From poodles to pies: 8 leaders' analogies that stayed with us from Davos

With the world's leading voices congregating in Davos for one week every year, it's no surprise we walk away with some new ideas and clever analogies.

Leaders love analogies - a comparison between one thing and another - because it's a shortcut to explaining a complex issue. They turn otherwise dry information into vivid stories that people can picture and feel.

When messages are more persuasive and memorable, that's when they're more likely to drive action - and leaders at Davos know that.

The undisputed queen of analogies at Davos 2026 was Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund, who compared issues to everything from poodles to accordions.

Here are our top picks from the World Economic Forum's 56th Annual Meeting.

On trade tensions the world experienced this year, Georgieva said: "We expected a big German Shepherd to bark. It turned out to be a cute little poodle."

All bark, no bite, it turns out.

Spring-cleaning was her analogy for excessive government regulation: "Every so often, as you do in your house, look at your regulations. What do you need? What is unnecessary? Get it out."

And on the potential for AI to further inequality: "The world as a whole is already experiencing the arrival of AI, but I do worry about the accordion of opportunities that are much more present in some places than in others."

Many leaders of middle powers stressed unity and collaboration in these turbulent geopolitical times, with Canada's Prime Minister, Mark Carney, summarizing the challenge neatly:

The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy picked up the food theme. He gave a frank address to the Congress Hall about the need for a European "coalition of action" and through this, the "chance to be a great power together".

Zelenskyy reinforced this point by stating that "when united, we are truly invincible".

The world is a "quilt with different colours of fabrics" when it comes to creating data centres, said Brad Smith, Microsoft's Vice-Chair and President.

In the US, they're being blocked. Meanwhile in Europe, governments want to use taxpayers’ money to fund them. One key difference is that it’s incumbent on US companies that run data centres to assuage the concerns of local people about their energy and water supply - and explain who will benefit.

Vice-Premier of the People's Republic of China, He Lifeng, delivered a Special Address on Tuesday morning. He cautioned against rising unilateralism and protectionism, urging countries to come together.

"Amidst the raging torrents of a global crisis, countries are not riding separately in some 190 small boats, but are rather in a giant ship on which our shared destiny hinges."

He's next analogy on economic development might have had something to do with it being just before lunchtime on Tuesday...

Whatever the inspiration, it's a message we can all understand.