[ MUSIC ] So much for being here first of all. This is a real treat .>> Hello there. She was enjoying all of the estrogen in the room I think. I am. [ LAUGH ] I really am. I came in here just been in the office all day and I met all these wonderful women and The noise leve and the warmth is quite [ UNKNOWN ] Isn't that great. Yeah, it's great to be here. So, we always start with what we call the big 'get to know you' in our Show? Summits, so we're going to do a little Get to know you. [ LAUGH ] Okay. You have an interesting child hood and that you became this prominent politician. But it's not exactly like you lived a life of privilege. No. I didn't. What was your child hood like? Well my child hood was a very normal child hood. I've come from Denmark. Lived in the suburbs of Copenhagen, the south of Copenhagen. Which in this day, it tells you a lot because that's not where Wealthy people live quite the opposite. I come from a divorced background and there was no politicians in my family, but I had a very very strong family. And my father, he always looked at us, my sister and I, he says you should become prime ministers. He did? Yeah, he did. [ LAUGH ] Why? Because he believed that we could be anything. And he said it. He was crazy like that. He said it. He was just taken by your brains and he just really thought you could do it. No he just thought that we should, I mean, people think it's not true when I say it but this is actually true. He looked at my sis, she's older than me so it's more her than me really, [ LAUGH ] [ LAUGH ] But nevertheless, I sort of listened and I said, all right, he says we should just become Prime Ministers. I love that. Yeah, it's quite cool. [ LAUGH ] And so they obviously had an impact. And even though you didn't come from, I mean, they were conservative. But they weren't a hugely political family. No, they were not. They were- And you're drawn to politics, which is something. Which is, I have been around politics for decades, and this is something that requires a distinct personality, which somebody who can Dive into crowds and shake hands and remember names, its, the retail politics is an art- Probably this is something that you learned I think, this is what I share with a lot of woman in the room, that I was always drawn to. To make an impact and taking decisions and I started anti bullying campaign when I was 12 years old in school. You did. Yeah, but I think I shared that with the law of this women that we try, that you have tried to change things from an early age, but I was not a politician in an early age, because I was shy. I remember the first time I had to speak to a big audience, this was in university, i had to sort of take the floor and say something amongst other students, and I was very scared. I was very scared, I can still feel that heartbeat. And I'm sure that a lot of women here have tried that, but the secret is to go on and try it, and realize That wasn't that stupid, and do it again and then you stop being scared. So it's the Nike ad, Just Do It. Yeah, it is a bit. It is a bit, because courage creates courage and once you've been courageous once and you say I'm just going to do this even though I'm not quite sure whether it will be successful. You become more courageous and you do it the next time round. So you- And I'm sure that the women sitting in this room, they were not always courageous because no one is. But courage creates more courage to go for it next time. To go for it. Yeah. So you served in the European parliament. I did. And then you became the first female Prime Minister of Denmark and I have to tell you, and tell our audience that, at this time last year, we were sitting here with the first female Prime Minister of Australia. Yeah. Julia Gillard. Julia, yeah. And what's so fascinating to me, is that you're at the top, and you Underwent a really grueling public relations Yep. episode. Yep. So Julia went through being called a campaign to ditch the witch. Yeah. [ INAUDIBLE ] [ LAUGH ] And which led to her, this famed misogyny speech. And If you haven't read it. This takedown of the opposition leader Tony Abbott on YouTube, I encourage everybody to watch it because it's really, wow, the drama in that is amazing. But when you came in you were Gucci Helle which was basically a comment on your clothing. It was not so much a comment of my close but they tried to be but it was also a way of trying to frame me. As not being of the people and not being a social democrat, that's the party that I belong to. And it was a way of trying to distance me from the people I was wanting to represent. And so how did you deal with that? I don't know how I dealt with it, it just. No, I just start working and doing what I have to do. I became the leader of my party, I was a leader for ten years which is a very long time in politics. Then I became Prime Minister and I don't think this is what I'm associated with any longer. You just have to work your way up of stuff like that and a name like that. Whether it was Julius names or the the names that have been connected with me or any other leader, it's always someone trying to frame you and put you at a disadvantage. It's never a good