Estelle Dippenaar – making the most of Davos as a delegate’s spouse!

How does ones spouse navigate the prestigious World Economic Forum in Davos? The answer is quite simple, learn and take in as much as possible at this truly unique global event. Alec Hogg spoke to Laurie Dippenaar’s wife, Estelle about her years in attendance at the WEF. – LF

ALEC HOGG:  Estelle Dippenaar is here at the World Economic Forum.  How many times now, Estelle?

ESTELLE DIPPENAAR:  I don’t know.  I think 10 or 12.  I don’t know.

ALEC HOGG:  So you come often.

ESTELLE DIPPENAAR:  Yes.

ALEC HOGG:  What’s the experience like for the spouses (or the spice)?

ESTELLE DIPPENAAR:  I think that in the past, there used to be a spouse program, which there isn’t (and I’m very pleased about), so I go to the sessions.

ALEC HOGG:  What kinds of sessions?

ESTELLE DIPPENAAR:  Well, I like reading the Time magazine, so I learn about the Ukraine and I’ve tried to attend everything about the Ukraine, at Davos.  I saw Poroshenko, who is the Prime Minister of the Ukraine.  I saw the Finance Minister of the Ukraine in an anti-corruption session and what they’re proposing was amazing.

ALEC HOGG:  So you like to focus on a particular area and then take it from there.

ESTELLE DIPPENAAR: Yes, in a way.  I like anything on the Middle East.  I attended a session on Iraq and Syria, which opened up things for me.

ALEC HOGG:  What about the people that you meet here, over all of those years?

ESTELLE DIPPENAAR:  I think that’s the best part of Davos.  We just met a young entrepreneur from Mexico who started low-cost clinics for diabetes.  It’s making money and he’s adding value.  It was a fascinating conversation and we think he might come to South Africa.

ALEC HOGG:  That sounds good, so you might have twisted an arm.

Visited 269 times, 5 visit(s) today
Categories WEF