McKinsey and the World Economic Forum 2025

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Every year, the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting brings together top decision-makers from government, business, and civil society to address major global issues and priorities for the year ahead. At the Annual Meeting 2025, which took place in Davos, Switzerland, from January 20 to January 24, leaders from around the globe convened under the theme “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age,” centered around the following priorities:

Rebuilding trust
Reimagining growth
Safeguarding the planet
Industries in the intelligent age
Investing in people

As a strategic partner to the World Economic Forum, McKinsey and our Davos 2025 participants engaged in constructive, forward-looking dialogues to identify impact-oriented solutions that will contribute to a better world, focused on sustainable inclusive growth.

McKinsey Priority Themes

AI transformation | Resilience and geopolitics | Energy transition
Women’s health | 21^st century leadership | Space

Davos 2025: Reflections

While Davos 2025 is firmly in the rear-view mirror, the themes and priorities that emerged there are now being put into practice across countries, industries, and companies. McKinsey’s senior leaders Axel Karlsson, Eric Kutcher, Clarisse Magnin, Asutosh Padhi, and Yuito Yamada reflect on how Davos 2025 is shaping this year.

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A proactive approach to geopolitics

January 21, 2025 -

As the 2025 Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum kicks off in Davos, Switzerland, we explore how leaders can respond to geopolitical risks while seizing opportunities for growth.

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Special episode: Debriefing Davos 2025

January 30, 2025 -

An insider’s look at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum: The mountaintop was buzzing as leaders confront a world in flux.

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Resilience pulse check: Harnessing collaboration to navigate a volatile world

January 21, 2025 -

We continue to learn that we operate in a world in which we must expect the unexpected, yet companies feel unprepared to face rising threats and uncertainties.

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Blueprint to close the women’s health gap: How to improve lives and economies for all

January 21, 2025 -

Women experience substantial health inequities and poor health outcomes worldwide, and the global economy suffers as a result.

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Europe in the intelligent age: From ideas to action

January 17, 2025 -

Strategic focus and private sector–led lighthouse initiatives can change the Old Continent’s trajectory—if the public sector radically changes the investment environment with a handful of priority initiatives.

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Thriving workplaces: How employers can improve productivity and change lives

January 16, 2025 -

Investing in holistic employee health can create almost $12 trillion in global economic value.

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Dependency and depopulation? Confronting the consequences of a new demographic reality

January 15, 2025 -

Exploring the implications of a new demographic reality brought on by falling fertility and increasing longevity.

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Achieving growth: Putting leadership mindsets and behaviors into action

January 13, 2025 -

Growth requires the right mix of outlook, strategy, and capabilities. Top leaders achieve their goals by turning five mindsets into action.

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The art of 21st-century leadership: From succession planning to building a leadership factory

October 22, 2024 -

Complicated times demand great leaders. Here’s an overview of traits and practices required to succeed as a leader today and a look at the factory model that can help aspiring managers ascend.

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Charting a path to the data- and AI-driven enterprise of 2030

September 5, 2024 -

Generative AI has increased the focus on data, putting pressure on companies to make substantive shifts to build a truly data-based organization.

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The hard stuff: Navigating the physical realities of the energy transition

August 14, 2024 -

The energy transition is a physical transformation in its early stages. What challenges lie ahead?

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Space: The $1.8 trillion opportunity for global economic growth

April 8, 2024 -

As the space economy expands, it could create value for multiple industries and solve many of the world’s most pressing challenges.

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The global cooperation barometer 2025

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Circularity in the built environment: Unlocking opportunities in retrofits

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Healthy workforces initiative

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The McKinsey Health Institute and the World Economic Forum team up to support healthier workforces worldwide

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We have collaborated with WEF on key knowledge topics

FT Live: The Davos Daily Show

McKinsey senior partners Axel Karlsson, Asutosh Padhi, and Rodney Zemmel shared with the Financial Times major themes discussed at Davos 2025.

Davos 2025: Looking ahead

McKinsey senior leaders Sven Smit, Kate Smaje, Shelley Stewart, Solveigh Hieronimus, Tracy Francis, and Alex Panas discuss what they expect at Davos 2025.

Young Global Leaders on Davos 2025

December 18, 2024 -

The World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders, current and alumni, share their thoughts on issues they believe should get much more attention in Davos but might not amid a plethora of business topics.

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What is Davos?

Davos, Switzerland, is where the World Economic Forum holds its annual meeting. Delegates from many sectors converge for several days of talks and meetings to address urgent global issues.