Do Investors Want the C-Suite to Skip Davos in 2026?

 "Davos" used to be shorthand for the pricey prestigious global networking winter event in Switzerland. Sponsored by the World Economic Forum it was covered before, during and after by media. 

Bob Dilenschneider, who operated public affairs boutiques in New York and Chicago, brought his own press relations person Dick Kosmicki to handle that media action. It was widely known that Bob would do Davos and that enhanced his branding. 

Even being invited to deliver a presentation was certainly a career booster. The Edelman firm made it its business to journey to Davos annually to feature its research on trust. Celebrities gave motivational talks about doing good. 

Now that image of Davos has darkened. Being associated with it could be a negative. That kicked off with the investigation of WEF founder Klaus Schwab. Although he was cleared a cloud seemed to hover. After all, the mission of WEF is noble:

"The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. It provides a global, impartial and not-for-profit platform for meaningful connection between stakeholders to establish trust, and build initiatives for cooperation and progress."

The reputational problems have evolved into something much more serious. Influential FT published a scathing analysis of what the coming-togethers at Davos are, it contends, really about. Essentially that's the creation and operation of global control by a small group who have the resources to be the core of the WEF. FT sizes up the Davos phenomenon as a:

" ... form of soft dictatorship — a system of influence that hides behind philanthropy, sustainability goals, and the language of compassion while advancing uniform control over economies, resources, and even speech."

Those pulling the strings are not elected officials representing their constituencies' wishes. They, it's claimed, are self-appointed power players operating with plenty of reinforcement from other power players.

The FT expose could be exactly the angle media will pursue when Davos meets January 19 - 23, 2026. The promo for that event states:

"World leaders from government, business, civil society and academia will convene in Davos to engage in forward-looking discussions to address global issues and set priorities. The call for bold collective action makes the meeting particularly relevant."

Its critics could pounce on exactly that: Should society allow that group taking "bold collective action" on our behalf? Meanwhile, do investors want the C-Suite to be part of that next year? In 2026 geopolitical tensions are bound to continue to increase. Any fallout could impact the stock. 

UPDATE:

BTW, Sora 2 can put you at Davos. That could boost your reach on social. 

Thrown off your game, maybe the first time since you started working? You made all the right moves and then the world moved in another direction.

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