Shaping the debate on issues that matter.

For the International New York Times, Kite developed the programme and sourced speakers for the Energy for Tomorrow conference, an important set of conversations coinciding with COP21 in Paris and continue the conversation into the following year. You can see the full slate of sessions here.

For four years, Kite has organised discussions, dinners and debates with The New York Times at the World Economic Forum in Davos. These varied events bring together senior world and business leaders from the WEF community with top journalists from The New York Times to discuss issues as varied as the intersection of politics & business, the state of gender equality and the future of artificial intelligence to the impact of Davos discussions on the outside world. See the live tweet from their latest debate here.

For Mind & Life, we designed a programme and sourced speakers to discuss the importance of mindfulness and mindful practices in business, bringing together a diverse audience and set of contributors and helping to give conference-goers at moment of contemplation at the rush of Davos. You can read more details here.

At the World Economic Forum, we curated an event with the ICRC to showcase private-sector efforts that can improve the lives of refugees and enhance humanitarian action through connectivity. Similarly, we worked with the IKEA Foundation, KOIS and the Overseas Development Institute to bring together high-level participants for a substantive discussion around access to global capital markets to accelerate development in the world’s most distressed regions.

We designed, executed and analysed the results of a flagship survey of over 1,400 business leaders on the link between corporate purpose and performance for global professional services leader EY. The survey informed multiple pieces of content across different platforms, including several articles, a dedicated report and interactive app, and an executive roundtable at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

We created a major survey of almost 1,000 legal professionals. It uncovered their individual perspectives on their careers, their openness to independent consulting, their expectations for the future and their anticipation of various trends that were shaping the industry.

We analysed the results of a survey on global trends in talent, proposing new lines of inquiry and analysis on the the future of work, the integration of automation, flexible platforms and new ways of working. We crafted compelling headlines and contributed to long-form written content - including the full report - to profile the findings.

In a compelling and digestible daily dispatch - published each day of the World Economic Forum in Davos - we captured content from sessions and collected stories of leaders acting on climate change and renewable energy.

Kite produced content for a blog series presenting a client’s perspectives on prospects for mergers and acquisitions in a protectionist world. We conducted primary research and analysis on global trade and investment flows and interviewed experts to create rich and engaging insights for the right audiences.

For the L’Oréal Foundation, we conducted wide-ranging research on the state of women's advancement in academic science. Our investigations and interviews helped identify key barriers to their development and ways of overcoming these obstacles. The work contributed to the Foundation's ongoing efforts to support women in science and served as a rich basis for the Foundation's celebration of the 20th anniversary of its L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Award.

As Editorial Partner of the Women’s Forum for the Economy & Society, Kite co-creates the Forum’s programmes and its broader editorial positioning to maximise engagement and impact on vital social and economic issues. We help source speakers and experts who participate in innovative formats during the Forum’s Region and Global Meetings. We also orchestrate the Daring Circles, an initiative that sees different partner organisations working together to generate concrete solutions on issues affecting women and where women are exercising outsize leadership, with a focus on STEM, AI, climate, access to health and supplier diversity.

How corporates and social enterprises can align for social and environmental impact. Download our report now.

Sophie is the Founder and CEO of Kite Insights, as well as the Editorial Partner of the Women’s Forum for the Economy & Society. She was Director of Global Thought Leadership and External Affairs at PwC for seven years, where she developed a new strategy for the firm’s thought leadership activities. She also led PwC‘s Global Annual CEO Survey and managed the firm’s strategic partnership with the World Economic Forum. Prior to this, Sophie was Executive Director and Publisher of European Business Forum, a joint venture between the Community of European Management Schools and PwC.