thing to have a name like that. And how did you keep it from getting under your skin? I think when you're doing high politics or any position where are you a little bit on your own. If you're being criticized you have to make a clear distinction between the criticism between your public persona and who you are as a private person. And I always felt that I was okay. I was okay. I was a good enough mum. I was a good enough wife. I was a good enough friend. You did your own laundry. You shoveled, there are photos of you shoveling your own snow. Yeah. [ LAUGH ] Which I think is pretty important in politics. That was just a crazy picture. Yeah. Yeah. But I felt that was a case I didn't, then you don't let it get into you. Because they are criticizing your public persona, but I never felt they were criticizing me as a person. Right. And so you just- I mean I have been very angry, and I have been sad and I have been very angry about this and I have been throwing stuff at the TV at stuff. Yhea? So, I don't want to sit here and become like someone who never get angry, because I have been very angry. But somehow. Didnt let it get to me and that's because I felt, " I'm okay ." You're okay? Yea. You were also dealing with a financial crisis. You were dealing with all these other crises as well. You have an interesting lineage in that your father- in- law is Neil Kinnock, the former high profile almost prime minister labor leader. Did he ever give you advice? Well when I was thinking about standing for leadership, it was a, that was two people standing and it was the Hardfort election, campaign to become leader of my party. And that's the other thing, you should never be afraid of a fight. You should always get into a fight. Otherwise- Should you be ready for that fight? Always a fight. You should always be ready for a fight. Because. There's always a fight. And there's always someone who's out to get you. And if you're not, if you're not ready for it you'll be surprised by it. So does that mean you go on offense before you have to go on defense? No but you're always ready to be in a war. [ LAUGH ] Seems like it, look at he eyes. [ LAUGH ] If you're in politics, and if you are a leader of a party, and you're fighting to become Prime Minister, you always have to really be ready to be in a war. And that is in your own party and with other parties and other people and media. You always have to be ready to strike back. And what was the moment were you struck back where in surprise people? I think I did that many times now, we're now been hard fought election campaigns where I was being there is, I mean, when we were hard on each other. The two people fighting to become Prime Minister as even if it's though a small country. It means a lot in the situation, so I've been very hard fighting. And I've been hard fighting within my own party, I have had to sack ministers, I have to reshuffle governments, I had a three party coalition that turned into a two party coalition, so I've taken a lot of decisions. I'm not alone in this room having taken a lot of decisions, but if we take decisions that influence other people's live You have to be ready to fight. So, and not take it too personal? You started dealing with a decisive issue, which is refugees Yeah. And I think that the next government Which is really having to deal with this. And it's interesting cuz this government has taken actions like running ads in Arabic newspapers warning refugees not to come, has given police the right to seize assets. Yep. And in fact I think people don't know this, that the liberal tolerant Denmark actually is not, does not have to heel to EU standards on refugees correct? We do have to heel to the same standards as everyone else because of course we are subject to the same conventions and the same legislation as everyone else. But we're not part of the EU refugee system. It doesn't mean anything because Denmark is still one of the countries taking more of the refugees than so many others. They were when I was prime minister and they still are. Denmark is a country that takes a lot of responsibility. Do you think it's pressing the boundaries, the refugee crisis is pressing the boundaries of. Denmark's liberal tolerant history. And talk about of both as a former prime minister but, now with save the children. I think he's pressing all European countries that they want to control their borders, they want to control who's coming in but, they are pressured from Refugees coming to their borders. So, it's not only Denmark. And Denmark is a great country, and, as I said, have taken more responsibilities than many other countries, including the UK and many other countries in Europe, in terms of how many refugees were taken per capita. But there also [ CROSSTALK ] No, but all countries are doing that. Yeah. All countries are doing that and the only solution that all countries should try and find is a common European solution. I think it's a complete no- brainer that no country can solve this issue on their own. And that's why I'm advocating for common European solutions. Because of course European countries can deal with a million refugees if they had to. And if they tried