The Consciousness Room: Reflections from Davos 2026

Set against the snowy backdrop of the Swiss Alps, the Wealth & Family Office Forum – Davos Edition 2026 convened as an invite-only gathering of some of the world’s most forward-thinking investors, family offices, and innovators. Led by Alain Bindels, founder and CEO of the Basel Investor Forum, the event explored the theme Where Capital Meets Consciousness, examining how future conscious leadership and investment stewardship must evolve in response to the growing global complexity.

At the Wealth & Family Office Forum- Davos edition on 20 January 2026, consciousness was never treated as a peripheral idea: it was recognised as a basis for personal growth, decision making and investment. Sound judgment, long-term vision, and responsible stewardship were understood to arise not from intellectual rigor alone, but from grounded awareness and regulated attention. Nowhere was this more evident than within the high-intensity environment of Davos.

The Davos edition started with a beautiful opening ceremony about consciousness and peace: His Eminence Shyalpa Rinpoche, from the Universal Peace Sanctuary in the Himalayas, guided the participants through a peaceful meditation and explained the importance of inner peace. In an increasingly complex world, there is an urgent need for inner peace across society, business, and the economy.

His Eminence Shyalpa Rinpoche

has founded meditation and teaching centers in the United States, including Buddhafield, the Center for Enlightenment in Millerton, New York. In Asia, He founded Wencheng Gongzhu International Foundation in Hong Kong, and its branches in Taiwan and Malaysia. His Eminence is the abbot of Shyalpa Monastery and Nunnery in Kathmandu, Nepal, where over 150 monks and nuns are in residence, receiving spiritual and secular education. His charitable organizations include the Bhrikuti Himalayan Foundation and the Himalayan Children’s Fund, which support humanitarian and philanthropic activities in the Himalayan region.

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Universal Peace Sanctuary : “Once we discover true inner peace, it blossoms and resonates positive energy, which leads to authentic relationships and reconciliation with ourselves and each other. Inner peace unleashes endless creative possibilities. We are building a place for people from all walks of life to connect with each other and help to create a peaceful co-existence.”

After this beautiful opening ceremony, the Wealth & Family Office Forum offered a place to replenish and be part of guided meditation and consciousness sessions throughout the day in the Consciousness Room. In the intense setting of Davos, it offered something both rare and essential: a deliberate pause and moment for internal reflection and inner peace. The room became a space for restoration, clarity, and presence, reminding participants that conscious leadership depends as much on inner peace and awareness as it does on external factors. By integrating breath, calmness, and embodied awareness into the Forum experience, the conditions for conscious capital, thoughtful decision-making, and long-term stewardship were actively reinforced.

In parallel with the lively panel discussions and interactive workshops at the Basel Investor Forum, attendees could recharge by attending sessions in the Consciousness Room held throughout the day. The first sessions were hosted by WITHIN Darkness Retreats, who offered participants a powerful exploration of consciousness through immersive darkness. In the absence of light, attention naturally turned inward, allowing sound to support deep rest, recalibration, and clarity. Designed as a sanctuary away from the public stage, the experience supported nervous system recovery and mental integration, creating conditions for mental space and renewed presence and energy.

The second half of the sessions, under the theme From Overload to Ease: Refresh and Restore, was led by Christopher Campos and Esther Austin. These sessions were intentionally designed to support mindfulness and wellbeing during a week defined by demanding schedules, heightened expectations, and global decision-making. Amid this intensity, participants were offered a rare opportunity to pause, reset, and reconnect.

The first part was led by Christopher Campos, who guided participants through a 20-minute breath-centered practice. Through gentle breath awareness and a guided body scan, attendees were invited to ground themselves, cultivating steadiness, presence, and calm. The practice equipped participants with practical tools they could carry beyond the room, integrating mindful breathing into the rhythm of daily leadership and strategic decision-making.

The second part was guided by Esther Austin, CEO of TurningPoint Magazine in the UK, who transitioned participants into 20 minutes of nourishing stillness. Leaders were invited to soften efforts, calm the mind, and rest in spacious silence. With minimal guidance and intentional calmness, nervous systems unwound and internal clarity naturally resurfaced. Participants emerged feeling lighter, grounded, and with renewed energy, ready to continue the day with greater ease, presence, and internal peace.

The day ended with a closing ceremony by His Eminence Shyalpa Rinpoche who provided a guided deep meditation to reflect on the day and to find inner peace and calmness. As a lineage master and teacher, he guided those who wished to live fully and freely in the moment. Rinpoche’s teachings showed how to actualize our innate potential and breathe with joy and ease.

In Davos, where capital, power, and responsibility converge, the Consciousness Room served as a powerful reminder: the future of leadership was not only being debated — it was being embodied.

As global challenges become increasingly complex, the integration of consciousness into leadership and capital allocation may no longer be a luxury, but a necessity. Forums that intentionally cultivate both intellectual and inner clarity may ultimately shape the quality of decisions that define future generations.