Each year, YPO members from around the world gather for YPO EDGE, the organization’s annual showcase of thought leadership and innovation. For two days, 2,800 members, their spouses/partners and invited guests from more than 93 countries convened in Singapore for enlightening conversations with world-renowned leaders addressing key issues in business, politics, philanthropy and the humanities. The sold-out event challenged participants to “Defy Convention” as they were presented with exceptional learning opportunities helping them grow as global leaders who will shape the world of tomorrow.

Three YPO members who attended this year’s gathering have shared key insights they took away from the EDGE that they plan to apply in their businesses.

Stop thinking about protecting your assets and more about managing your business ecosystem

“As CEOs, we need to stop thinking about protecting our assets and start thinking about managing our business ecosystem. In the future, we don’t know what 40 percent of jobs will look like and 80 percent of jobs today are likely to change,” says YPO member Shannon Block, President and CEO of World Forward Foundation. “Geopolitics and massive skills changing will be necessities in the future, so we all need to be thinking about how we will navigate that space now.”

Talent is where it’s at

“I am definitely shifting my focus to thinking more about talent development to create sustainability and to define a better future for our business,” says Carl Bates, CEO of Sirdar Group. “The session on exonomics really challenged me to think about where the world is truly headed and what changes we all will need to make in our businesses and in our personal lives to be a real part of that journey.”

Don’t view a setback as failure, but as feedback

“I found this the concept of viewing failure as a learning rather than failure very encouraging as a business leader,” says Yasmine Haji, Managing Director of Juricay Properties Inc. “It certainly makes me appreciate things differently.” Haji points to Dr. Majid Fotuhi, Medical Director of NeuroGrow Brain Fitness Center, as one of the most powerful speakers she listened to during the EDGE as well. “The fact that you can start to rebuild your brain is really amazing. Great take-home value, practical, relevant advice.”