As a long-standing Partner of the World Economic Forum (WEF), QI Group’s engagement in Davos reflects a sustained commitment to trust, dialogue and long-term value creation. In a period marked by geopolitical uncertainty and declining confidence in institutions, the Annual Meeting continues to serve as an important forum for leaders to exchange perspectives and reflect on the responsibilities leadership now demands.

At the WEF’s annual meeting in Davos, held from 19 to 23 January, QI Group was represented by Executive Chairman Dato’ Sri Vijay Eswaran, Datin Sri Umayal Eswaran, Chairperson of the RYTHM Foundation, Group Managing Director Kuna Senathirajah, Director of International Operations JR Mayer, and Group Chief Communications Officer Ramya Chandrasekaran. During the Annual Meeting, the Group contributed to conversations spanning leadership, creativity, philanthropy, reputation and global cooperation, engaging through dialogue and exchange with peers from across regions and sectors.

Leadership, dialogue and Asia’s growing influence
Executive Chairman Vijay Eswaran spoke at the World Economic Forum’s official programme in a session titled Flexing Asia’s Creative Muscles, where he explored Asia’s growing creative and cultural influence and what this means for leadership in a rapidly changing global environment. He reflected on Asia’s creative confidence as being rooted in cultures where continuity matters, and where tradition and reinvention coexist, allowing societies to evolve while remaining connected to enduring values.

He also shared his leadership perspective in an interview with Malaysia’s national broadcaster, Astro Awani, filmed during the Annual Meeting. In this conversation, he spoke about the power of listening as a leadership discipline, noting that while many leaders can speak and debate, far fewer are willing to listen deeply and translate what they hear into meaningful action. At a time of complex and interconnected global challenges, he emphasised that listening remains one of the most undervalued capabilities leaders must cultivate.

Storytelling, philanthropy and impact that endures
Foundation Chairperson Umayal Eswaran participated in a panel discussion at the WIN Lounge, held on the sidelines of the main event, hosted by the Women Inspiring Network, titled Impact Is Influence: Storytelling, Philanthropy and Social Entrepreneurship in the 21st Century. The conversation examined how purpose, narrative and action can be brought together to create meaningful and measurable social impact.

Drawing on more than two decades of leading the RYTHM Foundation, she spoke about the tension between demonstrating outcomes and remaining true to what impact actually feels like on the ground. She emphasised that storytelling is not a branding exercise, but a listening practice, one that respects lived realities and the agency of communities. When narrative and action come together, she noted, philanthropy moves beyond one-off initiatives towards change that is accountable, grounded and lasting.

Reputation, corporate diplomacy and trust in a fragmented world
Ramya Chandrasekaran contributed to discussions in Davos through two closely connected engagements. She participated in a Financial Times private roundtable on Corporate Diplomacy in a Fragmented World, and was also involved in the launch of the Reputation Capital study by Earned First, to which she contributed as a member of the Global Reputation Capital Council.

Across both engagements, she reflected on how reputation has shifted from being a communications concern to a leadership imperative in a world of declining trust. Drawing on QI Group’s experience across Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the CIS, she highlighted how trust is never abstract and legitimacy is built incrementally, one market and one conversation at a time. In this environment, she noted, coherence between values, decisions and behaviour has become central to sustaining trust, particularly as expectations diverge faster than regulation.

Listening, learning and carrying ideas forward
As part of the QI Group delegation, Kuna Senathirajah and JR Mayer participated in Davos through dialogue and exchange with global leaders and change-makers. Reflecting on the experience, JR Mayer described Davos as a journey of discovery, where each session offered fresh perspectives, innovative ideas and renewed optimism.

The conversations, he noted, reinforced the importance of collaboration and openness in translating ideas into action, and in bringing new ways of thinking and doing back to QI Group.

The work that continues
Davos offers a moment for reflection, but its real value lies in what follows. For QI Group, the conversations reinforced the importance of leadership that listens deeply, builds trust deliberately, measures progress without losing sight of human realities, and remains anchored in values while adapting to change.

Building relevance, legitimacy and long-term value is ongoing work. The insights from Davos will continue to inform how QI Group engages, leads and contributes across the markets and communities it serves.