Mercer’s Global Transformation Leader Ravin Jesuthasan and Oliver Wyman’s Chief Knowledge Officer and Oliver Wyman Forum’s COO Ana Kreacic, along with industry leaders, engaged in a breakfast discussion focused on transformation, sustainable growth, and the impact of technology, particularly AI, on business practices. The conversation highlighted the convergence of geopolitical upheaval, economic nationalism, rapid AI evolution, climate change, and demographic shifts, which create both significant threats and abundant opportunities. Conversations around AI are shifting from productivity and cost savings to revenue growth. Ninety-six percent of CEOs see AI as an opportunity, yet only 17% report that their AI investments have exceeded expectations. With the rapid evolution of skills, continuous learning is essential for developing an adaptable workforce, and fostering trust and communication is critical as technology advances faster than human skill development, especially since only 26% of employees perceive high collaboration levels. In this context, today’s leaders, shaped by past experiences, are well-equipped to navigate the uncertainties ahead and capitalize on emerging opportunities.

For more details, visit our event page.

Zurich Insurance and Mercer hosted an inspiring discussion that explored the profound impacts of increased longevity and rapid technological advancements on the workplace and society. As these transformative shifts continue to reshape our world, the session addressed the critical challenges and opportunities they present. Tanuj Kapilashrami, Chief Strategy & Talent Officer at Standard Chartered Bank; Cynthia Hansen, Managing Director of the Innovation Foundation of the Adecco Group; Pat Tomlinson, CEO & President of Mercer; and Cara Morton, CEO of Zurich Global Ventures at Zurich Insurance, engaged in a dynamic panel discussion moderated by Wendy Liu, CEO of Zurich Integrated Benefits & International Life at Zurich Insurance. The conversation focused on how to navigate evolving workforce risks, support longer lives and careers, and implement actionable strategies to enhance personal and organizational resilience, all aimed at guiding us toward a sustainable future.

Key themes:

• Embracing longevity is about more than just protection. It's about prevention and creating meaningful, lifelong connections while adapting to our customers' and partners’ evolving needs.

• Individual resilience forms the foundation of organizational strength and starts from within. To foster this, companies need to focus on developing their employees' skills in various areas of resilience, including financial, mental, and physical well-being.

• By harnessing technological advancements, organizations can prioritize personalization and offer trusted guidance to simplify decision-making and advocate for upskilling and reskilling to future-proof careers.

To learn more on this topic, read out our latest article, Investing in age-inclusive workforces to navigate demographic shifts.

Mercer and Oliver Wyman hosted a joint health breakfast session titled “Mitigating Climate-Driven Health Risks Through Innovation,” bringing together global leaders to address the urgent health and economic challenges posed by climate change.  Pat Tomlinson, CEO of Mercer, emphasized the critical intersection of climate and health, citing new Health on Demand research that 77% of employees globally have faced climate-related impacts. Dr. Oliver Eitelwein, Partner, Health and Life Sciences at Oliver Wyman, highlighted insights from the new report on the economic cost of climate change to health systems, stressing the need for proactive investments. Rt Hon. Helen Clark, Former Prime Minister of New Zealand Former Administrator of UNDP, was joined by Terry Stone, Managing Partner, Health and Life Sciences at Oliver Wyman, in emphasizing the need to frame climate risks at the individual health level and highlighting the insurance sector as a key partner.  Lastly, Hervé Balzano, President of Health, Mercer and Mercer Marsh Benefits, concluded the session with a panel of distinguished leaders. The solutions discussed — spanning technology, community-driven care, and innovative funding models — offer a roadmap for collective action and health system resilience in the face of one of the greatest challenges of our time.

For more details, visit our event page.

Institutional asset owners are increasingly allocating to private markets. At the same time, private markets are becoming more critical to the functioning of the real-world economy. Alongside private equity and credit, infrastructure, and real estate, there is a growing list of niche and esoteric investment opportunities to consider.

At our breakfast session in Davos, Mercer’s Head of Wealth Mick Dempsey, and Executive Director, Investments & Global Chief Investment Strategist Rich Nuzum — along with our panelists from APG Asset Management, Government of Singapore Investment Corporation, Nuveen, Swiss Re, and TCW — discussed opportunities and challenges arising from the ongoing growth and innovation in private market investing. In our highly interactive session, we examined the surfeit of choice in private markets, attracting talent, staying ahead on data, digital and technology, and the relative advantages of different approaches to accessing private markets.

To discover more insights on this topic, download our latest paper and explore our upcoming series of Mercer Global Investment Forums.