World Economic Forum: A preview of Davos 2026

The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) annual meeting in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, is next week. Leaders across public and private sectors will come together to confront global issues and identify impact-oriented solutions around five key topics.

In parallel, McKinsey has developed five complementary yet distinctive priorities that will be essential for today’s leaders. Senior Partners Tracy Francis and Yuito Yamada discussed these themes during a McKinsey Live event.

1. The agentic AI transformation. According to McKinsey research, the economic opportunity of capturing the full potential of AI could be worth up to $2.9 trillion, making this transition essential. Creating an advantage with AI is all about how companies integrate these tools, however. That means leadership embraces AI as a shared responsibility, chooses the best use cases, reimagines workflows across the organization, and anchors their teams to an intentional AI strategy and scope.
2. 21st-century leadership. Compared to previous years, CEOs and top teams are expected to focus on many more issues at a given point in time. To excel in today’s environment, leaders must embody a balance of selflessness and steadfastness. Companies should focus on engaging high-potential leaders, championing new approaches to risk-taking and learning, addressing the needs and challenges of individuals in critical roles, and enabling faster decision-making.
3. Geopolitics. Some of the biggest challenges today need global participation to be addressed. Geopolitics is unavoidable: it’s reshaping markets worldwide and increasing risk for corporations. The future may bring either greater collaboration or increased fragmentation—and leaders should be prepared for both distinct possibilities. Having geopolitical foresight and creating systems that enable teams to adapt, recalibrate, and focus resources smartly will help leaders find opportunities in variability.
4. Growth and resilience. Companies’ resilience and preparedness are improving, but progress is uneven: only one in four considers itself ready to withstand disruption across all dimensions. Building resiliency requires strong foresight and responses and smarter allocation of resources, including AI and people. The gap between those skills is what separates short-term recovery and long-term health and sustainable growth.
5. Brain economy. Labor shortages, absenteeism, low-engagement, and burnout are abundant today, and they come at a cost. McKinsey research finds that a medium-size company that improves these dimensions could save up to $22 million annually. The rise of AI means that emphasizing brain development, strength, agility, and resilience is more important than ever. These traits are synonymous with innovation, productivity, and inclusive growth. Investing in brain capital, including brain function and skills, could help create a more productive and engaged workforce.