EPISODE · Jan 23, 2025 · 44 MIN
Carolina Klint: Unveiling Key 2025 WEF Risk Insights
from Scouting for Growth · host Sabine VdL
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Carolina Klint, Managing Director and Chief Commercial Officer for Continental Europe at Marsh McLennan, who shares her views on the latest WEF report and its implications for businesses and insurers worldwide. KEY TAKEAWAYS My goal in speaking about and promoting the Report is to place the topics of risk and resilience on the agenda of world leaders, decision-makers, executives, and board members. The business world is so complex and difficult to navigate, and we have an environment now where risks are not only interconnected but also layered. So, the Global Risk Report is a great place to start making sense of this. When a company looks at the risks that have the potential to impact or execute on strategies, it’s so difficult to get it right: You’re going to go through your risks and scenario planning to pull together an ambitious risk register. Most companies have good processes for this, but in the current environment, it’s very rare to identify and prepare for the risks that will hit you. By cultivating a culture of risk awareness and resilience, and by taking a holistic view, connecting the dots between people, risk, and strategy, companies that do so have a much better opportunity to deal with whatever ends up hitting them. If you have culture and awareness, and empower your leaders and employees to manage when something hits, it’s going to lead to a much better outcome for you, regardless of the risks. We need to not just look at what’s in front of us, but look at the long-term perspective. Human beings are wired to focus on what’s in front of us, and it’s easy to forget the long-term horizon. This is where the Global Risk Report is so helpful: it looks at perceptions of current risks and the 2-year and 10-year risk horizons. BEST MOMENTS ‘We look at how we can bring more value and become more relevant to our clients by connecting people, risk, and strategy – and the WEF Global Risk Report speaks directly to that.’ ‘The business environment is very difficult to navigate, and it’s only through collaboration and looking at the business holistically that you can achieve a long-term sustainable business model.’ ‘For anyone in risk and resilience, when the Global Risk Report comes out, it’s like Christmas Day as a 5-year-old!’ ‘Everyone’s got a plan until you get punched in the face – that’s exactly the way it is in the current environment.’ ABOUT THE GUEST Carolina Klint is a recognized expert in global risk management and a key contributor to thought leadership initiatives, including the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report. As a Managing Director and Risk Management Leader for Continental Europe at Marsh McLennan, she works with clients across industries to anticipate, quantify, and navigate emerging threats—ranging from geopolitical and environmental disruptions to the rapid evolution of technology. LinkedIn ABOUT THE HOST Sabine VanderLinden is a corporate strategist turned entrepreneur and the CEO of Alchemy Crew Ventures. She leads venture-client labs that help Fortune 500 companies adopt and scale cutting-edge technologies from global tech ventures. A builder of accelerators, investor, and co-editor of the bestseller The INSURTECH Book, Sabine is known for asking the uncomfortable questions—about AI governance, risk, and trust. On Scouting for Growth, she decodes how real growth happens—where capital, collaboration, and courage meet. If this episode sparked your thinking, follow Sabine VanderLinden on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram for more insights. And if you’re interested in sponsoring the podcast, reach out to the team at [email protected]
What this episode covers
On this episode of Scouting For Growth, Sabine VdL sits down with Carolina Klint, Managing Director and Chief Commercial Officer for Continental Europe at Marsh McLennan, to unpack the latest World Economic Forum Global Risks Report—and why it should be required reading for every executive, board member, and risk leader right now. This conversation goes far beyond a report summary. It’s about how leaders can rethink risk, resilience, and decision-making in a world where uncertainty is no longer the exception—it’s the operating environment. Why the Global Risks Report matters now Carolina’s mission in championing the report is clear: to keep risk and resilience firmly on the agenda of global leaders. Today’s business environment is not just complex—it’s layered. Risks are increasingly interconnected, cascading across geopolitics, climate, technology, society, and economics. The Global Risks Report offers a starting point to make sense of that complexity, helping leaders see how short-term shocks and long-term structural risks collide. The uncomfortable truth about risk planning Most organisations have solid risk processes. They build risk registers, run scenarios, and stress-test strategies. Yet, as Carolina points out, it’s still rare for companies to correctly anticipate the risks that actually hit them. Why? Because humans are wired to focus on what’s directly in front of us. Immediate pressures crowd out long-term thinking—exactly when long-horizon risks are becoming more consequential. The report’s value lies in its multi-time-horizon view, comparing current perceptions of risk with outlooks over two and ten years. That contrast forces uncomfortable but necessary conversations in the boardroom. Culture beats checklists One of the strongest messages in this episode: resilience doesn’t come from a better spreadsheet. Companies that perform best in crises are those that connect people, risk, and strategy—and cultivate a culture of awareness and ownership. When leaders and employees are empowered to act, adapt, and collaborate under pressure, outcomes improve regardless of which risk materialises. Risk awareness, Carolina argues, is not about predicting the future perfectly. It’s about being prepared to respond intelligently when plans inevitably collide with reality. Collaboration is no longer optional In a fragmented, volatile environment, no organisation can manage systemic risk alone. Carolina stresses the importance of collaboration—across functions, industries, and ecosystems—to build sustainable business models. That’s why the Global Risks Report resonates so strongly: it reflects a collective view of the world, not a single-company perspective. Why risk leaders secretly love January Carolina shares a lighter moment too: for anyone working in risk and resilience, the release of the Global Risks Report feels like “Christmas morning as a five-year-old.” Not because the findings are cheerful—but because they create a shared language for critical conversations leaders must have. Why this episode matters For executives, insurers, and board members, this episode is a timely reminder that: Risks today are interconnected and layered Long-term horizons matter more than ever Culture and empowerment outperform rigid plans Resilience is built by connecting people, risk, and strategy Collaboration is essential for sustainable growth Or, as Carolina puts it with refreshing honesty: everyone has a plan—until reality punches back. This episode helps leaders prepare for that moment.
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Carolina Klint: Unveiling Key 2025 WEF Risk Insights
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