to have a bit of a burden sharing if you want to say it like that, and actually share this situation with each other. Right now what's happening is that a few countries are taking a lot of refugees Of course European countries you work together to share the burden. And there is room in Europe for a million people. There is room in Europe to look after a million people and what we just have to think about all the time is that these people they're fleeing the most dreadful war we've sen in our neighbourhood for many many countries and of course that room But how do you vet those people? [ APPLAUSE ] Thank you. Are systems in place to properly vet everybody to protect the security of the countries? [ CROSSTALK ] How confident are you? I think this is an issue, and we should talk openly about these issues. Because I know that government leaders are thinking about these things. They want to open up to refugees, but of course with a discussion about security, they have to look into this as well. I think again, with the right cooperation between European countries, with the right sharing of the burden, They could sort this out. And we have to remember that most of the people coming. I mean, by far the majority are just normal Syrian people who couldn't be in their country any longer. I've met some of those Syrian refugees, I met them in Jordan. And the only thing they want Is to have a normal life. I met a fifteen year old boy and asked him, as I always do when I meet a child. What do you want to do when you grow up? And he was just saying I want to be a professional football player because that is what boys say when you meet them in Europe. So that just for me underlines what a normal boy feels. And then he continued and he said, I just want to go to school. I want my father to work and I want our family to go on trips like we used to do. These are people who knows what normal looks like. These are people who just used to live a normal life in Aleppo or Damascus or wherever they come from. And basically they want to return to that. And that's what the world should be focused on as well, to try to make that possible. Well, that's what I was gonna say, is enough effort been directed at helping people creating safe zones to return to- Yeah. Other than having to integrate into Europe- Yeah. Which [ CROSSTALK ]. They don't want to come to Europe, they want peaceful place to live in their own country. And at the end of the day, after Conflict in Syria if hopefully it ends, don't you need a civil society there that is embodied in those refugees- [ CROSSTALK ] Absolutely and that's why one of the things that we are campaigning for in Save the Children is that no child should be out of school for no more than one month. Okay, good. Why is that so important? Is it not more important to have health and food, and all those things? That is important as well. But we know that what refugees want more than anything, is to go to school. And the one thing that makes them be on the move, or venture into very dangerous journeys across the Mediterranean Is the fact that their children can't go to school. Mm. Why do I say this with such great certainty? Because we have asked them. We have asked 9000 people living in 17 different settings: " What is your main priority ?" And people who actually do not have the best access to health services, do not have the best access to Daily food. They still say we want education. So that's why I'm so passionate about this. That if we could just make sure that children could go to school, people would not venture into these very dangerous journeys across the Mediterranean, where people die every day. Where would you put this movement of peoples, plural, where would you rank that on the list of concerns we need to focus on? Well I would say that the fact that we now have more people on the move that we've ever counted since World War II. This is the situation globally I believe that people being on the move is a defining issue of our time. When we look back at this time 20 years from now, when we're all really old, and we look back, this will be the defining issue, that people were moving. We have 60 million people on the move. You can always make sure, you can always know that when 60 million people are on the move half of them are children, they're on the move they don't have a home. They have fled their home, they have left they don't have a home. And when you don't have a home you don't have any security. And what's worse of course is that we have many unaccompanied minors who are the most vulnerable people on this Earth. They get abducted, they get sexually abused, they get sold, they get to work, they get married very early. I mean there's no stopping evil when you look at what these children are subjected to. I'd like to call for questions. Any questions from the audience? And I'll ask a question right here. Loads of questions. Thank you. Hi, Saba Nazar from Bank of America. I'm married to a Dane so I know your country well. Question for you, if Britain leaves the EU do you think Denmark will follow? Thank you for asking that question, because I decided not to comment on the Brexit vote. But, this is not comment