During World Economic Forum Week 2025 in Davos, Dustin Plantholt took part in a series of high-level conversations examining leadership, geopolitics, and long-term outlooks at a pivotal moment in global affairs.
One of the week’s standout moments was an on-stage interview with David Rubenstein, co-founder of The Carlyle Group and owner of the Baltimore Orioles.
Leadership, Markets, and Perspective
The discussion with Rubenstein explored expectations for the next four years under Donald Trump, touching on economic leadership, market stability, and global confidence. The conversation also made room for a lighter but no less meaningful subject—baseball—and the enduring role of institutions, whether financial or cultural, in shaping identity and continuity.
The exchange reflected the tone of Davos itself: serious in scope, but grounded in lived experience.
Diplomatic Insight on Global Relations
In addition to the Rubenstein interview, Dustin also spoke with a former U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, discussing diplomatic perspectives on U.S. leadership, international alliances, and the broader implications of the Trump administration for transatlantic relations.
These conversations underscored the value of firsthand diplomatic insight at a time when global cooperation and national interests continue to intersect in complex ways.
A Week Defined by Dialogue
Davos 2025 offered a concentrated opportunity to engage with voices shaping finance, diplomacy, and public life. For Dustin, the week reinforced the importance of long-form, thoughtful conversation—creating space not just for opinion, but for context, experience, and nuance.
