At a moment of historic geopolitical fragmentation and technological disruption, Davos 2026 delivered a clear message:
the greatest leadership risk today is not disagreement — it is the failure to listen.
In conversations held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026, interim co-chairs Larry Fink and André Hoffmann articulated why dialogue, trust, and human responsibility now sit at the core of global leadership.
“Change Is Disarming — And Leaders Must Listen”
Session: World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026
Speaking on the opening days of Davos, Larry Fink, Chair and CEO of BlackRock and Interim Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum, described the current moment as one of profound disruption:
“I truly believe the change that we’re seeing technologically is real and it is disarming for so many people.”
— Larry Fink, Davos 2026Larry Fink Davos 2026
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Fink emphasized that technological transformation cannot succeed without broad social inclusion:
“The change of technology can only work if we broaden society across the whole economic strata.”
— Larry FinkLarry Fink Davos 2026
For Fink, this is precisely why Davos matters:
“That, to me, is why conversation is so important.”
— Larry FinkLarry Fink Davos 2026
Growth, Technology, and the Risk of Narrowing Prosperity
Addressing economic growth, Fink warned that progress has become increasingly uneven:
“Over the last 10 years, it’s fair to say that economic growth has been narrowing in the world… Some countries are huge beneficiaries of it and some are not.”
— Larry FinkLarry Fink Davos 2026
He argued that technology must be diffused globally to advance society rather than deepen divides:
“We need to diffuse that technology so it can work for everyone… that advances society, not hinders.”
— Larry FinkLarry Fink Davos 2026
Optimism in an Age of Polarization
Despite global volatility, Fink made a case for cautious optimism:
“I believe all the noise that frightens us is the mechanism by which we resolve problems.”
— Larry FinkLarry Fink Davos 2026
He contrasted visible crises with the dangers of unspoken ones:
“I worry about things we don’t talk about.”
— Larry FinkLarry Fink Davos 2026
And he delivered a direct message to world leaders gathered in Davos:
“Listen. The most important thing we must do is listen.”
— Larry FinkLarry Fink Davos 2026
“Humanity Is What Will Make the Difference”
Session: Spirit of Dialogue — Davos 2026
For André Hoffmann, Vice-Chairman of Roche Holding and Interim Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum, the stakes of Davos 2026 were equally clear.
Looking ahead to the year, Hoffmann described the context bluntly:
“This year it looks particularly challenging… there are a number of things coming towards us which we are going to have to deal with in a strategic and well-informed way.”
— André HoffmannLarry Fink Davos 2026
Yet his core belief remained human-centered:
“Humanity is what is going to make a difference.”
— André HoffmannLarry Fink Davos 2026
Hoffmann stressed that individual action, not abstract systems, will determine long-term outcomes:
“Each individual… can have in their daily life actions that help us to support our strategic imperative.”
— André HoffmannLarry Fink Davos 2026
Reinventing Capitalism Within Planetary Boundaries
Addressing the future of capitalism, Hoffmann challenged traditional business logic:
“You manage what you measure… so far, we haven’t really spent much time measuring the impact we as humanity are having on the planet.”
— André HoffmannLarry Fink Davos 2026
He argued that profit can no longer be separated from cost:
“We cannot make a profit without taking into account the cost of that profit.”
— André HoffmannLarry Fink Davos 2026
The Spirit of Dialogue as a Strategic Imperative
In a world Hoffmann described as “more fractured than ever since 1945,” Davos 2026 focused on dialogue not as symbolism, but as strategy:
“We might agree or disagree but collectively we will get to a conclusion which will help us to make the world a better place.”
— André HoffmannLarry Fink Davos 2026
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He summarized the forum’s mission succinctly:
“We are trying to provide the framework for resilient growth thanks to innovation within planetary boundaries.”
— André HoffmannLarry Fink Davos 2026
NYBEX Insight
Davos 2026 did not resolve global tensions.
It clarified the leadership response required.
In an age of AI acceleration, geopolitical polarization, and ecological limits, Davos underscored that listening, dialogue, and human judgment are no longer soft values — they are strategic capabilities.
For global leaders, the challenge is not to eliminate disagreement, but to turn it into understanding — and understanding into action.
Source
World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026 — “5 questions to Larry Fink and André Hoffmann at Davos 2026”
Larry Fink Davos 2026
