INSEAD in Davos - 2026
INSEAD in Davos - 2026
At WEF 2026, INSEAD convenes leaders, researchers and practitioners to examine how organisations integrate sustainability into governance and strategy amid geopolitical fragmentation, declining institutional trust and rising global risk.
The sessions address how nature-positive strategies can be embedded in corporate governance, executive incentives and leadership development through case-based discussions of practical leadership and organisational mechanisms. A flagship Deans’ Panel, delivered in partnership with BS4CL, is followed by a workshop highlighting actions and initiatives that support the integration of nature-positive strategies, enabling leaders to move from incremental improvements to more transformative business models.
In partnership with Catalyst NOW, and as part of Social Innovation House Day, INSEAD hosts a session examining how organisations can respond to geopolitical fragmentation, declining institutional trust and global risk. The panel explores hybrid organisational forms, blended non-profit/for-profit models and trust-based coordination as enablers of scale, resilience and sustainable value creation.
Speakers include: Philippe Aghion, Alexandra Roulet, Ilze Kivleniece, Theodoros Evgeniou and Francisco Veloso.
Session #1
The Future of Organising and Governing Social Innovation for a Fragmented World
In an era marked by geopolitical fragmentation, declining institutional trust and accelerating disruption, the global organisational landscape is undergoing profound change. The WEF 2025 Global Risks Report identifies state-based armed conflict, rising geoeconomic rivalry and the erosion of multilateral governance among today’s most pressing risks. It also highlights how societal fractures, misinformation and weakened collective action undermine the capacity of public institutions and private organisations to deliver sustainable progress.
Against this backdrop, the role of effective organizing and governing to deliver social innovation becomes more important than ever. This panel, hosted by INSEAD, INSEAD Hoffmann Institute, Catalyst Now and TPC, explores the following questions:
- How can organisational design and novel cross-sectoral organisational forms help bridge fragmentation and create sustainable value?
- How can blending non-profit and for-profit elements support scale and financial resilience?
- What role do informal and trust-based mechanisms — networks, relationships and intrinsic motivation — play in enabling coordination and impact where formal structures fall short?
The session brings together INSEAD researchers, leaders from the World Economic Forum and the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, as well as policymakers.
- Tuesday, 20 January
- 14:00-15:00 CET
- TPC (Tsao Pao Chee) House, Promenade 40, Davos.
Speakers
Associate Professor of Strategy
Global Sustainable Investing Leader, Private Markets at BlackRock
Head of Social Innovation, Schwab Foundation & World Economic Forum
Author, The Observer Columnist, Ex-The Economist
Session #2 with INSEAD participation
Return of Creative Destruction
- Tuesday, 20 January
- 9:45-10:30 CET
- Davos-Klosters, Congress Centre, Aula (Zone B)
Speakers
Professor of Economics
Peter Howitt
Lyn Crost Professor of Social Sciences Emeritus at Brown University
Session #3 with INSEAD participation
How to Tackle Fear as a Leader
Leaders across industries face a quiet but powerful force: fear of decline, disruption, and tough choices. Over 60% of CEOs admit their risk tolerance has fallen in the past three years, even as uncertainty rises.
Join this leadership dialogue to discuss how disruptions shape leadership and to explore practical tools to restore confidence, rebuild trust, and reignite ambition amid constraints.
- Tuesday, 20 January
- 15:00 - 16:15 CET
- Kurpark Village, Andermatt (Zone K)
Speakers
Associate Professor of Economics and Political Science
Session #4 with INSEAD participation
Nature-Positive Strategies for Climate Resilient Business: A BS4CL Workshop for Leaders
As the world nears the end of the first quarter of the 21st century, global polarization is at an all-time high: disagreement among leaders on climate agreements persists, while social and economic inequalities continue to widen. Against this backdrop, the urgency to embed biodiversity and ecosystem health at the centre of business decision-making has never been greater to ensure a climate resilient future.
A two-fold session outline:
- An introductory panel discussion that brings together academic and industry leaders to explore how business schools and corporations can cultivate the talent needed to drive nature‑positive, climate‑resilient transformation. BS4CL Deans will discuss the critical skills and mindsets required to embed corporate resilience and sustainability into business education, and how institutions can nurture future leaders equipped for this transition. In parallel, senior business leaders will share real‑world perspectives on developing and empowering their people to implement nature‑positive strategies — highlighting key challenges, success stories, and lessons for building climate‑resilient organizations.
- An interactive workshop to highlight key challenges, required competencies, and to share initiatives and success stories on how to inspire leaders to move from incremental “green tweaks” to transformative nature-positive business strategies.
- Tuesday, 20 January
- 15:30 - 17:30 CET
- Ocean Room, Intent Obere Strasse 31, 7270 Davos Platz
By invitation only
Speakers
Professor of Strategy
Dean, IESE Business School
Fernanda Accorsi
Executive Director IESE Institute for Sustainability Leadership
Alumni Networking Cocktail Reception
Alumni networking cocktail reception
A networking cocktail reception for INSEAD alumni, held in the Nature Room at Hotel National. The evening will bring together alumni, INSEAD faculty, and the Dean for an exclusive opportunity to connect and exchange.
Hosted by Isabel Hoffmann and Alexander Hoffmann.
If you are an INSEAD alumnus/alumna, please follow the registration link to confirm your attendance.
- Tuesday, 20 January
- 17:30 - 19:00 CET
- Hotel National, 31 Obere Strasse 7270 Davos Switzerland
Session #5 with INSEAD participation
The Imagination in Action Davos Dome AI Summit 2026
Anchored by two of the world’s most prestigious AI laboratories — MIT Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) and Stanford Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI) — the summit convenes leading thinkers across global science, innovation, policy, and industry, including Nobel laureates and pioneering visionaries shaping the future of intelligence. In addition I program this with MIT CSAIL, MIT Connection Science, Stanford University Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, Stanford Digital Economy Lab, Stanford Medical, and Forbes (media partner). It’s the "unofficial official MIT & Stanford” event of Davos. This year’s theme, The Inflection of Intelligence: Our World Reimagined, explores four core pillars that define the next era of global progress: General Intelligence, Embodied Intelligence, Societal Intelligence, and Planetary Intelligence. Together, these domains reveal how intelligence is evolving — reshaping how we learn, build, move, and sustain the world. This inflection point represents a shift in how humanity transforms imagination into purposeful, systems-level action.The summit will conclude with an exclusive speakers-and-VIP gathering, including the introduction of the inaugural IIA Davos AI Award. The evening features a creative program that brings together technology, science, and art, highlighted by a special performance from Diplo, the Grammy-winning producer and DJ known for bridging global cultures through music. This celebration reflects creativity as a universal force for innovation and collaboration.
- Wednesday, 21 January
- 8:00 - 18:00 CET (+ evening gala)
- The Dome, Promenade 80, Davos
Speakers
Professor of Technology and Business
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