What Good Are Conferences Anyway?

In his book "Winner Takes All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World," Anand Giridharadas exposes the hypocrisy of the "global elite’s efforts to 'change the world,' preserve the status quo & obscure their role in causing the problems they later seek to solve." He skewers gatherings like Davos & Summit for their self-serving participants & self-congratulatory programming.

My skepticism is related to the stunning lack of inclusion amongst speakers, & the throttling of discomforting ideas for fear of upsetting sponsors or audiences. There is the "curated diversity” of the programming, where only POV’s from minorities acceptable to western audiences are presented. And, what’s the point of the world’s brilliant minds gathering to pontificate, drink champagne & eat fondue without their collective influence being harnessed to solve a problem? I look around these rooms & wonder how the audiences would respond if a 7-year-old Afghani girl related the story of her parent’s murder by the Taliban after being abandoned by the USA. It would kind of kill the buzz, I suppose.

These gatherings are about “big ideas” & conjuring “desirable futures” in a magical haze of gourmet meals & hot new connections. Being put on the spot by terrible truths of oppression, tragedy or consequence is not on the agenda.

Still, after years of pandemic isolation & loss, it was inspiring to attend Les Napoleans’ annual outing in Val d’Isere. I have come to appreciate the restorative power of human connections, unlikely intersections, illuminations, & intentionality of focused events like Les Napoleans & PopTech in the USA. They are authentic, transparent, & run by people who genuinely care about improving the human condition.

This year, Mondher Abdennadher & Olivier Moulierac of Les Napoleans & their young, plugged-in team put together an excellent gathering with the theme “Gouverner." I was struck by the rigor put into creating a true reflection of French demographics. I have spoken at many French events but not met speakers & audiences as diverse as in this one, including “feminist Christian activist” Anne Soupa, Islamologue & first French female imam Kahina Bahloul, & the inspiring boxer Aya Cissako. Cross-dressing singer & youth icon, Bilal; rising black artist Yseult, singer, Hareth Mhedi who is a Syrian refugee; & ex-Minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem and many other corporate and government leaders were there representing the rich tapestry of French society usually obscured under the cloak of “laicite” which sometimes stifles the celebration of racial differences.

Conferences can do good if they feature POVs from a robust sampling of humanity. The fostering of bold ideas taking us out of our comfort zones into the future is welcome in this polarized age. Having tangible goals to move us towards a cleaner, more equitable world would help too. Les Napoleans is a great step in that direction and I look forward to their future editions.