Ruth works closely with Kite’s CEO on strategic matters and key client accounts, with a focus on social impact and partnerships. Formerly a Partner with PwC, Ruth established and led the firm’s Sustainability and Climate Change practice in Greater China, alongside delivering complex cross border mergers & acquisitions projects for clients. She has held executive leadership roles in a number of mission-led organisations and continues to hold a number of Trusteeships. Ruth is a practised facilitator with experience leading major cross-sector collaborations. She is a Chartered Accountant, a Clore Social Fellow, and holds a Masters in Poverty Reduction: Policy & Practice from SOAS, University of London. Ruth’s adventurous spirit has led her to cycle the length of Africa, run across the Sahara desert and take a train to China to stay for nearly a decade. In quieter moments she can be found in the kitchen, creating something a bit experimental for family and friends, trying to tie herself in knots on her yoga mat, or with her nose in a book.

Jennifer is Managing Director of Kite Insights Switzerland and is one of the firm's leads for live engagements. She brings to Kite a commitment to social change and more than two decades of experience in qualitative research and the curation of thought leadership conferences and events. Jennifer has worked with private and public sector clients around the world, including helping to lead the launch of nine new forums. She was previously Program Director of Women’s Forum for the Economy & Society (2009-2016), and CEO, Milliken Strategy & Communications (2007-2018). Jennifer holds a PhD in Political Science, a MA in International Relations and a BA in Communication Studies. Jennifer's favourite pastimes are horseback riding, gardening, and swimming in Lake Léman. She is an accomplished chef, now experimenting with vegan cuisine, and an avid reader of science fiction and fantasy.

Rachel is a writer and editor who helps clients engage with audiences through content. She likes to bring a “big picture” lens to every client interaction, drawing on a range of experiences with corporate and non-profit organisations. Previously, she worked as corporate responsibility reporting manager for State Street Corporation, a Fortune 500 financial services firm, where she published the company’s verified sustainability report and spearheaded its first successful ranking on several international sustainability indices.
Rachel enjoys trips to museums with her kids, visiting with family and the occasional ballet class.

Ebru (Ab- rou) is a global business strategist, sustainability leader and change driver with fifteen years of experience elevating the operational quality, impact, and profitability of diverse organisations on a European stage. She enjoys listening to stakeholders at all levels of an organisation, teasing out what excites or puzzles them, and building meaningful connections between what she hears and the global debate. Previously, she was leading on corporate sustainability strategy, reporting and communications for a Turkey-based international group of companies. Before that, she spent a decade working for NGOs and think tanks to design and deliver research and policy papers, establish and manage grassroots campaigns and community programmes, and broker multisector partnerships. She holds a PhD in political economy from King’s College London and an MSc in global politics from LSE.

Nicknamed ‘the laughing girl’, Ebru enjoys a good joke, even when it may be on her. She binges on political theatre and TV shows, and likes to tune into the latest on data, tech and design. She dreams of one day living on the Mediterranean coast, growing her own food and cooking a big Sunday lunch to enjoy with her family and neighbours.

Andrew is a writer, editor and communications strategist with extensive editorial experience in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors. He has a passion for crafting written content with the right words for the right audience. Previously, Andrew held strategic roles in the European communications function of UPS, representing the company and managing proactive programmes. Andrew has written on economics, and sustainability for Roubini Global Economics, the French-American Foundation and the website of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Andrew lives in London with his family and enjoys reading books about the history of the city and collecting coins.

Grace’s responsibilities include content development, research, report-writing and event support. Previously, she was a science and environment correspondent for The Straits Times, Singapore’s largest daily newspaper, and a freelance journalist and editor focusing on the intersection of science, policy and business in Asia. Her interests include environmental sustainability, behavioural economics and the role of technology in society.
In her spare time Grace reads catholically, enjoys hiking and taking part in road races.

Julian’s responsibilities include the synthesis and execution of research at Kite, contributing to report-writing and content development. He holds a Master of Science in Business Management and Politics and a Master of Research from the University of Glasgow. He specialises in uncovering novel methods of research enquiry. Previously, Julian has worked in research and support roles at companies such as CNBC and Google, and as a research associate at the University of Glasgow. Julian has published on issues regarding NGO strategy, and business and human rights governance. Julian is from Scotland and currently lives in London. In his free time, Julian is a passionate drummer and music fan who can be found at gigs across London.

