Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)
What do you do when life changes in an instant—and the future you envisioned disappears? Advocate and author Katie Piper explains how she rebuilt her life after surviving an acid attack at 24 driven by a man she’d briefly dated, founded a burn-rehabilitation charity and reframed “Why me?” as “What now?” It’s a special conversation about resilience, personal reinvention and leading through adversity.
You’ll learn:
-Why real confidence comes from knowing you can adapt and recover
-How the ease of a modern world can make us less able to embrace challenge for growth
-How to see challenge as a way to recommit to your purpose
-How acceptance, discomfort and a self-authored identity can help you start again
-Why vulnerability and empathy are strengths in leadership
Katie Piper OBE is a bestselling author, television presenter and founder of the Katie Piper Foundation, which supports burn survivors through rehabilitation. Her documentary, ‘Katie: My Beautiful Face’, was nominated for a BAFTA in 2010. She is also a survivor of male violence and an advocate for people with burns and visible differences.
This conversation explores resilience, purpose, trauma recovery, inclusive leadership and turning pain into purpose. Follow Meet the Leader on YouTube, Spotify or podcast apps, and subscribe for more conversations with people shaping the world
This interview was recorded in January 2026 at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos Switzerland.
About this episode
Read – Book: Beautiful, Katie Piper: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0091940761?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback
Watch – Davos 2026 session: Scars of Survival: How I Rebuilt My Life: https://www.weforum.org/meetings/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2026/sessions/scars-of-survival-how-i-rebuilt-my-life/
Connect – Foundation: https://www.katiepiperfoundation.org.uk/
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