The biggest investing and life lessons I learned at Davos 2025

The biggest investing and life lessons I learned at Davos 2025

The past week feels like a blur — especially for journalists like myself. It’s been a whirlwind of conversations, both with new faces and familiar ones. There were countless breakfasts, lunches, and dinners where I met hundreds more people, all while sifting through an overwhelming amount of information — from public comments by top leaders to off-the-record whispers about future earnings.

For me, it’s only after the week is over that I can start processing everything I’ve learned. But after six years attending the World Economic Forum (WEF), I've come to realize that by the end of the week, certain themes always emerge. And I always do my best to bring you into this whirlwind world.

One prominent theme this year was the progression of AI. Last year, AI was all about creation. This year, leaders showed up to discuss the real-world impacts it's already having.

“Say goodbye to call centers,” one industrial exec told me at an event.

Economist Nouriel Roubini took things further, suggesting that we might soon have robot husbands, wives, and digital companions. It was an idea that seemed like pure science fiction just a few years ago but now feels much closer to reality.

Of course, President Trump was another dominant topic throughout the week, from the reactions to his new meme coin (hedge fund investor Anthony Scaramucci called it “basically garbage”) to concerns about how tariffs could disrupt businesses (Gap CEO Richard Dickson and Ralph Lauren CEO Patrice Louvet explained that it could even raise the price of a simple shirt).

For this year’s recap, I wanted to offer something more lasting — a collection of key takeaways on how to be a better investor and leader based on my time at Davos. Here are a few quick nuggets of wisdom I picked up:

1. Don’t compromise your values as a leader:
It’s clear that some leaders have been willing to compromise their values for financial gain. Meta’s (META) Mark Zuckerberg, for example, has been criticized for rolling back DEI initiatives to win favor with President Trump. Some call it smart business, others see it as a betrayal of important principles.

In contrast, Nasdaq Inc. (NDAQ) CEO Adena Friedman, who has been advocating for boardroom diversity, shared a different perspective. “I can say for Nasdaq, we’re very proud of what we do. We feel very good about the results we’ve achieved in creating a culture of inclusivity and belonging. And I think a lot of companies feel the same way I do, and it’s just going to be a little bit quieter.”

There’s a lot to be learned from these contrasting approaches to leadership. At the end of the day, maintaining integrity and authenticity in your decisions matters — even when there’s pressure to take a different route.

Stay tuned for more updates and insights from Davos, and don't forget to check out our new hub to catch up on all the coverage you missed!