# Insights from the World Economic Forum Panel on Digital Identity

Published 2023-02-16 · Updated 2026-05-19 · Engineering & Construction on MarketScale
Canonical: https://www.marketscale.com/industries/engineering-and-construction/insights-from-the-world-economic-forum-panel-on-digital-identity
Creator hub: Hedera Hashgraph

> As a participant in some of the ongoing discussions centered around digital technologies and digital identity during the World Economic Forum’s latest meeting in Davos, Hedera helped spark conversation on the importance of decentralized technology use cases. But what exactly did innovators and leaders around the globe talk about? On the latest episode of Gossip…

Block Field

As a participant in some of the ongoing discussions centered around digital technologies and digital identity during the [World Economic Forum’s](https://www.weforum.org/) latest meeting in Davos, Hedera helped spark conversation on the importance of decentralized technology use cases. But what exactly did innovators and leaders around the globe talk about?

On the latest episode of [*Gossip About Gossip*](https://hedera.com/podcast), [Zenobia Godschalk](https://www.linkedin.com/in/zenobiaaustingodschalk/), SVP of Communications with Swirlds Labs, welcomes [Hedera Global Governing Council](https://hedera.com/council)’s Chair and President [Brett McDowell](https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettmcdowell/?originalSubdomain=pr), to provide insight on WEF’s panel on digital identity.

The two discuss:

- McDowell’s background in digital optimization, ICT coalitions, and security and how his experience led to his role with Hedera
- What participating in the WEF panel on digital identity was like and how the forum helps to build community, connections, and strategic priorities
- How decentralized technologies can blend into the future with current use cases

“…In general, happy to say that one of the themes that I believe is an outcome of some of the smaller room discussions with the leadership around blockchain, crypto, and Web3, has been to shift the focus from what the technology *could* be used for and to focus on what the technology *is* being used for…” said McDowell.

McDowell has been with Hedera Hashgraph for over four years and has helped shape the IT industry with over twenty years of coalition experience. He is the Founding Executive Director and Chair of the Hedera Governing Council. Previously, McDowell worked in executive leadership roles with FIDO Alliance and has led or advised numerous other future-forward companies, including PayPal and the Liberty Alliance Project. McDowell is a graduate of Alma College with a B.S. in Physics. He has also been awarded the Lemelson Fellowship for Innovation, Invention, and Entrepreneurship and worked as a Fellow for the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s National Center for Digital Government.

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