on the Brexit vote. This is commenting on us what we have in Denmark. And I think the Danish discussion is quite different from the British discussion. And if you ask the Danes whether they want to leave the EU or stay, I think we would get an overwhelming majority to stay in. Danes like the EU, they don't like everything about the EU. I mean they're tired of the EU, and we have lost [ UNKNOWN ] them. I mean things are hard. And everyone knows that the EU is not perfect but deep down I think a lot of Danes know how much we gain economically, culturally, in terms of our freedom by being part of the EU and I think we are still in the 60s. Of a majority of staying in the EU. So I know you can't comment exactly Brexit, but [ CROSSTALK ] I can, but I choose not to. [ LAUGH ] But you choose not to. Yeah. Or you don't want to. Correct? Yeah. But one of the things that has fed the Leave vote is this sense that That Brussels is this big bureaucracy, bloated bureaucracy, with lot of bureaucrats getting paid a lot of money and the [ UNKNOWN ] NG were part of some negative press coverage, even over the weekend, about that. Can you talk about that and how much you think that plays in to the [ UNKNOWN ] debate? Not just you guys, but- No, no, no [ CROSSTALK ] I think that plays a role, and I think you should always be in favor of reforming the European Union. And that's why I believe it's actually quite interesting The way the Brits have started a debate about reforming the European Union. Does it need reform? Yeah, but I think everywhere you are needs reform. I mean, reform is the new normal of everywhere. So I think everywhere you are needs, everyday that you ask, are we fulfilling our purpose? Are we servicing the people? Are we doing the best we can with the money? Everywhere. Me and Save the Children have to ask that question People here who have different positions have to ask that question. But is the EU been insulated, too insulated for most questions? I think that EU is one of the reasons why all of us can sit here peacefully. Talking to each other, why we have friendship across the European continent, a friendship that we have never, ever had before. So I think that's a basic positive. [ APPLAUSE ] But nothing is perfect, and we need a reform of the European Union. And David Cameron had asked for a reform of the European Union. So Why would you leave such a debate when you just started it? Okay. Question? Right here, back. And I'll get you. Mic is coming. And just a reminder to identify yourself and. Linda [ UNKNOWN ], night Executive Director of Pearson and day job at Yale University. Thank you for taking on this important role of Save the Children. This is a veritable bringing trust as Patty would say a community, how can we women help support the noble work of Save the Children? Good question. That's a great question. [ APPLAUSE ] That's a great question. And I already have people come out and say how can we help? I would appreciate any here to help and I think is such an important cause, and I know that, I share that with many of you. As I was saying children are the most vulnerable in conflict whatever happens, children are vulnerable. I'll tell you a story if it's sometimes a natural disaster, an earthquake something that happen [ UNKNOWN ] Say, the children is in a rush to get to that place before traffic, people who trafficking children get there. That's what they do, they went for crisis and they go in [ CROSSTALK ] If there's a crisis, we are in a rush to get there before other people get there because we will try to help They will to do the opposite and that's just an example, I was actually. You know no one has framed that that way, and that's a really important moment, that when there is a crisis. If there's an earthquake. A natural disaster that these guys they come in. Because this is how they can make money, and I didn't understand that until someone told me and I said 'Of course.' And I'm just giving that as an example of why I think it is needed that we have fast moving agile organizations that can go and help children. How can you help? Well, you can give your car to me. [ LAUGH ] All of you. Or- She's at table five. [ LAUGH ] Or you can actually contact your local save a children. We have Almost 30 member organizations- But are there roles for the private sector that you see- We have a lot of cooperation with the private sector, we couldn't do what we do without the private sector I will try to promote that even more but, I mean, I can't take credit for this, because we have some solid long- term relationship with some of the best corporate companies in the world, and we are very proud of that. And I just want to say to anyone who's interested, if you are interested, come through us because we are very experienced in working with our corporate partners, and their support Is invaluable and we do it in all kinds of ways. We have [ UNKNOWN ] into our organization. [ UNKNOWN ] to the other organization. We work together in many, many ways that hopefully are useful to the. The corporate partners that we work. <<< And I would add that <<< and we respect that enormously. <<< And corporate partners come up