Shape the World Summit through the years
by Helena Pham
A lot of people, especially those involved in the business industry, have probably attended a conference at least once in their career. In these events, speakers are invited to deliver talks on a topic based on a specific theme. Many conferences in the early 2000s were not about making genuine change in the world but instead focused more on profit for corporations or personal gain.
The Shape the World conference, launched in 2005, sought to change this narrative and shape the world by organising conferences that focused on changemaking.
But she knew that this would not be an easy mission. Then she met Consulus.
“I can still remember the 2013 conference in Ho Chi Minh City where over 150 participants from various sectors convened to discuss impactful ideas and share best practices. This was very memorable for me because as one of the organisers who spent several sleepless nights making sure that everything was perfect, I saw the genuine interactions among Changemakers in different industries,” said Helena Pham, Partner at Consulus.
Business leaders from various sectors raise their hands in expression of commitment during the Shape the World Conference in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam August 15, 2013
Leveraging the great feedback from past iterations of the event, the Shape the World Summit was held in Kuching, Malaysia in 2023. With the theme ‘Future Resilience by Sustainability,’ the event featured keynote talks, panel discussions, and networking opportunities around the intersection of business and sustainability in a post-pandemic world.
“The impact of these conferences holds a special place in my heart, especially after witnessing its transformative journey since I first joined Consulus in 2011,” Helena said. “To date, we have a cohort of over 7,000 leaders from different countries who have expressed their commitment to shaping the future of the world after attending past programs.”
Since then these summits have grown immensely and have been held in different countries in Asia such as Singapore (2011, 2012, 2018, 2019, 2022), Philippines (2011), Bangladesh (2012), Vietnam (2012, 2013), Myanmar (2013), Sri Lanka (2013), Thailand (2016), Malaysia (2023), and even online (2020, 2021) during the height of the pandemic.
Participants pose during the successful launch of the Shape the World Conference in Kuching, Malaysia last June 21, 2023
In June 2024, as Consulus celebrates its 20th anniversary, all roads lead back to where it all started: Singapore.
The annual week-long Global School and Shape the World Summit 2024 is built around the theme of ‘Creative Change Movements’ and will feature team building and holistic learning activities to encapsulate what it means to ignite change through creative solutions. But for Helena, regardless of where the conferences are held—whether it’s in the bustling streets of Bangladesh, the dynamic city-state of Singapore, or the culturally rich corners of Sri Lanka—one thing remains the same: change can only be attained through collective action, and events like the Shape the World Summit is the first step for Changemakers.
About Consulus
Consulus is a global creative change firm serving persons, companies, and cities in their transfiguration for an Economy of Communion. Consulus believes that purpose and unity are essential for innovation and inclusive growth. Since 2004, Consulus has implemented systemic innovation solutions with multidisciplinary business and design capabilities throughout the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe. With a presence in 23 nations globally, Consulus believes in shaping an inclusive socio-economic system and is a member of the Economy of Communion (EoC) network.
About Shape the World Summit
The Shape the World Conference (STWC), now known as the Shape the World Summit (STWS), was started by Consulus in 2005 with a simple mission: to get Changemakers to rethink their purpose and make a difference in shaping a better world. Since then, more than 6,000 leaders have attended the STWS, which has been held in countries such as Bangladesh, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia. Over the years, the event has featured various themes, including “Designing Sustainable and Smart Cities,” “Designing a More Equitable Economic System,” and “Future Resilience by Sustainability: Building Sustainable Movements While Navigating a New World of AI and Data.”
