Shemaine Bushnell Kyriakides
At this year’s Digital Agenda Cyprus Summit, held in Nicosia, Beth Davies, a renowned expert in talent management and company culture, took center stage to share her insights on the future of work. See her full interview on the sidelines of this year's Digital Agenda Cyprus Summit below.
As a former senior leader at major tech companies like Tesla, Apple, and Microsoft, Davies drew from her experience to deliver an inspiring message about the critical role teams play in driving success in today’s fast-paced digital world.
I had the opportunity to sit down with Davies on the sidelines of the event to dive deeper into her talk, which focused on how companies can build the right teams to "win the talent game" and navigate the challenges of innovation.
“No company is built by a single individual,” Davies emphasized during our conversation. “My message was really about how to build the right team to help your company thrive and succeed.” Drawing from her time at Tesla and Apple, she shared some key strategies she used to build strong teams and protect company culture during periods of rapid growth.
Davies recalled how, at Tesla, maintaining the company’s core values was essential from the moment a new hire walked through the door. "Even before day one, we were very upfront with candidates about what our culture was like," she said. In fact, Tesla created a document called the "Anti-Handbook Handbook" that gave potential employees an honest look at the company’s expectations and work environment. "It was our way of ensuring that people knew if Tesla was the right fit for them—and if they were the right fit for Tesla."
One of the standout points Davies made in her talk was about the importance of using onboarding effectively. "Many companies waste the onboarding opportunity," she explained. "Instead of focusing on paperwork and logistics, onboarding should be about showing new employees what success looks like and how they can contribute from day one." This approach, she said, helped employees feel aligned with Tesla’s mission and more committed to the company’s success.
When asked if this emphasis on culture contributed to Tesla's achievements, Davies didn’t hesitate. "Absolutely. It helped everyone feel like they were part of the same team, working towards the same goals."
This year’s summit, which is an annual gathering of tech leaders, innovators, and thinkers, also featured sessions on AI and its growing impact on the workplace. Davies was particularly impressed by the conversations around artificial intelligence. "I thought I was pretty tech-savvy, but some of the things I heard today blew my mind," she said, laughing. Even though AI isn't something she directly works on, she acknowledged its influence on how we think about talent and the future workforce.
Her keynote and our conversation both left a strong message: success in the digital age isn't just about having the best technology; it's about having the right people in place to leverage it.
Wrapping up our chat, Davies shared how much she enjoys the energy and ideas exchanged at the Digital Agenda Summit. "It’s so stimulating and energizing," she said. "I’m loving every minute of it."
Watch Beth Davies' full interview below:
