There are only five reasons to go to Davos

Messages from the archive of Rutherford Hall, critical communications strategist

From Rutherford@Monkwellstrategy.com

To Martink@volponebank.com

And a happy new year to you too, Martin. Should you go to the World Economic Forum?

There are only five reasons to go to Davos. One, because you are looking for a new job. Two, you are looking for new business. Three, you are genuinely energised by hearing successful people trying to show off their intellectual underpinnings. Four, you are desperately hoping for 10 minutes talking to Al Gore or Queen Rania of Jordan. And five, you want to be able to drop the phrase “this was a big topic at Davos this year” into future conversations.

I know there are people who think that Davos will expose you to ideas, risks and themes which may dominate the coming years, but so does reading the FT and it’s a lot more convenient.

From our time working together, I think we can safely rule out reasons three to five. So that leaves the first two and you are best placed to assess them. I do go to Davos most years, because it has led to new business opportunities, but that also means I can report back to clients on any relevant themes that come up in my Davos Debrief breakfast.

The bottom line is that no one needs to go to Davos. But some people need to look like the kind of person who does.

Best, Rutherford 

Member DCMS Panel on Business and the Metaverse

Find me on Strava, KoM Sydenham Hill, PR London to Brighton 3h 47m

WhatsApp to Stephen: An excellent new year thanks. Shaved 12 mins off my London to Brighton. Yes, I know, it’s bloody Davos time again. But it’s worked for us in the past and it’s part of the image we project to clients. But let’s stop chasing the big shots this year and just focus on potential clients. Often the best Davos meetings have been with corporate affairs and comms guys so that we are on their lists when they are seeking an agency. It's a good chance to play up my ex-Downing Street credentials.

WhatsApp to Stephen: Of course we should touch base with big clients, make sure they see us there. It’s also important to have enough big names to throw into our report back so clients think we are in with movers and shakers. Do you think your friend can get us 10 minutes with Al Gore?

And no, I don’t think Evian Shostakovich is coming after all. It’s a tricky time for crypto and he’s not entirely reassured by Swiss extradition rules.

From Rutherford@Monkwellstrategy.com

To Martink@volponebank.com

OK, well, there definitely are networking opportunities. And if you want to make a splash with other chief execs then a speech at Davos can get you noticed, though you are competing with a lot of others for attention, so something pre-Davos might work better. If we called it “The real challenge for Davos,” then we can promote to the Davorati.

The one problem with networking at Davos is everyone wants to network up, not down. Big fish only want to sit down with those at their level or above but no one wants to waste effort on people below them in the food chain, unless they are hotly tipped as the coming person. Or you have something they want, in which case they’ll see you anywhere. So you tend to spend most of your time with people you can see anywhere else.

There is a crude speed-dating time efficiency as you cram in a dozen people in a few hours in a bar somewhere, but my experience is that’s better for people you already know and you are just topping up your face-time. We can definitely set up a meeting schedule for you and there will be no trouble getting time with the big global bankers if you want it. We can also make sure you are on the right party lists, though honestly they are mostly full of corporate affairs people and not the kind with experience of having worked in Downing Street.

Best Rutherford 

Member DCMS Panel on Business and the Metaverse

Find me on Strava . . . 

From Rutherford@Monkwellstrategy.com

To: list

The Monkwell Minute:

Happy new year to you all. And welcome to the first Monkwell Minute of 2023. Just a few thoughts on the agenda for the year. The themes of this year are going to be continued economic uncertainty and geopolitical tension which raise the issue of global co-operation in a fragmented world.

Interestingly, this is a big topic at Davos this year . . . 

Messages recovered by Robert Shrimsley