Ela is a researcher, writer and communicator. Having recently graduated from Oxford University with a Bachelor of Arts in History, she is now applying her skills to a business environment with a range of entry points, from research and content development, to event support and project management. Ela is passionate about bringing content to life through novel insights and media, from her academic investigations into the literature of modern Cuba, to analyses of business reactions to a world in disruption. Having tried her hat in advertising and research roles, Ela is excited to a apply her editorial mindset to business communications and strategy more specifically. Born and bred in London, Ela is a hispanophile at heart and can be found cooking up a Catalan feast, theatre hopping or generally making the most of what the city has to offer.

James ``Jake`` Morris performs research and content development at Kite. He holds a Master of Arts & Social Sciences in Politics and Philosophy from the University of Glasgow, where he focused on public and private sector engagement in Global Environmental Politics. During that time, he conducted quantitative research on the design characteristics of voluntary environmental initiatives. Jake has a keen interest in contemporary political philosophy and international security, and has been engaged on a professional basis in a number of qualitative research projects involving multinational corporations and NGOs.

Sophie is a writer and editor. Her expertise lies in crafting narratives and other forms of copywriting. She works in both English and French, having recently graduated from the University of Oxford with a literature degree in both languages. Outside of Kite Sophie is a poet, and has just finished her first poetry pamphlet.

Yasmin is a researcher, analyst and writer at Kite Insights. Holding an MSc in Environment, Politics and Development, and a BA in Geography, her expertise ranges from environmental and economic policy to social anthropology and cultural studies. With over ten years’ experience in communications, previous roles have included public relations, marketing, retail management, journalism, and sustainable development consulting for SMEs. Yasmin is passionate about exploring and identifying pathways towards more synergetic and inclusive human-nature relations, informed and inspired by her rural upbringing on the border of Wales. Following extensive voluntary work and ethnographic research on sustainable livelihoods with indigenous communities in the Amazon, she has a keen interest, and in-depth knowledge, surrounding the social and ecological outcomes of development and contemporary climate change solutions. Yasmin loves folk music, dance, discovering authentic local cuisines, and escaping the city to walk in the woods or mountains.

Tess is passionate about the role business plays in propelling societal goals. She works alongside researchers and communicators to develop strategies that leverage cross-sector partnerships to accelerate progress on the SDGs. She draws on her studies at The University of Michigan, where she focused on International Studies and Entrepreneurship, and from her experience working at the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, with New York State Senator Todd Kaminsky and with a New York City based political consulting firm doing democratic campaign fundraising. Her other passion is food and cooking, because of the power different cuisines have in transcending borders and bringing people together.

Avery is a researcher, content creator and digital strategist. Having recently graduated from Queen’s University, Kingston with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Health and Gender Studies, Avery joins the Kite team to research and create content with partners, as well as elevate Kite’s branding and growth. Previously, Avery has served as a Youth Ambassador to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on topics of sexual and reproductive health and rights, and has sat on the Board of Directors for a regional branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association. Since her recent move from Toronto to London, Avery has been enjoying exploring the city and it’s many cultural coves, perfecting her cooking skills and attending live music gigs.

Maddalena (Maddie) supports Kite on event curation and logistics. Originally from Italy, she loves the thrill of organising events, and helping clients create a platform to present content, facilitate collaborative experiences & outcomes and approach thought leadership in daring and engaging ways. She holds a Bachelor's in Languages and Literature, as well a Master of Arts in International Relations from King’s College London. Maddie is curious and chatty. She loves reading and skiing, and of course Italian food.

Maggie joins Kite to oversee office and facilities management. Prior to this she had been working for several charities while she brought up her three boys and before that had worked in HR for PwC and Deloitte. She is originally from Ireland and has now embraced living in London where she loves to make the most of all the city has to offer including going to gigs, theatre, seeing friends and stomping around the parks of North London with the family dog.