How the world's top leaders tackle the toughest challenges
Upskilling for an AI era will be critical. While it requires a strong grasp of individuals' skills and potential, data shows leaders wildly overestimate their own capabilities and can misjudge what their teams can offer. CEO Kian Katanforoosh of skills measurement platform Workera shares what's needed to bridge these gaps and what could be ahead to keep pace with changing needs. He offers a sneak peek at what the future could look like, tackling questions on how AI can reshape mentorship and why it might one day be unethical for a human (rather than a machine) to judge another human's capabilities. He also digs into: how prompting AI can help any leader refine their asks when managing humans; How his own assessments have helped him hone key leadership skills, and what war games have taught him about strategic thinking. About this episode: https://www.workera.ai/ Transcript: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/kian-katanforoosh-upskill-ai-age-workera Related episode: Do you need an AI mentor? This tech entrepreneur thinks so https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/ai-skills-workera-kian-katanforoosh/
JPMorgan Chase's Jamie Dimon, the CEO of one of the largest banks in the world, has a frank and lively one-on-one conversation in Davos with Economist editor-in-chief Zanny Minton Beddoes on a host of topics, including: what's needed to unlock growth; how rapid technological shifts could spur economic growth; how AI is integrated AI into the typical JPMorgan workday and how policy moves can impact economies and affordability. He also shares what's driven his successes, what his failures have in common and why not every question will have a simple answer.
About this episode: Watch this conversation here: https://www.weforum.org/meetings/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2026/sessions/conversation-with-jamie-dimon-chairman-and-ceo-of-jpmorgan-chase/
About the Annual Meeting https://www.weforum.org/meetings/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2026/ Radio Davos Daily Meet The Leader's sister podcast Radio Davos will be publishing live from the Annual Meeting in Davos. To listen to these episodes, follow Radio Davos here: https://open.spotify.com/show/36D1oLAmsRimw70XV19Cdf
How will AI's hotly anticipated growth take shape? And what makes this moment different than past technology cycles? Could it really spark labor shortages, not labor surpluses? These questions and others are answered In a special one-on-one session at the 2026 Annual Meeting in Davos where NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang digs into these themes with Larry Fink, the World Economic Forum's own Interim Co-Chair and BlackRock's President and CEO.
Recorded at the Annual Meeting in Davos Switzerland 2026.
Read a transcript of this episode here: https://www.weforum.org/meetings/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2026/sessions/conversation-with-jensen-huang-president-and-ceo-of-nvidia/
About the Annual Meeting https://www.weforum.org/meetings/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2026/ Radio Davos Daily Meet The Leader's sister podcast Radio Davos will be publishing live from the Annual Meeting in Davos. To listen to these episodes, follow Radio Davos here: https://open.spotify.com/show/36D1oLAmsRimw70XV19Cdf
How can tech maximize the future of civilization? In a chat with BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO discusses the role of robotics in tackling stubborn issues such as global poverty as well as how it could drive an expansion in the global economy. He also explores how reusable rockets will drop the cost of access to space, how he sees AI developing in the years ahead and his take on optimism.
Speakers: Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla; Chief Engineer, SpaceX; CTO, xAI; and Laurence D. Fink, Chair and CEO, BlackRock; Interim Co-Chair, World Economic Forum.
This session was recorded at the Annual Meeting in Davos Switzerland, 22 January, 2026. Read a transcript of this episode here: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/conversation-with-elon-musk-davos-2026
About the 2026 Annual Meeting in Davos: https://www.weforum.org/meetings/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2026/
Radio Davos Daily Meet The Leader's sister podcast Radio Davos will be publishing live from the Annual Meeting in Davos. To listen to these episodes, follow Radio Davos here: https://open.spotify.com/show/36D1oLAmsRimw70XV19Cdf
What's ahead for the economy and how can leaders navigate economic uncertainty in 2026? Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva takes us through: the International Monetary Fund's new research on the surprising impacts AI could have on jobs and paychecks, which country's workers could be best poised for these new shifts, and why policymakers could play a make-or-break role in what plays out. She'll also share the organization's outlook for the year and what to expect as new changes for trade and geopolitical tensions take shape.
Recorded live from the Congress Centre the Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland 2026 About this epsiode: International Monetary Fund: IMF.org IMF Report link: Bridging Skill Gaps for the Future: New Jobs Creation in the AI Age: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/staff-discussion-notes/issues/2026/01/09/bridging-skill-gaps-for-the-future-new-jobs-creation-in-the-ai-age-572136?cid=bl-com-SDNEA2026001 IMF Report link: World Economic Outlook Update https://www.imf.org/en/publications/weo/issues/2026/01/19/world-economic-outlook-update-january-2026 Episode transcript: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/ai-skills-global-economy-imf-kristalina-georgieva/
About the 2026 Annual Meeting in Davos: https://www.weforum.org/meetings/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2026/ Radio Davos Daily Meet The Leader's sister podcast Radio Davos published live from the Annual Meeting in Davos. To listen to these episodes, follow Radio Davos here: https://open.spotify.com/show/36D1oLAmsRimw70XV19Cdf
Leaders today face climate havoc, geopolitical instability and a 'more chaotic form of globalization,' said David Miliband, the president and chief executive officer of humanitarian organization International Rescue Committee. On this recent Meet the Leader, he explains how leaders can navigate this more disordered world and an 'age of impunity' – a trend he's tracked for years where some seem less accountable to the power they yield. He explains the challenge he sees for leaders of all stripes in the near future, giving practical advice on how leaders can stay accountable to the big picture and better meet the moment to craft tactical strategies and drive cooperation for positive change.
This interview was recorded October 2025 in the World Economic Forum New York Office. About this episode: International Rescue Committee: https://help.rescue.org/
Related podcasts: What most people get wrong about progress: Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2IJjZs4E7A&t=51s Read: https://tinyurl.com/3smrwev9 We're 'losing the war' on modern slavery: What leaders can do - HPE's John Schultz Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlXggC3o08I&t=1s Read: https://tinyurl.com/488aupcn
What do startup founders, CEOs of multinationals and Harvard professors have in common? They can all name a book that has changed how they live, think or lead. In this annual roundup episode, look for your new read (or a gift for that hard-to-buy for person on your list) from the recommendations of the world's top thinkers and change makers. Our annual books roundup collects books that have transformed how some of the top global leaders manage teams, get inspired, and make things happen. This year's recommendations include fresh takes on classic business books, histories, time-honored works of literature, and new favorites that can change how you build and lead. About this episode: Transcript: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/2025-book-recommendations-leaders
Books and leaders in this episode: Books to deepen your understanding of the world -Angela Odour Lungati, Ushahidi Book: The Power of Geography, Tim Marshall -Sherry Madera ,CEO, CDP Book: Pricing the Priceless: The Financial Transformation to Value the Planet, Solve the Climate Crisis, and Protect Our Most Precious Assets, Paula DiPerna -Sanjeev Mankotia, CEO, Gaeastar Book: Benjamin Franklin: An American Life, Walter Isaacson -Jumana Al Hashat, CEO and co-founder, Voltaire.aiBook: The Message, Ta-Nehisi Coates -Alicia Chong Rodriguez, founder, Bloomer Tech Book: The Vagina Business, Marina Gerner
Books to understand the moment we're in -Nathan Metenier, co-director, Youth Climate Justice fund Book: Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World, Naomi Klein -Steven Pinker, Harvard cognitive psychologist and author Book: The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations That Transform the World, David Deutsch Books to teach you more about yourself -Kian Katanforoosh, CEO, Workera Book: The Molecule of More, Daniel Z. Lieberman and Michael E. Long -Diallo Powell is the CEO and Co-Founder, Stak Mobility Book: It's Sid Bernstein Calling, Arthur Aaron -Liz Centoni, Cisco Book: The Courage to Be Disliked Fumitake Koga and Ichiro Kishimi
Books to inform how you'll lead -Adam Grant, author and Wharton organizational psychologist Book: Calling In, Loretta J. Ross Book: Validation, Caroline Flack -Alfred Stern, CEO, OMV Book: Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, Carol Dweck -Ayumi Moore Aoki, Who, Not How
Books that help you meet the moment-Mohit Joshi, CEO, Tech Mahindra Book; Meditations for Mortals, Oliver Burkeman -Nadya Okamoto, Founder, August Book: Pleasure Activism, The Politics of Feeling Good, Adrienne Maree Brown -David Steinbach, CIO, Hines Author: Viktor Frankl
Today, Gary Tyler is a renowned fiber artist and activist. But he was once the youngest person on death row in the U.S., a man unjustly incarcerated at just age 17. He talks with World Economic Forum video producer Kateryna Gordiychuk about how his experience in prison introduced him to the medium and shapes his creative expression. While incarcerated, during the AIDs epidemic, Gary worked as a volunteer in one of the first prison hospice programs in the country. The need to fund the program led Gary to learn quilting to help raise money that could aid both the dying men and their families who wouldn't be able to travel to see their loved ones otherwise. The experience drove home for Gary the need for mercy and advocacy in systems where people cannot advocate for themselves. Today, his art explores themes of freedom and individuality and he speaks frequently on the contributions any individual can make, regardless of their circumstance. This interview was recorded at the Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland January 2025.
About this episode: About Gary's Art: Library Street Collective: lscgallery.com
Episode transcript: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/gary-tyler-artist-activist
Related Podcasts: Meet The Leader - Ballerina Misty Copeland: Unlocking potential and a leader's most 'vital' role https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNwmJJMRt4o&t=1s
Meet The Leader - 'I'll show you a real leader' - Platon, the photographer of power, on finding humanity in all of us https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIUGFUza2ec&t=117s Meet the Leader - Adam Grant: Future leaders won't succeed without this key trait https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buVVIpttzUA
In her role as President, Arts, Culture & Heritage at CHANEL, Yana Peel thinks deeply about the value of the arts across society and what's needed to amplify a range of voices. She talks to Gayle Markovitz, the Head of Written and Audio Content at the World Economic Forum, about how technological shifts could boost the value of human creativity and why collaboration with artists has never been more essential to a host of sectors. She also takes us through her unconventional background, one that includes study at the London School of Economics and a turn on the Goldman Sachs trading floor before co-founding the Outset Contemporary Art Fund or serving as CEO for London's Serpentine Galleries. In this special conversation, she shares what she has learned from both artists and business leaders about the critical role arts and culture play in attracting capital, driving social change and fueling innovation. This episode was recorded at the 2025 Annual Meeting at Davos, Switzerland. Yana Peel was invited as as a Cultural Leader as part of the arts & culture programme.
About this episode: Chanel Culture Fund: https://www.chanel.com/us/chanel-culture-fund/ Chanel Connects https://www.chanel.com/us/chanel-connects/season-5/
Episode transcript: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/yana-peel-chanel-art-ai-future/
Related Podcasts: Meet The Leader - Ballerina Misty Copeland: Unlocking potential and a leader's most 'vital' role Read here: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/misty-copeland-ballet-leadership-skills/ Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5SDZWco6fE6cJlziDid8iu?go=1&sp_cid=01e8f5e22b1a6834bc34234353341751&utm_source=embed_player_p&utm_medium=desktop&nd=1&dlsi=824d7fc8a1944800 Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNwmJJMRt4o&t=1s
'I'll show you a real leader' - Platon, the photographer of power, on finding humanity in all of usRead here: https://tinyurl.com/2s4372wc Listen here: https://tinyurl.com/3r9xrpftfdfc40499c Watch here: https://tinyurl.com/yr44h49y
Space has become a junkyard, a mess of millions of pieces of debris that pose big risks to spacecrafts, complicating astronaut safety, research and even our own connectivity back home. Daniel Faber is the CEO of Orbit Fab, a company whose technology will allow for satellites to refuel once in orbit. He'll explain why this solution can be critical to tackling space debris while also helping to save lives, boost research and even supercharge the space economy. About this episode: Orbit Fab: https://www.orbitfab.com/ Transcript: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/daniel-faber-orbit-fab-space-economy Related report: Report: Space: The $1.8 Trillion Opportunity for Global Economic Growth: https://www.weforum.org/publications/space-the-1-8-trillion-opportunity-for-global-economic-growth/
Related Podcasts Meet the startup building the first commercial space station: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/tejpaul-bhatia-space-economy-axiom/
This former astronaut shares what's key to building strong, effective teams:: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1BvAcXlFqExORF2eZNjcLQ?go=1&sp_cid=01e8f5e22b1a6834bc34234353341751&utm_source=embed_player_p&utm_medium=desktop&nd=1&dlsi=269a6c9f8a3a4b02
As cyber threats and geopolitical risks intensify, how can organizations be nimble and outsmart the next cyber attack? In this episode, seasoned data protection and cyber law expert Vinod Bange breaks down the threats that are still overlooked – including a new understanding of influence in social engineering – and the questions that leaders should ask themselves to ensure their teams are truly nimble and cyber ready. This Baker McKenzie partner also shares the unique methods that business and government are employing to work together to share best practices and strategies, all while breaking down why this sort of collaboration has traditionally been slow to happen. About this episode: Baker McKenzie: https://www.bakermckenzie.com/en/ Global Disputes Forecast: https://www.bakermckenzie.com/en/insight/publications/2025/01/global-disputes-forecast-2025 Related report: Cybercrime Atlas: Impact Report 2025: https://initiatives.weforum.org/cybercrime-atlas/home Related podcasts: Radio Davos: New era, new mood, new challenges Read: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/adam-tooze-cnbc-china-us-history/ Listen: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4byCozwrPwSDRGexzSpOIv?go=1&sp_cid=01e8f5e22b1a6834bc34234353341751&utm_source=embed_player_p&utm_medium=desktop&nd=1&dlsi=21eda2cf5c3c4932 Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOlOPL3woKA Meet the Leader: AI will reshape knowledge work. What leaders should ask, do and learn now: Read: https://tinyurl.com/ydfed937 Listen: https://tinyurl.com/ycxh9zer Watch: https://youtu.be/GCo7czq2yXI