Leadership at the Edge of Uncertainty: Lessons from Davos

Guest: Helle Bank Jørgensen, Global Managing Director of Board Intelligence What happens when global leaders gather at Davos amid rising geopolitical tension, collapsing trust, and compounding global risk? In this episode, host Maureen Metcalf is joined by Helle Bank Jørgensen, a global pioneer in board effectiveness and a leading voice on governance, risk, and sustainability. Fresh from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Helle shares firsthand insights into what felt different this year, and why leaders should be paying close attention. Together, they explore the growing sense of fear and uncertainty shaping global decision-making, the World Economic Forum’s global risk outlook, and why today’s most dangerous challenges are no longer isolated, but stacked and interconnected. From geopolitical instability and misinformation to climate risk, trust erosion, and AI-driven disruption, this conversation examines what boards and executive teams must do differently to run companies and other organizations effectively in a volatile world. The discussion also draws on recent Board Intelligence survey findings, revealing that many boards believe they are leaving significant value on the table, even as they see traditional governance models are struggling to keep pace with the realities leaders now face. This episode is a candid, forward-looking exploration of: Why global risk is compounding rather than occurring in silos How fear, polarization, and trust collapse are reshaping leadership What boards must do to move from oversight to foresight Why waiting for perfect information is no longer a viable strategy, and How leaders can prepare organizations—and society—for what lies ahead. For board members, senior executives, and leaders responsible for long-term value creation, this conversation offers critical perspective on what leadership requires now, and what the next decade may demand of us all. Binge-listen to Helle’s wisdom with these other episodes: - How to Keep the Boardroom Stable in Turbulent Times - The Future-Ready Board Member - Stewarding the Future of the Planet: Views from the Boardroom For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. RESOURCES:   Learn more about Helle’s company at https://www.boardintelligence.com/. Read her insights on her blogs at https://www.boardintelligence.com/blog/author/helle-bank-jorgensen. Her book, The Future Boardroom: How to Transform in Turbulent Times, is available in hardback at https://amzn.to/4tb73rx or Kindle at https://amzn.to/3M0MKMM.   Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here.    Maureen’s latest book is Innovative Leadership & Followership in the Age of AI. You’ll find details about it at https://bit.ly/LeaderInAI, or check out the Kindle version at https://amzn.to/44buVz8. The audiobook version is now available at  https://amzn.to/4dTCleZ.   Her other 10 books are available on Amazon here.    -----------------------   OUR PODCAST TEAM:   Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf Editor & Executive Producer: Dan Mushalko Graphics Editor: Stacia Rogan Sponsorship Sales Manager: Kristine Gross ([email protected]) Theme Music by Pavel Bekirov from Pixabay.   CONNECT WITH US:  YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership  LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2  Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com    Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!  -----------------------   About Our Guest:   Helle Bank Jørgensen is an internationally recognised voice on governance, board effectiveness, and sustainability. She leads Board Intelligence’s Board Development practice globally, empowering boards and leadership teams around the world to enhance their impact through the science of board effectiveness. Helle is the founder and previous CEO of Competent Boards, the world-renowned education platform which was acquired by Board Intelligence in 2025. Beyond her work with Competent Boards and Board Intelligence, Helle is a member of the World Economic Forum Global Future Council on Nature and Climate Governance, and has initiated several pioneering projects. These include the world’s first green account, the first integrated report, the first holistic supply chain program, and many other innovative business solutions, including the Amazon bestseller, The Future Boardroom: How to Transform in Turbulent Times. Helle is a regular contributor to governance and board-focused publications such as Financial Times’ Agenda, Board Agenda, and Thomson Reuters and in 2025 contributed to guidance published by the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) She is an in-demand keynote speaker and has won numerous awards, including the Corporate Governance Lifetime Achievement Award 2024, the Peter Dey Governance Achievement Award from the Governance Professionals of Canada 2024, and the Globe and Mail’s 50 Changemakers for 2023. In 2024, she was inducted into the Corporate Governance Hall of Fame by IR (Investor Relations) Magazine and named Board Stewardship's Steward of Sustainability.