with, often, very innovative ideas and [ CROSSTALK ] <<< That's what it's all about, for us, it is all about being agile and trying to innovate what we do. Trying to innovate and scale up and if there is something that our corporate knows about, it is just that. And that's why we're so happy. And proud to work with corporate partners. We have a question right here. Mike, quickly. Quickly. [ LAUGH ] [ LAUGH ] [ INAUDIBLE ] [ UNKNOWN ] Thank you very much for a really inspirational talk. And could you identify yourself, please? Yes, sorry. I'm Lesley Ann Nash. I'm a director in the UK cabinet office, advising our prime minister. Number of things, and I have a working class background as well, and sorry not to talk about Brexit, I could talk about Brexit all day long, as you can imagine, but I won't. Come tomorrow morning, we'll have a panel. So I want to bring it back down to you, if I may, with a working class background myself, I wonder if you ever suffer from impostor syndrome. Hmm! Another good question. I wouldn't say I had a working class background. My Mom worked herself up in a company. I dont have a working class background. My Father was a teacher. So, I don't have a working class background. I come from background with a lot of education and a lot of cultural interest. I never Thought of myself as a, with a working class background, so I can't claim that and I won't claim that. But I remember when I went to university and I had to take my friends home, I stayed with mom back then, had to take my friends home and they felt that they were on a social safari. Which we often laughed at since, but was actually a great moment for me because I realised that I could bring something into their world that they did know about, they simply have not being in a small flat in the town where I came from which is a place where you have most immigration back and you have lost a crime and you don't have that emotions anymore. So it was interesting to bring that knowledge into their world and I felt that I could enrich them rather than I was an imposter. Okay, so we have, I'm gonna end on a light note, you shot to world fame with a selfie with David Cameron and Barack Obama quickly described the fall- out to that. It was such an amazing day. It really was. I kept debating myself whether it was a good time or bad thing but I think because it made me so famous. [ LAUGH ] I tend to think it was a good thing. It's like run with it, if they spell my name right go for it. Exactly [ LAUGH ] exactly. No, it was just an amazing day. I wouldn't call it a funeral, it was Memorial Day for Nelson Mandela, we were all there in a big stadium. This is South Africa, it was shouting and they were booing and it was a big, there was a very bit of a happy atmosphere. And the funniest thing is, when we came to the stage and sitting down, there was no seats in. So I just sat down. I was just sitting down, and there was two seats next to me that were reserved, but no one was sitting there. [ LAUGH ] So I was just like, this is good seats. [ LAUGH ] And then, but they were reserved for someone else, and I didn't know who that was. It turned out it was Barack and Michelle. So, I've got sitting next to them which of us called [ UNKNOWN ] many times before that. And we were just chatting. We all talking about children, you know how you just talk about normal things? And then people start coming over to take pictures, not with me, but with Obama. So, everyone came over and there was a bit of a jollier atmosphere. Then Cameron came over To sit, and he sort of sat on the other side of me, and we were just having a chat. And that was a jolly atmosphere. And I said, well just, and I had never taken a selfie before at that stage. [ LAUGH ] So this is your first selfie. Who could- This is my first ever selfie. And I'd just learned this from my teenage daughters. [ LAUGH ] So, they had taught me how to take selfies. They hadn't really taught me because it's actually quite crap, the picture, actually. [ LAUGH ] So, I said we're going to have a selfie. And they were like, yes. Great.. [ LAUGH ] Then we took the selfie, and the funny thing, I think the three of us had all, we had actually forgotten in the moment That it wouldn't be our little selfie moment. The three of us. Right. That it might go virtual. [ LAUGH ] Because then I met Barack Obama some months later and he said, you got me into trouble. So, I think he had not thought of it either. [ LAUGH ] And by the way it wasn't with Michelle because she's just lovely and there was nothing about that. [ LAUGH ] [ LAUGH ] So that was the story of the selfie. It was actually quite an innocent. Just a spur of the moment. Let's just take a picture like you do when you sit with people. And it took over the world. And it took over the world. Well, on that note, we're going to start. And it made me complete selfie queen. And that means every time I meet people that take loads of selfies. And I do that in Denmark [ UNKNOWN ]. The selfie queen! Yeah. Well, selfie queen we're going to end on that note and have dinner, thank you all. Yes, thank you. [ APPLAUSE ] [ MUSIC ]

Getting to Know Helle Thorning-Schmidt at Fortune’s MPW International