Should we be more optimistic about 2025? Chairman of McKinsey Greater China Joe Ngai explores the themes that shaped his Davos experience and why he's departing the Annual Meeting with renewed confidence for the year⬇️ #McKinseyAtDavos #wef25
It’s finally snowing here on the last day of #Davos, and a fun way to remember this year’s Davos is to think about the three “parties” going on: 1. The Watch Party All eyes are on Washington D.C. This year, there has never been as much discussion on politics and how the new administration may affect the rest of the world. It’s clear that geopolitics is a muscle we all need to strengthen. You may not be interested in geopolitics, but geopolitics is interested in you. 2. The Tech and Gen AI Party This is not new, but it’s omnipresent. Every discussion in Davos this year has touched on GenAI, including the massive potential and the potential risks. My key takeaway is that the bottleneck for impact isn’t the technology itself; it’s us. It’s our corporate organizations, our processes, and our willingness to learn and relearn. The real bottleneck of GenAI is human. 3. The Pavilion Parties These are the big showcases on the promenade. I’m most impressed by the new swim lanes and the energy radiating from our friends from India and the Middle East. They see a new era coming and are very ambitious and confident about the next era of growth. Our world definitely needs this new source of energy. Amidst all this positive energy, it’s important to see the perils of not keeping up. While the leaders are harnessing technology and sprinting ahead, others are falling behind. The gap between the leaders and the rest is widening. It’s a reminder that standing still is not an option. Davos is not just about the big meetings and presentations; it’s also about the people you meet. I had the privilege of meeting young entrepreneurs with big ambitions to change the world and leaders driving massive transformations across the world. What they have in common is a positive mindset, a tendency to give energy to people around them, and a curiosity to keep learning. As we leave Davos, are we more optimistic or pessimistic about 2025? Despite the uncertainties, I leave with a renewed sense of optimism and confidence. My conversations reinforced my belief that there is plenty to look forward to this year. It’s up to us. If we can bring a little bit of this energy back to work on Monday, I think we will have accomplished the true purpose of Davos. #WEF25 #McKinseyAtDavos #Optimism #Confidence #TruePurpose