In January, the Global Ethic Institute was represented at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. This year’s main topics “Rebuilding Trust” and “Collaboration for the Digital Age” made it clear that core issues of the Global Ethic Project are discussed with high-ranking business and political leaders at the WEF. From 19 to 22 January, Managing Director Dr. Bernd Villhauer was able to hold numerous talks, take part in panel discussions, get to know people, companies and institutions involved in global dialog and contribute Global Ethic ideas.
In many ways, this was a return or a rediscovery, as Davos has played a central role in the global ethic project. At the invitation of WEF founder Klaus Schwab, Hans Küng spoke in detail about the global ethic impulse and the prospects for a global community of values at the World Economic Forum in 1990. This resulted in his book “Project Global Ethic”, which can be read as the founding document of our project. What was then developed in front of the global economic and political elite has been able to unfold over 35 years to the present day: Responsible business worldwide that is aware of its economic but also ethical potential.
In Davos, Dr. Bernd Villhauer had the opportunity to present a book that he has published together with Dr. Karen Wendt on the topic of “Sustainable Wealth Management”. It is a comprehensive handbook about ethically and ecologically responsible wealth management. The event was met with great interest, not only because the renowned theologian, philosopher and business ethicist Prof. Dr. Peter G. Kirchschläger from Lucerne gave a keynote speech in which he addressed the impact of artificial intelligence, but also because it was accompanied by an award ceremony. The “SwissFinTechLadies” prize was awarded to female entrepreneurs, investors and founders who stand up for women in the financial sector. Because equal rights and diversity are also sustainability issues!
And alongside the topics of “Trump”, “AI” and “India”, “Women in Finance” was an important topic of discussion for the 3,000 or so decision-makers who met at the Swiss congress venue.
The importance of money and finance is already emphasized at the Global Ethic Institute, and will be even more so in the future, as many valuable contacts were made in Davos for financial ethics issues. In the coming weeks, the results of the WEF 2025 will be gathered in many follow-up discussions – and a visit next year is already planned. “Global Ethic should definitely not be missing at the World Economic Forum,” affirmed the new Director of the Global Ethic Institute, Prof. Dr. Nils Goldschmidt.



Photos: World Economic Forum, Stéphanie Fuchs / SwissFinTechLadies (3x)