Xavier DELAUNAY

Meet the Chief Geopolitical Officer The UK released its first-ever Chronic Risks Analysis, explicitly warning ALL companies – not just Fortune 500s – to actively plan for geopolitical instability and the fracturing of the "old international order." When governments start issuing business advisories about geopolitical risk, you know we've crossed a threshold. The numbers don't lie: ▶️ Geopolitical Risk with Trade index: +30% surge (2020-2024) ▶️ Global Supply Chain Pressure Index: Nearly tripled ▶️ Corporate casualties: BP's $25.5B Russia write-off, Huawei's $30B annual smartphone losses from sanctions Traditional risk management is obsolete. While CROs focused on financial metrics and government affairs handled compliance, geopolitical shockwaves became business-ending events. TikTok's forced US divestiture, mass corporate exits from Russia, ransomware gangs forcing national emergencies – these aren't "external factors" anymore. They're core business risks. Enter the Chief Geopolitical Officer (CGO): Meta's been doing this for a decade with Nick Clegg's VP Global Affairs role. Tesla's Shanghai Gigafactory became their highest-capacity facility while others got shut out of China. Apple's India diversification delivered 50% YoY iPhone production growth. The pattern is clear: companies that integrate geopolitical intelligence into strategic decision-making don't just survive disruption – they capitalize on it. The CGO framework: ▶️ Audit exposure across operations, supply chains, regulatory dependencies ▶️ Build intelligence capabilities with cross-functional teams and scenario planning ▶️ Elevate to C-suite level – this isn't government relations 2.0, it's strategic survival We're entering a multipolar world where a single geopolitical miscalculation can destroy decades of value creation. The companies hiring CGOs today will be the ones thriving tomorrow. The question isn't whether your industry needs geopolitical intelligence – it's whether you'll be leading or reacting. https://lnkd.in/gCaYUB8V

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The world of startups is often perceived as a story of success: big investments, rapid growth, and fast scaling. But there is something very different behind it — hard work not only on the product or technology but, first and foremost, on understanding your customer; mistakes and the ability to learn from them; closed doors and the persistence to keep knocking again and again. For us, it’s important that Ukrainian founders hear not only about victories but also about why investment doesn’t come — and what homework they can do to move faster. That’s why the new video project Don’t Waste My Time was created. It’s a series of honest conversations with leading investors and people I deeply respect — about what truly influences decisions: speed, readiness to scale, customer insight, and honesty in numbers. This project shows that investors always see more than we think. And that candid answers to tough questions can save startups months, and sometimes years, of mistakes. The series includes 11 episodes featuring: - Nataliya Anon — CEO of Svitla Systems, angel investor, a friend of UCU who supports the Stanford Ignite Ukraine program - Adrian Slywotzky — business futurist, Partner at Oliver Wyman, a long-time friend of UCU who has been supporting us for years as an angel investor in projects that few believed in at the start, while also asking the hard questions - Ivan Petrenko — Managing Partner at Angel One Fund, CEO of Ideas Center UCU, graduate of the first Executive MBA cohort, who believed that a startup system for students could and should be built in Ukraine And as a bonus, a special episode with Steve Blank, the author of the Customer Development methodology, often called the “Godfather of Silicon Valley.” 📌 The first episode, “You’re Way Too Slow,” is already available on the YouTube channel of UCU Business School. I highly recommend watching and subscribing — this content is truly worth your time. I’m confident that young founders will find answers there to questions they should have asked themselves long ago. The project was created by Ideas Center UCU and Angel One Fund, with the support of the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute and Vilni Media.

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In a recent editorial published in BEYOUROWN | Female Leaders Network, Club Executive Zoe Kelleher shared how women can lead on their own terms by: ✨ Leading authentically ✨ Building meaningful networks ✨ Continuously learning and growing ✨ Bringing a human touch to leadership Tech thrives on innovation, but this cannot be at the sacrifice of inclusion. By showing up as our full selves, we open the door to more inclusive ideas, inspire the next generation, and build an industry where diversity, creativity, and impact go hand in hand. 💡 Read Zoe’s full piece here: https://lnkd.in/eFBarQRT #WomenInTech #AuthenticLeadership #InclusiveInnovation #DiversityInTech

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