Emma Thompson has strong views on the differences between the sexes: "Men are very good at compartmentalization; women are better at multitasking."

Here at what is a mostly male world of corporate chiefs and professional globalists, she was preparing to meet with the president of Lithuania about her top cause: human trafficking. Thompson is attending the World Economic Forum to build interest in her cause, and specifically to attract attention to an installation she exhibited in London's Trafalgar Square in December. With powerful images, it drives home to viewers the human suffering caused by the sex trade.

See: Global Initiative To Fight Trafficking

Dressed in a fur hat from Afghanistan and a dramatic dangling wrap, she was more indie-chic than corporate casual. If she wasn’t compartmentalizing, she was certainly focused, talking about the installation in interview after interview.  Nearby, Michael Chertoff, the U.S. secretary of homeland security had a few unexpected idle minutes. A couple of aides whispered about the buzz around one strikingly informal woman: "Isn’t that Emma Thompson?"   The moment was made for the social entrepreneur. Secretary Chertoff, I said, that is Emma Thompson. Do you want to meet her? Here’s your in: Talk about human trafficking, and about Lithuania. I walked him to where Thompson was finishing another media interview and explained the opportunity to her aide, who immediately realized that the man who heads an 180,000-person department in charge of U.S. security might be a useful contact. That interview wrapped up quickly.  Thompson and Chertoff were soon chatting: 
Thompson: Why don’t I bring the installation to Washington?
Chertoff: It’s an issue we would like to push.
Thompson: I will get you the video.
Chertoff (in an aside to his chief of staff): We are working something here on human trafficking.
Thompson: What I want to do is get this thing into cities. 
As aides beckoned each to their next meetings, they made arrangements to follow up. Chertoff went to more discussions about security. Thompson still had an appointment with the president of Lithuania. Hours later, Thompson and Yo-Yo Ma were presented with the World Economic Forum's Crystal Award, which honors artists who have used their art to reach out to other cultures. Thompson gave a witty, comedic acceptance speech that mentioned the Chertoff meeting Forbes.com helped arrange. Yo-Yo Ma plays a saraband by J.S. Bach, poignantly. Both left the audience wishing for more.
Were Thompson and Chertoff demonstrating an example of male multitasking or female compartmentalization? Maybe a little of both.

DAVOS, Switzerland - "It's so not like the Oscars." Emma Thompson raced to the stage to receive an honour Friday from the World Economic Forum for her humanitarian work, and then gushed like an actress who had not already won Academy, Emmy and Golden Globe awards.

Emma Thompson reacts holding the Crystal award. The Crystal award is presented to artists who use their art to reach out to other cultures. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/Peter Dejong

"The brainpower in this room alone, well let's not even go there," Thompson told the gathering of 2,500 business, political and academic leaders in the Swiss Alps. This was a decidedly different crowd for the 48-year-old Brit, who won Best Actress in 1992 for her performance in "Howard's End" and claimed another Oscar four years later for her screenplay of "Sense and Sensibility." The Forum recognized Thompson for her work in helping people suffering from AIDS in Africa and raising awareness around the world.  "I love getting awards and haven't had one for ages," she joked, absolutely captivating a stargazing audience of presidents, prime ministers and some of the richest CEOs in the world.
Thompson was followed to the stage by Yo-Yo Ma, a French-born American cellist of Chinese descent who could make a strong case as the personification of the Forum's theme this year - "the power of collaborative innovation." Ma was recognized by the Forum for his efforts to promote cultural exchange, and in particular for his "Silk Road" project that brings together musicians from different backgrounds and traditions in the East and the West. The 52-year-old winner of 15 Grammy Awards brought his cello with him. "I think it unwise to follow Emma Thompson with saying anything, so may I offer instead a little musical thanks?" Ma asked the crowd. He chose a sarabande by Johann Sebastian Bach. The piece, he said, was the right one for the moment because it originated as a North African dance and made its way to Spain and France before reaching Germany.