Shalini Ramachandran

To improve the state of the world. That was the tagline, you know, to make the world a better place.

To improve the state of the world. That was the tagline, you know, to make the world a better place.

Based on our reporting, what they publicly stand for, things like gender equality and uplifting women, they're at odds with the way that a lot of people inside the World Economic Forum's own organization have been treated by senior bosses.

Based on our reporting, what they publicly stand for, things like gender equality and uplifting women, they're at odds with the way that a lot of people inside the World Economic Forum's own organization have been treated by senior bosses.

The World Economic Forum is now investigating its founder, the top boss, and now he's leaving under a cloud of suspicion and with allegations hanging over him.

The World Economic Forum is now investigating its founder, the top boss, and now he's leaving under a cloud of suspicion and with allegations hanging over him.

So, Klaus Schwab founded the World Economic Forum in 1971, and he started it as something called the European Management Forum.

So, Klaus Schwab founded the World Economic Forum in 1971, and he started it as something called the European Management Forum.

And he kind of experienced the post-World War II reconstruction timeframe, and he became a professor.

And he kind of experienced the post-World War II reconstruction timeframe, and he became a professor.

He loved this concept of a multi-stakeholder participation, which basically means governments and businesses and nonprofits work together to accomplish important goals. He believed that when these people work together, problems can be solved faster.

He loved this concept of a multi-stakeholder participation, which basically means governments and businesses and nonprofits work together to accomplish important goals. He believed that when these people work together, problems can be solved faster.

Klaus Schwab became the ultimate powerful person, this uber connector of all these power players, the CEOs, the queens, the presidents, the prime ministers.

Klaus Schwab became the ultimate powerful person, this uber connector of all these power players, the CEOs, the queens, the presidents, the prime ministers.

So Davos is an alpine city in Switzerland. That's our colleague Shalini Ramachandran. It's the site of this annual meeting that brings together the planet's power brokers from like morning to past midnight. Meetings over coffee and cocktails and fondue and there are thousands of CEOs and billionaires.

So Davos is an alpine city in Switzerland. That's our colleague Shalini Ramachandran. It's the site of this annual meeting that brings together the planet's power brokers from like morning to past midnight. Meetings over coffee and cocktails and fondue and there are thousands of CEOs and billionaires.

What I learned was, you know, there's a dark side to this organization behind these glitzy Davos annual meetings. We heard a lot of examples of sexual harassment, pregnancy related discrimination and racial discrimination. Based on our reporting, there's at least two instances of managers using the N-word.

What I learned was, you know, there's a dark side to this organization behind these glitzy Davos annual meetings. We heard a lot of examples of sexual harassment, pregnancy related discrimination and racial discrimination. Based on our reporting, there's at least two instances of managers using the N-word.

She reported the boss to Human Resources and nothing happened.

She reported the boss to Human Resources and nothing happened.

Based on our reporting, a senior executive who in recent weeks has left the organization pretended to be a medical doctor when a young female staffer showed up to a flu vaccination drive. And he asked her medical questions and responded affirmatively when she asked if she should take off her shirt and requested she move her body in different positions.

Based on our reporting, a senior executive who in recent weeks has left the organization pretended to be a medical doctor when a young female staffer showed up to a flu vaccination drive. And he asked her medical questions and responded affirmatively when she asked if she should take off her shirt and requested she move her body in different positions.

The woman complained to human resources. Immediately after she complained, she began noticing her work was constantly criticized by her boss, despite positive feedback from external stakeholders. And within months, the forum fired her.

The woman complained to human resources. Immediately after she complained, she began noticing her work was constantly criticized by her boss, despite positive feedback from external stakeholders. And within months, the forum fired her.

Employees at the World Economic Forum were actually a bit shocked by the forum's response to our article, which was to deny a lot of things and essentially say that in many cases, these people who spoke out had performance related issues and it angered a lot of people. And then at the same time, there were partners of the forum that contacted the forum raising questions.

Employees at the World Economic Forum were actually a bit shocked by the forum's response to our article, which was to deny a lot of things and essentially say that in many cases, these people who spoke out had performance related issues and it angered a lot of people. And then at the same time, there were partners of the forum that contacted the forum raising questions.

It seemed as if he had kind of come out unscathed from this investigation. And there's clearly leadership shaking up going on. But he looked like he might kind of get his graceful exit.

