix it. She also shares the moments that shaped her as a leader (like the simple question she asked early in her career that has helped her get honest feedback to this day).

About this episode:
State Street Investment Management
Note: State Street rebranded to State Street Investment Management since this interview was recorded.
https://www.ssga.com/us/en/intermediary

Related Initiative:
World Economic Forum Longevity Economy Initiative: https://initiatives.weforum.org/financial-resilience-for-every-generation/home

Related reports:
Future-Proofing the Longevity Economy: Innovations and Key Trends: https://www.weforum.org/publications/future-proofing-the-longevity-economy-innovations-and-key-trends/

Global Risks report: https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-risks-report-2025/digest/

Related Podcasts:
The ‘inevitable’ caregiving cost nightmare: One young founder's story and solution: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/lily-vittayarukskul-waterlily-caregiving-costs/

How does the CEO of an organization brought in to help respond to fast-moving health crises like Mpox and other infectious diseases plan for the unexpected? Sania Nishtar heads up Gavi - The Vaccine Alliance, an organization that has helped vaccinate over one billion children in the world's poorest countries and prevent more than 18 million deaths worldwide. Sania talks to us about the planning, mindsets, technologies and scenario planning her team uses to be ready for any emergency. She explains the importance of securing ‘crystal clarity’ in advance for what its expected to deliver and how that helps the organization prepare for a range of circumstances and efficiently coordinate with governments and other global organizations when time is of the essence. This organization was launched at Davos 25 years ago and she shares what what’s needed for global health security and strengthened public health systems now and in months and years ahead.

This interview was recorded in January 2025 at the Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

About this episode:
Gavi: https://www.gavi.org/

Transcript: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/sania-nishtar-gavi-preparation-global-health

Related podcasts:
What most people get wrong about progress: Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2IJjZs4E7A&t=51s

We’re ‘losing the war’ on modern slavery: What leaders can do - HPE’s John Schultz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlXggC3o08I&t=1s

Non-communicable diseases like stroke and heart disease have swapped spots with infectious diseases as top global killers. Improving health access -- whether in the developed or emerging world -- can save the lives of billions. CEO Bernd Montag explains how Siemens Healthineers is partnering with providers around the world to deliver technologies and help reduce the complexities that can stand in the way of efficient treatment. He’ll also share his own unique background -- as a professional basketball player and later theoretical physicist -- and how it shaped how he makes decisions and leads.

This interview was recorded January 2025 at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

About this episode:
https://www.siemens-healthineers.com/

Video podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECEgJAlM72A

Transcript:
https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/bernd-montag-siemens-healthineers

Related podcasts:
Bridging the gap in women's health technology, policy and more: Kearney:
https://tinyurl.com/3jmahwwj

Tackling these surprising blindspots can bridge gender gaps in health, opportunity and more: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0HfUaxq69cJBZfVgGctVMB?go=1&sp_cid=974f0d02895cc3e5dc6ee274371893a7&utm_source=embed_player_p&utm_medium=desktop&nd=1&dlsi=38d6c85af7df484e

Nadya Okamoto launched her nonprofit Period as a teenager at the height of startup mania, hustle culture and girlboss memes. It grew to become one of the largest youth nonprofits in the world, but the fast growth led to burnout and a harsh cost to her well-being. She talks about how she learned to value rest, set boundaries and get 10 hours of sleep a day – and the moment she decided to pass the leadership torch for the organization’s next phase. Her non-profit Period, one that got started distributing menstrual pads to the homeless in San Francisco, and her current startup August, a menstruation care brand, both deal with tackling access to women's health products, health equity and ending period poverty. She discusses the unique challenges leaders face in this space and the boundary pushing ways she leverages social media and grassroots organizing to bridge gaps in awareness and funding and drive positive conversations and change. She also shares her lessons from her work in non-profits, policy work and startups on how any leader can be more accountable to what their organization needs right now.

About this episode:
August: https://www.itsaugust.co/
Period: https://msha.ke/periodinc/

Related report:
Prescription for Change: Policy Recommendations for Women’s Health Research: https://www.weforum.org/publications/prescription-for-change-policy-recommendations-for-women-s-health-research/

Blueprint to Close the Women's Health Gap: How to Improve Lives and Economies for All: https://www.weforum.org/publications/blueprint-to-close-the-women-s-health-gap-how-to-improve-lives-and-economies-for-all/

Related podcasts:
7 women leaders on the books that shaped their lives:
https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/7-women-leaders-books-recommendations/

Bridging the gap in women's health research, policy and innovation: Kearney
https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/paula-bellostas-muguerza-kearney-womens-health/

How bridging design gaps in science and tech can tackle gender bias: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/nigina-muntean-design-equity-unpf/