Leaders today face climate havoc, geopolitical instability and a 'more chaotic form of globalization,' said David Miliband, the president and chief executive officer of humanitarian organization International Rescue Committee. On this recent Meet the Leader, he explains how leaders can navigate this more disordered world and an 'age of impunity' – a trend he's tracked for years where some seem less accountable to the power they yield. He explains the challenge he sees for leaders of all stripes in the near future, giving practical advice on how leaders can stay accountable to the big picture and better meet the moment to craft tactical strategies and drive cooperation for positive change.

This interview was recorded October 2025 in the World Economic Forum New York Office.

About this episode:
International Rescue Committee: https://help.rescue.org/

Related podcasts:
What most people get wrong about progress: Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2IJjZs4E7A&t=51s
Read: https://tinyurl.com/3smrwev9

We're 'losing the war' on modern slavery: What leaders can do - HPE's John Schultz
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlXggC3o08I&t=1s
Read: https://tinyurl.com/488aupcn

What do startup founders, CEOs of multinationals and Harvard professors have in common? They can all name a book that has changed how they live, think or lead. In this annual roundup episode, look for your new read (or a gift for that hard-to-buy for person on your list) from the recommendations of the world's top thinkers and change makers. Our annual books roundup collects books that have transformed how some of the top global leaders manage teams, get inspired, and make things happen. This year's recommendations include fresh takes on classic business books, histories, time-honored works of literature, and new favorites that can change how you build and lead.

About this episode:
Transcript: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/2025-book-recommendations-leaders

Books and leaders in this episode:
Books to deepen your understanding of the world
-Angela Odour Lungati, Ushahidi
Book: The Power of Geography, Tim Marshall
-Sherry Madera ,CEO, CDP
Book: Pricing the Priceless: The Financial Transformation to Value the Planet, Solve the Climate Crisis, and Protect Our Most Precious Assets, Paula DiPerna
-Sanjeev Mankotia, CEO, Gaeastar
Book: Benjamin Franklin: An American Life, Walter Isaacson
-Jumana Al Hashat, CEO and co-founder, Voltaire.ai
Book: The Message, Ta-Nehisi Coates
-Alicia Chong Rodriguez, founder, Bloomer Tech
Book: The Vagina Business, Marina Gerner

Books to understand the moment we're in
-Nathan Metenier, co-director, Youth Climate Justice fund
Book: Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World, Naomi Klein
-Steven Pinker, Harvard cognitive psychologist and author
Book: The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations That Transform the World, David Deutsch

Books to teach you more about yourself
-Kian Katanforoosh, CEO, Workera
Book: The Molecule of More, Daniel Z. Lieberman and Michael E. Long
-Diallo Powell is the CEO and Co-Founder, Stak Mobility
Book: It's Sid Bernstein Calling, Arthur Aaron
-Liz Centoni, Cisco
Book: The Courage to Be Disliked Fumitake Koga and Ichiro Kishimi

Books to inform how you'll lead
-Adam Grant, author and Wharton organizational psychologist
Book: Calling In, Loretta J. Ross
Book: Validation, Caroline Flack
-Alfred Stern, CEO, OMV
Book: Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, Carol Dweck
-Ayumi Moore Aoki, Who, Not How

Books that help you meet the moment
-Mohit Joshi, CEO, Tech Mahindra
Book; Meditations for Mortals, Oliver Burkeman
-Nadya Okamoto, Founder, August
Book: Pleasure Activism, The Politics of Feeling Good, Adrienne Maree Brown
-David Steinbach, CIO, Hines
Author: Viktor Frankl

Today, Gary Tyler is a renowned fiber artist and activist. But he was once the youngest person on death row in the U.S., a man unjustly incarcerated at just age 17. He talks with World Economic Forum video producer Kateryna Gordiychuk about how his experience in prison introduced him to the medium and shapes his creative expression. While incarcerated, during the AIDs epidemic, Gary worked as a volunteer in one of the first prison hospice programs in the country. The need to fund the program led Gary to learn quilting to help raise money that could aid both the dying men and their families who wouldn't be able to travel to see their loved ones otherwise. The experience drove home for Gary the need for mercy and advocacy in systems where people cannot advocate for themselves. Today, his art explores themes of freedom and individuality and he speaks frequently on the contributions any individual can make, regardless of their circumstance.

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

About this episode:
About Gary's Art: Library Street Collective: lscgallery.com

Episode transcript: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/gary-tyler-artist-activist

Related Podcasts:
Meet The Leader - Ballerina Misty Copeland: Unlocking potential and a leader's most 'vital' role
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNwmJJMRt4o&t=1s

Meet The Leader - 'I'll show you a real leader' - Platon, the photographer of power, on finding humanity in all of us
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIUGFUza2ec&t=117s

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