Amid the intensity and global attention surrounding the World Economic Forum in Davos, one private gathering has quietly established itself as a meaningful counterpoint to the traditional power dynamics of global leadership: Swedish Lunch in Davos.

 

Discreet, invitation-only and purpose-driven, Swedish Lunch has become a trusted meeting place for senior leaders from business, government, finance, technology and civil society. Rather than competing with the official program of the Forum, it complements it — offering a rare environment where leaders can step away from packed agendas to engage in thoughtful, human-centered dialogue.

 

 

Swedish Lunch is founded on the belief that leadership is not defined solely by authority or scale, but by the quality of conversations leaders choose to have. The gathering is intentionally designed without stages, keynote speeches or formal panels. Instead, it prioritizes openness, discretion and meaningful exchange.

 

Guests are carefully curated to ensure diversity of perspective, industry and geography, with a strong emphasis on gender balance and cross-sector representation. This creates a setting where global challenges — from economic transformation and innovation to sustainability and social responsibility — can be discussed candidly and constructively.

 

The result is an atmosphere where trust replaces protocol, and where influence is exercised through listening as much as speaking.

 

 

The ethos of Swedish Lunch reflects the values often associated with Scandinavian leadership: transparency, equality, long-term thinking and social responsibility. These principles shape not only the guest composition, but the tone of the gathering itself — calm, respectful and focused on solutions rather than self-promotion.

 

While the setting is informal, the conversations are anything but casual. Many participants describe Swedish Lunch as one of the few moments during Davos week where genuine reflection and relationship-building can occur.