Vested Perspective: World Economic Forum 2025

This year’s World Economic Forum in Davos was a meeting ground for leaders navigating a world reshaped by converging technologies, shifting priorities, and an urgent need for collaboration. With the stakes higher than ever, the question isn’t just how to innovate—it’s how to innovate together.

Key Takeaways

This year, the conversations at Davos centered around five themes shaping a collective future:

Reimagining growth and identifying new opportunities that build resilience in an unpredictable global economy.

Industries in the intelligent age must rethink their strategies, balancing short-term goals with long-term transformation.

Investing in people to ensure human capital thrives amidst economic and technological change.

Safeguarding the planet and ensuring the conversation is about bold partnerships, clean technology, and sustainable solutions that drive impact.

Rebuilding trust in an increasingly fragmented world, with a focus on fostering collaboration locally and globally.

The tone of this year’s event was clear: The future demands action, innovation, and, above all, unity.

AI in Financial Services & Marcomms

As expected, artificial intelligence emerged as a central topic at this year’s event. Not just for its potential to reshape industries, but for its role in redefining how businesses approach opportunities and risks. Some key quotes from leaders at the Forum’s 54th Annual Meeting included:

“If we enter into a world where all the banks are using this major technology, are we going to see supercharged herding behavior? Are we going to see AI bots that are sentiment-driven and feed off each other, and you then end up with much bigger amplitudes in the financial cycle – so big credit booms and busts? I’m not saying it’s imminent, but this is something we’re paying attention to.” Gita Gopinath, First Deputy Managing Director, International Monetary Fund

“I believe artificial intelligence will ultimately be to the internet, as to the computer was to the calculator. It is a moment of stunning technological possibility … It is a moment of epic challenge for governments in my country and governments everywhere.” Larry Summers, Former Secretary, US Treasury 

“AI is core to what we do
 It enables us to protect customers and help them get more out of their financial services. And I think the exciting part that’s coming is it’s going to enable us to really differentiate what we can do, enable customers to get different experiences from banking and from their financial services provider. It’s a huge growth opportunity for us.” Charlie Nunn, Executive Director and Group Chief Executive, Lloyds Banking Group

Introduced at the event, and drawing upon insights from over 100 industry leaders across banking, insurance, fintech, and asset management, the Artificial Intelligence in Financial Services white paper, developed in collaboration with Accenture, explores how AI is fundamentally transforming the financial sector. 

Feeling the Vibe of Davos

Beyond the big ideas and structured discussions, Davos is also about personal moments, unexpected encounters, and the unique atmosphere that brings it to life.

In attendance this year is Annette Matzke, a leader representing the DACH region for the Financial Narrative Agency Network and Managing Partner at Communicators. She writes:

“Davos will always remain a summit belonging to the powerful. But to those who want to soak up the unique atmosphere of this event, like me, it is electrifying.

Thanks to #TheFemaleQuotient for the inspiring panels and the opportunity to meet great personalities like Jamie Dimon and Dorothee Blessing.

When it comes to women’s empowerment, I learned a new buzzword: #moonshot. Wiki defines this term as “a large, ambitious project that has a high risk of failure, but also a huge reward”. There were many conversations about women’s empowerment. 

Personally – whether they’re male, female, or something else entirely – I want to work with competent people, both technically and socially to create the conditions for people to balance their personal and professional lives in these challenging times.

What else struck me in Davos? The focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and its role in making our world not only more efficient but also fairer … Question mark!

For me, the issue of the future is mental health – and the solutions for greater well-being and prosperity. Without health, nothing else matters.

The charm of Davos is that it is so concentrated and accessible, yet so pragmatically Swiss. There is room for everyone: from skiers strolling along the promenade in their ski gear to young people carrying crosses – Davos is the stage.

I am captivated by the atmosphere. WEF 2026: Count me in! 

I’ll decide then whether to go as a visitor or as a skier.”

From thought-provoking discussions to the buzz of on-the-ground experiences, this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos showcased the blend of ideas and action needed to navigate an increasingly complex world.

Read more and watch the extensive collection of panel discussions, session videos, and event recaps at the World Economic Forum website.

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