Cristiana Falcone – Senior Adviser to the Executive Chairman and Founder of the World Economic Forum on New Initiatives and Special Projects, World Economic Forum

Cristiana Falcone (Lady Sorrell) is a GLOBAL leader in media, business and social development sectors. She began her career in radio and television, covering foreign affairs including war and humanitarian crises. Over the past 15+ years she has honed her experience as a strategic adviser, investor and philanthropist and acquired vast experience with multinationals, international organizations and the media. As well as working directly for C – suite executives at SONY and Shell, she also held leadership advisory roles with the following companies and international organizations: ILO, IFAD, FAO, UNDCCP, IADB, RAI, Gruppo Espresso, the World Economic Forum and Univision. 

She presently serves as Senior Adviser to the Executive Chairman and Founder of the World Economic Forum on New Initiatives and Special Projects. Joining the Forum in 2004, she led the Media, Entertainment and Information Industries, building and managing strategic partnerships with industry leaders, policymakers, experts and academics worldwide.  In 2006, she pioneered The Digital Ecosystem a scenario-based tool aimed at garnering insight into digital disruption and its impact on the future of media. In 2008, in partnership with Yale University, she led the production of an online case study on media opportunities in fast-growing environments, featuring key industry leaders and profiling cutting-edge tech and knowledge. 

Lady Sorrell is an early investor and adviser in several young talented hand-picked start-ups.  She is a member of the Board of Directors of Viacom and Revlon and holds leadership roles in the following organizations:  Internews, The Paley Center for Media, The School of Nutrition and the Feinstein Center for Humanitarian Affairs at Tufts University.  As the CEO of the JMCMRJ Sorrell Foundation, she leads transformative initiatives in health, education and poverty alleviation worldwide. 

Lady Sorrell graduated from the University of Rome – La Sapienza in Political Science and earned her Master’s Degree in Humanitarian Assistance from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. She holds a Master’s in Diplomatic Studies from the Italian Society for International Organizations and the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs Diplomatic Academy as well as several post graduate certificates in leadership, change management, corporate strategy and business management.  

She is the recipient of the 2012 Poder Award in Leadership, 2014 Honouree of La Scuola Italiana Guglielmo Marconi, and 2015 commencement speaker for the Tufts School of Nutrition.  She is one of four professional women leaders featured by Bazar Dolce & Gabbana’s Time for Women, and a co-host of the Women in the World London Conference 2015.