It seemed as if he had kind of come out unscathed from this investigation. And there's clearly leadership shaking up going on. But he looked like he might kind of get his graceful exit.

In recent weeks, the board received a whistleblower letter. And that letter would end up blowing up Klaus Schwab's whole plan.

In recent weeks, the board received a whistleblower letter. And that letter would end up blowing up Klaus Schwab's whole plan.

queens and kings and presidents who descend on this place.

queens and kings and presidents who descend on this place.

This whistleblower letter alleged financial and ethical misconduct by both the founder, Klaus Schwab, and his wife.

This whistleblower letter alleged financial and ethical misconduct by both the founder, Klaus Schwab, and his wife.

You know, you can run into Al Gore in the hotel bar or Bill Gates near the metal detectors or Sting in the elevator. And it's about networking and it's about making deals and talking about big ideas.

You know, you can run into Al Gore in the hotel bar or Bill Gates near the metal detectors or Sting in the elevator. And it's about networking and it's about making deals and talking about big ideas.

One of the allegations said Klaus Schwab asked junior employees to withdraw thousands of dollars from ATMs on his behalf. Another says he used forum funds to pay for private in-room massages at hotels. Another alleged that Hilda, his wife, a former forum employee, scheduled token forum-funded meetings in order to justify luxury holiday travel at the organization's expense.

One of the allegations said Klaus Schwab asked junior employees to withdraw thousands of dollars from ATMs on his behalf. Another says he used forum funds to pay for private in-room massages at hotels. Another alleged that Hilda, his wife, a former forum employee, scheduled token forum-funded meetings in order to justify luxury holiday travel at the organization's expense.

The whistleblower letter maintains that Hilda Schwab, Klaus Schwab's wife, maintains tight control over use of the building and that portions of the property are understood to be reserved for private family access.

The whistleblower letter maintains that Hilda Schwab, Klaus Schwab's wife, maintains tight control over use of the building and that portions of the property are understood to be reserved for private family access.

The board's risk and audit committee wanted to investigate this, and Klaus Schwab didn't want them to. So Schwab told them, no, please don't investigate this. And what ensued was kind of a boardroom battle where the board cut him out and said, we do have to investigate this. And so Schwab said he would rather resign immediately.

The board's risk and audit committee wanted to investigate this, and Klaus Schwab didn't want them to. So Schwab told them, no, please don't investigate this. And what ensued was kind of a boardroom battle where the board cut him out and said, we do have to investigate this. And so Schwab said he would rather resign immediately.

I think there could be a lot of questions about how an organization that allegedly tolerated this sort of behavior can also at the same time prescribe governments and corporations with sound management practices and what you should do to be a better steward in society. So there's a sense that maybe this thing needs to fix itself first before partners will want to associate with them.

I think there could be a lot of questions about how an organization that allegedly tolerated this sort of behavior can also at the same time prescribe governments and corporations with sound management practices and what you should do to be a better steward in society. So there's a sense that maybe this thing needs to fix itself first before partners will want to associate with them.

they have to see is there a World Economic Forum after Klaus Schwab? Does all these people who used to come here still want to come to this place that's now been tainted by a lot of these allegations that many of these companies who are its partners likely wouldn't tolerate in their own workplaces?

they have to see is there a World Economic Forum after Klaus Schwab? Does all these people who used to come here still want to come to this place that's now been tainted by a lot of these allegations that many of these companies who are its partners likely wouldn't tolerate in their own workplaces?

You know, there have been a lot of attacks on Davos over the years. And, you know, it's become a sort of punching bag of the right in the U.S. And that's sort of this globalist kind of view that I think has come under attack in recent years.

You know, there have been a lot of attacks on Davos over the years. And, you know, it's become a sort of punching bag of the right in the U.S. And that's sort of this globalist kind of view that I think has come under attack in recent years.

And especially with the rise of President Trump and other kind of nationalist movements around the world that are kind of more about sort of being isolationist and, you know, each country for itself. But that still hasn't stopped CEOs and government leaders from making the pilgrimage every year to this place and paying the World Economic Forum for the privilege of doing so.

And especially with the rise of President Trump and other kind of nationalist movements around the world that are kind of more about sort of being isolationist and, you know, each country for itself. But that still hasn't stopped CEOs and government leaders from making the pilgrimage every year to this place and paying the World Economic Forum for the privilege of doing so.

