The Davos Debrief

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Hello dear reader!

For this week’s edition, fresh off the back of his visit to Davos, Switzerland for this year’s World Economic Forum, Ryan reflects on a key takeaway after 5 days of pacing up and down the promenade: the proliferation of strong brand x thought leader partnerships.

Brand collaborations have become a mainstay of the B2C media landscape, which over the years has developed into an all-out arms race to announce and launch more and more unexpected or outlandish partnerships (Snoop Dogg x Martha Stewart anyone?). Given that we are also seeing the rise of the B2B influencer and thought-leader, we’d love to see more B2B brand partnerships joining the fray.

Without further ado, here’s Ryan.

-joel

Collaboration for the Intelligent Age

I had the privilege of being back at the 2025 World Economic Forum in Davos, supporting CDP with interview and filming work—a week full of energy, insight, and some unexpected moments navigating the treacherous hills and pavements of this picturesque town. 

As global leaders from business, politics, and civil society converged in Davos to debate and deliberate critical issues, one trend stood out like a beacon: the surge of thought leader brand collaborations lighting up the Promenade, Davos’ main thoroughfare.

Everywhere you looked, pop-up lounges, sleek pavilions, and innovative structures were a testament to the power of partnership. This year’s theme, “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age,” couldn’t have been more fitting. And among these displays of synergistic brilliance, one collaboration truly caught my attention—the AI House.