IMD Symposium Highlights: Navigating a Fractious World Demands Geopolitical Acumen & Adaptive Leadership
The recent IMD alumni symposium focused on the increasing need for businesses to develop a “geopolitical muscle” in a world marked by escalating instability and shifting global dynamics. Experts and business leaders converged to discuss strategies for navigating this complex landscape, emphasizing resilience, diversification, and a willingness to embrace disruption.
The symposium addressed the evolving energy landscape, with Professor of Finance Karl Schmedders pointing to the clear strategic direction of the current US administration, specifically referencing Project 25 and its guidance for geoeconomic policy. he urged attendees to familiarize themselves with this framework.
A key theme revolved around the rapid advancements in Artificial Intelligence, particularly within China. Professors Mark Greeven (Management Innovation) and José Parra Moyano (Digital Strategy) highlighted the emergence of a unique and competitive gen AI infrastructure in China, exemplified by companies like DeepSeek. Greeven noted the speed of this development, stating, “It took China about a year and a half to build several large language models…and now about half of China’s population are actively using large language models. The catch-up in this space has been super-fast.”
The symposium also acknowledged the end of a 25-year period where business logic consistently outweighed political considerations. Gideon Rachman, Chief Foreign Affairs Commentator at the Financial Times, asserted that the era of assuming stability for global investments is over. He cited TSMC’s Arizona expansion as an example of a strategic move driven by safeguarding critical technologies, even if it defies purely economic rationale. This shift necessitates continuous justification for international investments and a proactive approach to risk mitigation. Alumni leaders echoed this sentiment,confirming that geopolitical instability has moved from a peripheral concern to a central strategic consideration,driving companies to prioritize diversification,partnerships,and geographic strategy adjustments.
The final session, led by Professor of Leadership and Organizational Behavior and Dean of Degree Programs Alyson Meister, focused on leading through disruption. Meister interviewed Guilherme Loureiro, Regional CEO Walmart Canada, Chile, Mexico & Central America, on his successful conversion of the company into an omni-channel retailer. Loureiro emphasized the importance of understanding the customer journey, connecting transformation to a clear purpose to motivate employees, and communicating with clarity. He also underscored the necessity of personal transformation for leaders, stating, “My desire to transform the company was bigger than my ego…For the first time in my life, I had to except that I had to change.”
loureiro identified vision, care, and a willingness to learn as the three essential qualities for leaders today, adding that, “In the past leaders use to create certainty, the leader today has to give clarity.” The symposium ultimately underscored that embracing disruption is crucial for driving innovation and organizational transformation in a volatile global surroundings.