To improve the state of the world. That was the tagline, you know, to make the world a better place.

Based on our reporting, what they publicly stand for, things like gender equality and uplifting women, they're at odds with the way that a lot of people inside the World Economic Forum's own organization have been treated by senior bosses.

The World Economic Forum is now investigating its founder, the top boss, and now he's leaving under a cloud of suspicion and with allegations hanging over him.

So, Klaus Schwab founded the World Economic Forum in 1971, and he started it as something called the European Management Forum.

And he kind of experienced the post-World War II reconstruction timeframe, and he became a professor.

He loved this concept of a multi-stakeholder participation, which basically means governments and businesses and nonprofits work together to accomplish important goals. He believed that when these people work together, problems can be solved faster.

Klaus Schwab became the ultimate powerful person, this uber connector of all these power players, the CEOs, the queens, the presidents, the prime ministers.

So Davos is an alpine city in Switzerland. That's our colleague Shalini Ramachandran. It's the site of this annual meeting that brings together the planet's power brokers from like morning to past midnight. Meetings over coffee and cocktails and fondue and there are thousands of CEOs and billionaires.

What I learned was, you know, there's a dark side to this organization behind these glitzy Davos annual meetings. We heard a lot of examples of sexual harassment, pregnancy related discrimination and racial discrimination. Based on our reporting, there's at least two instances of managers using the N-word.

She reported the boss to Human Resources and nothing happened.

Based on our reporting, a senior executive who in recent weeks has left the organization pretended to be a medical doctor when a young female staffer showed up to a flu vaccination drive. And he asked her medical questions and responded affirmatively when she asked if she should take off her shirt and requested she move her body in different positions.

The woman complained to human resources. Immediately after she complained, she began noticing her work was constantly criticized by her boss, despite positive feedback from external stakeholders. And within months, the forum fired her.

Employees at the World Economic Forum were actually a bit shocked by the forum's response to our article, which was to deny a lot of things and essentially say that in many cases, these people who spoke out had performance related issues and it angered a lot of people. And then at the same time, there were partners of the forum that contacted the forum raising questions.

It seemed as if he had kind of come out unscathed from this investigation. And there's clearly leadership shaking up going on. But he looked like he might kind of get his graceful exit.

In recent weeks, the board received a whistleblower letter. And that letter would end up blowing up Klaus Schwab's whole plan.

queens and kings and presidents who descend on this place.

This whistleblower letter alleged financial and ethical misconduct by both the founder, Klaus Schwab, and his wife.

You know, you can run into Al Gore in the hotel bar or Bill Gates near the metal detectors or Sting in the elevator. And it's about networking and it's about making deals and talking about big ideas.

One of the allegations said Klaus Schwab asked junior employees to withdraw thousands of dollars from ATMs on his behalf. Another says he used forum funds to pay for private in-room massages at hotels. Another alleged that Hilda, his wife, a former forum employee, scheduled token forum-funded meetings in order to justify luxury holiday travel at the organization's expense.

The whistleblower letter maintains that Hilda Schwab, Klaus Schwab's wife, maintains tight control over use of the building and that portions of the property are understood to be reserved for private family access.

The board's risk and audit committee wanted to investigate this, and Klaus Schwab didn't want them to. So Schwab told them, no, please don't investigate this. And what ensued was kind of a boardroom battle where the board cut him out and said, we do have to investigate this. And so Schwab said he would rather resign immediately.

I think there could be a lot of questions about how an organization that allegedly tolerated this sort of behavior can also at the same time prescribe governments and corporations with sound management practices and what you should do to be a better steward in society. So there's a sense that maybe this thing needs to fix itself first before partners will want to associate with them.

they have to see is there a World Economic Forum after Klaus Schwab? Does all these people who used to come here still want to come to this place that's now been tainted by a lot of these allegations that many of these companies who are its partners likely wouldn't tolerate in their own workplaces?

You know, there have been a lot of attacks on Davos over the years. And, you know, it's become a sort of punching bag of the right in the U.S. And that's sort of this globalist kind of view that I think has come under attack in recent years.

And especially with the rise of President Trump and other kind of nationalist movements around the world that are kind of more about sort of being isolationist and, you know, each country for itself. But that still hasn't stopped CEOs and government leaders from making the pilgrimage every year to this place and paying the World Economic Forum for the privilege of doing so.