European Business Magazine catches up with
Max Studennikoff Ceo and Founder of CC Forum (www.cc-forum.com). The upcoming event will be held in Monaco on 23rd to 25th of September and is much anticipated event that will be focusing on sustainability and we will be looking at the global response to the coronavirus crisis.The event will be looking at existential challenges we are all facing today including climate change, carbon-based economies, overpopulation and poverty to name a few and so the global investment forum will be totally dedicated to sustainability connecting the brightest startups to the savviest of investors. CC Forum started in 2018, and this year marks its 3rd event and 4th successful edi on. Could you go back a li le and tell us about the very beginning of the CC Forum — how was it born and what was the main pping point for it? Indeed, the concept of CC Forum was born quite some me ago, but only materialised in 2018 with our first London edi on sub tled "Economy. Environment. Ethics". A er a ending and speaking at a number of conferences around the world, I have gradually come to believe that there is a sheer need for a new event. A one that would be new in its concept and approach, and so, CC Forum was conceived. The mission and the ethos of CC Forum is convening the world's movers and shakers, global transformers who are united in their zeal to make the world a be er place. Getng them together for regular brainstorming sessions on some of the existen al issues mankind is facing today including climate change, the current state of macroeconomy, government strategies, figh ng poverty, social inclusion, philanthropy etc. In other words, CC Forum is a global pla orm, a club, if you want, for leading impact investors. As such we have o en been accused of eli cism, we have even been tagged as a "green Davos" due to a dense propor on of high net worth individuals a ending. 46 europeanbusinessmagazine.com
I personally see nothing wrong about the forum being referred to as 'elitist' as long as it helps crack down or at least approach cracking down on global problems. One should not forget that CC Forum is essen ally an investment forum focusing on sustainability. Today, CC Forum is considered to be one of the most an cipated events of the year. In your opinion, what’s the secret behind the CC Forum’s success? I do not think this would be up to me to judge. And there is hardly any secret involved at all. Whatever recogni on we may have achieved, has been due to a combina on of cri cal factors. First and foremost, the forum's overall vision as reflected in our content including carefully chosen topics and cherry-picked speakers. Secondly, hard collec ve work including by the team, the Organising Committee and the Advisory board alike without whose dedica on none of that would have been possible. And lastly, a bit of sheer luck, as everything should come together at the right place and at the right me. CC Forum is known for its unique program, and this year’s program in Monaco is no excepon. Could you tell us more about the process of crea ng each year’s program? How do
you come up with the Forum’s workshops and decide on the venue, speakers, etc.? Last October we held our successful London edi on which saw a twoday conference and a number of networking events. These included inter alia our tradi onal black- e investors' Gala and a dedicated Reception at the House of Lords of the Bri sh Parliament. We also received a wri en royal gree ng by HM Queen Elizabeth II which gave us a considerable moral boost. Crea ng the content of each edi on is a painstakingly careful process, but also the most exciting. One has to take into account a whole variety of aspects like the expecta ons, aspirations, conceptions and misconcepons of the audience, current state of economics, modern trends etc. etc To draw a parallel, it is akin to the cra of a chef who is making a dish. The recipe has to be observed and all the ingredients have to come in the right propor ons, the dish does not have to be either two salty or two spicy or too sweet. What is special about the Monegasque edi on of CC Forum? In fact, everything is . Or, rather unusual. First of all, the global context. Now, as we are talking at the end of August with only four weeks to go before the event, the current
