Why Geopolitical Awareness Is Essential to Business Strategy Today
In today’s volatile global landscape, business strategy cannot be separated from geopolitics. Trade routes shift with diplomatic tensions. Supply chains bend under the weight of sanctions. Regulatory frameworks diverge across borders. And emerging markets rise or fall based on political stability. For companies operating internationally or even indirectly affected by global trends, geopolitical literacy is now a core leadership skill.
As McKinsey notes, “Geopolitical conditions have always influenced companies’ fortunes, but they’ve tended to take a back seat to macroeconomic and operational concerns. No longer.”* Business leaders now rank geopolitical tensions among the top risks to economic growth. But risk is only half the story. Geopolitical awareness also unlocks opportunity - from navigating new markets to anticipating policy shifts that could favour innovation or investment.
The world is increasingly multipolar, with competing blocs shaping technology standards, trade alliances, and environmental policy. Companies must now make strategic choices not just about what they sell, but where, how, and to whom. A strong “geopolitical radar,” as the World Economic Forum calls it, helps businesses avoid blind spots and gain competitive edge.
This is precisely why HEC Paris offers the Geopolitics, Globalization and Business Strategy summer program. Designed for university students and young professionals, the program blends academic insight with real-world application. Participants explore how global trends—from climate migration to tech rivalry—impact business decisions. They work in international teams, tackle case studies, and develop strategic recommendations for organizations navigating complex global contexts.
Read the comments from our participants on what they took away from the program:
“This course goes beyond merely analyzing the latest global headlines. It challenges you to think critically and question your own assumptions.” — Jonathan Damgaard, student in Economics & Business Administration and elected city councillor
“We live in a world where the business environment of today can become redundant in an instant… This program gave us tools to imagine, analyze, and mitigate those massive changes while developing a business strategy to face them.” — Iker Graña Guillem, Business & International Relations student
“This program taught me to turn context into strategy. It shaped how I read the news, how I connect events across regions, and how I think about consequences for real organizations.” — Emilie Pezet, student at SciencesPo Paris
“Whenever we discussed a situation on a specific continent, there was always a student from that region ready to share their perspective. This created an atmosphere full of passion, engagement, and diversity, unlike any experience I have had.” — Zechen (Chory) Wang, now a Master’s in Strategic Management student at HEC Paris
“The strategic framework and insights I gained from the program have been extremely useful for the professional world, providing a broad understanding that will be essential as I pursue further studies like an LLM or MBA.” — Federico Galceran Bonasso, Lawyer (young professional)
Whether you're aiming for a career in consulting, policy, entrepreneurship, or corporate leadership, understanding the forces shaping our world is no longer a bonus - it’s a baseline. This HEC Summer Program offers a unique chance to sharpen that lens, build global fluency, and learn to turn context into strategy.
Explore the program and see how two weeks at HEC can reshape how you think, collaborate, and decide.
*To access the full article by McKinsey, click here
Find out more about the Geopolitics, Globalization & Business Strategy Summer Program