Global Transformation Forum 2015

“Operationalising Transformation:
Shifting Dialogue to Effective Action”

Speak for yourself because you can…

I had an opportunity to watch live talks by Malaysian Premier, the Former Premiers of Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Bolivia; Ministers from Tanzania, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, and Ecuador; the sports icons, global entrepreneur tycoons and representatives from the World Bank, IMF and UNDP at Global Transformation Forum from 21 – 21 October, 2015 at Kuala Lumpur Convention Center.

Here is the snapshot of the event:

Addressing the welcome speech, Dato’ Sri Mohammad Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak, the Prime Minister of Malaysia outlined, “Driving transformation in the global arena to creating interconnected & interdependent world. Malaysia welcomes visitors from across the world while celebrating our own multi-cultural and multi-ethnic diversity”

Helen Clark, Administrator UNDP and Chair UNDP Group; Former Premier of NZ, United Nations Development Program’s Sustainable Development Goal aims at setting global priorities for people and world with means of creating more sustainable growth. SDG believes in setting ambitious target for equitable growth by ending hunger and poverty till 2030; empowering women, providing safe & affordable drinking water for everyone. They are achievable through continuous delivery or discipline of action. Climate, being the major threat to sustainable development/ growth. This forum can create a sense of urgency by building peace, security and strategy for sustainable use of natural resources.

Aspiring to end poverty as the universal agenda requiring a lot of work by reducing inequalities: child- labor, gender inequalities and other high-level inequalities, requiring strategies: including legislative change, people centered to address refugees and migrants’ needs. The climate change: it’s not only those directly dependent on environment but the entire human race. The world population many increase from 7.9 to 9.5 by 2030. Our environment is at stake due to the way we behave and economic activities operate. Conducive actions through eco-sense of operating will ensure continuous prosperity.

It was a true honour to meet Dato’ Sri Idris Jala, the MD, BFR Institute & CEO of Performance Management & Delivery Unit, PM’s Department, Malaysia. Dato’s Sri Idris, who was the ex-chairperson of Shell, Malaysia & official contractor of Fuel for Athens Olympics 2004 followed by turning around massive loss of $400 million to earning $260 million profit for Malaysian Airlines in only 9 months speaks volumes of his massive success. He outline, “we need to acknowledge the global economic activities by building inclusive accountable institutions to address human and people centered development through:

1. The role of civil society in a free and vibrant environment where both women and youth can contribute, resources are mobilized and efficient development initiatives are provided for poor communities.

2. Promoting national development efforts through enhancing monetary system and divergence of investment and capital flow. This will enable the implementation of transnational initiatives. Moreover, the global community needs to step up collectively in transforming people, society and environment!His model of successful transformational strategy: DMS (D: Do it relentlessly; M: Monitor it constantly; S: Solve problems recursively)

I personally found Professor Charles Sabel, Columbia Law School talk academic, relevant and realistic in terms of developing genuine sustainable plan for more extensive reach than a limited target group. It is not the higher level managers but not involving the interest groups and people from grass-roots level who have far better understanding of basic needs, in planning development initiatives. This process generates ideas/ goals (which can be feasible & achievable) but sadly the probability for this approach to fail is 70% times. Even if not failed, the initial plans won’t be executed because it does not translate the basic needs of who we are working for.

Sustainable development is holistic & collective approach by combing all human resource potentials to be able to utilize the available resources to the fullest. “With limited resources, we need to prioritize in delegating which resources can have bigger impacts in transforming economic activities for sustainable development as per UNDP agenda. The key people in government structure can help transformation process – moving from traditional planning to delivery through a process where all the stakeholders agree on major needs and priorities by involving academics, development experts.

Kiren Bedi, Social Commentator, Activist & Author spoke on Empowerment with Empathy, “to have an impact, you got to deal with larger crowd for larger reasons. We are all products of belief. Most of the problems are due to the way we behave. Yoga and meditation program gives peace within which helps have positive impacts on the exterior.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Former Governor of California, Actor & Body Builder From inception to conclusion, he kept his talk flow humorous and engaging with audience. He kicked off with saying, “Believe in living than only existing; there are many things to get by but you need to improve.” He shared his formula of success:

1. Have a vision:

The idea should be following the vision not only setting vision. If you don’t follow your vision and everything you do will become job, which most people detest. I always lifted the trophy in my mind thus it earned me as the youngest Mr. Olympia at the age of 22 years.

2. Never ever think small and think big (shoot for stars)

I did not want to be a body builder but a great body builder; not a movie star but the most highly paid actor. I chose to become governor of California when it was going in crisis.

3.Ignore the nay-sayers:

People always say “No” or it is impossible to you. Take it as their interpretation but not yours. Change your vocabulary as you can’t change theirs. Turn your liabilities into your assets.

4. Forget plan B

There should never be plan B. That is your safety net which will fail you in your plan A. Give your 100% on your Plan A instead. You should never be afraid of failure, but learn from your failures because every great man has failed. The difference between losers and winners is, the winners get up when they fall.

5. Work your ass off/ work hard

Work hard and I always believe in “no stones un-turned”. Mohd. Ali never counted how many times he lifted because he focused on working hard than counting. There is no one who has not had bumps/ challenges in their lives to success.

6. Don’t just take, give something back

We are judged by how much we give not how much we earn. Each of us has the power to be someone we wish to be. All of us need to change to change the concept of, “me” to “we”. The greatest movement in history did not come from capital, it came from people; let’s march to a cleaner future. I don’t believe that going green needs economic sacrifice – that is total bull-shit! You make sure your vision is not to accumulate profit but giving something to the society. Do not think, it is only the society to give you.

I along with my friends managed to greet and meet President of International Association of Olympics & Former Chairman of London 2012 Olympic Games. Sebastian Coe has won 4 Olympic Medals and has the credit of 8 outdoor and 3 indoor world records.

Pierluigi Collins, Chief Refereeing Officer, Union of European Football Association (UEFA) “Everyone has the opportunity to transform only through talent + hard work + courage”