Last week, I was in Davos, Switzerland, presenting at a precursor event before the World Economic Forum (WEF). It got me thinking! With its Bond movie-like name, you might picture a secret society of supervillains plotting world domination. But let’s demystify this event: it’s more about handshakes than world-shaking plans.

The WEF isn’t a global puppet master. It’s an international NGO, not as powerful as the IMF or World Bank. It’s a magnet for influential economists, policymakers, business executives, celebrities, and politicians for one reason: 𝗡𝗘𝗧𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚!

Think of the WEF as an intellectual mixer, where world leaders and industry captains exchange business cards and ideas, possibly over expensive coffee and Koi Carp views.

“The Great Reset,” a WEF term for post-pandemic recovery, sounds ominous, fueling conspiracy theories about lizard people and secret governments.
However, Davos is about sustainable capitalism and environmentalism discussions – often by people who flew in on private jets. We could criticise the hypocrisy around carbon footprint for sure!

Companies pay huge fees to be part of the WEF. The real value lies in unofficial meetings, where deals are struck and partnerships formed, away from the public eye.

The WEF is like an exclusive club – a ‘Davos family’, as founder Klaus Schwab calls it. The same faces, the same ideas, and a hefty entry fee don’t suggest ‘diversity of thought’, but it’s not a supervillain gathering.

In conclusion, the World Economic Forum is a networking event with a significant carbon footprint. It’s where the powerful discuss business, not global domination. Davos is just business as usual, but with snow and mountains as a stunning vista!