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Davos is a modest ski resort near Zurich, Switzerland. But that isn’t why it’s famous.
Every January, Davos hosts the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF). A
highly curated selection of delegates from global business, government, civil society,
media, and academia converges on this Swiss town to attend sessions designed to spark
fruitful discussions around the most pressing issues of the day—and ultimately drive
impact.
But Davos isn’t just about the keynotes. The meeting is also famous for the networking
and socializing that goes on in the corridors, side rooms, hotel suites, and restaurants of
the Alpine town. McKinsey senior partner Acha Leke says he’s “had some of my best
informal conversations with amazing leaders at the after-dinner events.”
Some 2,500 delegates and hundreds of others go to Davos during that period, making it
perhaps the largest gathering of global decision makers all year. As McKinsey senior
partner Enno de Boer memorably described the meeting, “It’s business speed dating on
steroids.” For McKinsey veterans of the Davos meeting, connecting with clients is their
primary focus of the conference. Watch the video to learn more about this year’s topic
areas.
In 2020, WEF issued a new Davos Manifesto to guide companies in the age of the Fourth
Industrial Revolution. The manifesto states that a company should “pay its fair share of
taxes,” show “zero tolerance for corruption,” uphold human rights throughout its global
supply chain, and advocate for a competitive, level playing field.1
2022 was an exceptional year for the gathering in Davos. The in-person event was held in
May after a hiatus of 18 months—the longest interval between meetings since WEF’s
founding.
For more on WEF, the annual meeting in Davos, and insights on what lies ahead in light
of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical unrest, and concerns about climate
change, read on.
McKinsey’s partnership with WEF for the Davos meeting each year includes events and
interventions aligned with shared goals. For 2023, McKinsey’s knowledge collaborations
with WEF are intended to foster sustainable, inclusive growth collectively. Here are a few
of the initiatives to look out for:
For McKinsey senior partner Tracy Francis, the value of the Davos meeting is in “the
human interaction of a multitude of different types of entities—start-ups, nonprofits,
governmental organizations, business. There’s a lot of talk about a new world order, but I
do think that just being together in person and exchanging ideas increases connectivity.”
And while the spotlight shines bright on the well-known names, it’s the smaller
interactions that can mean the most. “In Davos, I always like to meet the start-up or
technology company that comes up with an idea that, if it works, could scale through the
planet and change something,” says McKinsey senior partner and McKinsey Global
Institute chairman and director Sven Smit. “You’ll find hope in these kinds of things. The
big voices will be there, but the small voices bring a lot of hope.”