At a moment when the global context is becoming increasingly unstable, from the war in Ukraine to rising tensions in the Middle East and the redefinition of Europe’s industrial and security policy, the business environment is entering a phase where it can no longer rely on old models of predictability.
It is precisely this shift that the Future Tense powered by Lürssen conference addresses, taking place on April 22 in Zagreb, where Simon J. Evenett, professor of geopolitics and strategy at IMD Business School, will open a question that is becoming increasingly critical for leaders: do we understand global processes, or are we simply reacting when it is already too late.
The past few years have clearly shown that economic decisions are increasingly made through the lens of political alliances, rather than solely based on price, efficiency or quality. For companies, this means that global value chains, as we once knew them, no longer provide the same level of security.
As Evenett points out, successful organisations today do not treat geopolitics as an exceptional risk, but as a continuous management discipline, comparable to finance or sales. Developing this capability requires systematic work: ongoing assessments, decision-making and implementation. In other words, it is a capability built through practice, not ad hoc reactions.
His work focuses on geopolitical rivalry, trade policy, protectionism and industrial strategies, as well as the concrete implications these shifts have on business models and decision-making. His talk brings a framework for reading political signals and translating them into business decisions in an increasingly fragmented global market.
Alongside Evenett, the Future Tense conference stage will also feature Rik Vera, a futurist focused on business transformation in the context of technological change, and Mikko Hyppönen, a global expert in cybersecurity. Märtha Rehnberg will address sustainable practices and industrial transformation, while Susanna Søberg will explore the topic of longevity and health.
Among this year’s partners are Lürssen, Erste&Steiermärkische Bank, Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund, Nestlé, Kaufland, Končar, Visa and Philip Morris International, further confirming the conference’s relevance within the business and industrial landscape.
Future Tense once again brings together leaders from business, academia and the scientific community, with the support of partners such as Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies (CIFS), IEDC Business School Bled, Association for the Promotion of Smart Industries and European Forum, with the aim of developing a new generation of leaders ready for the complex challenges of the modern world.
In an environment where geopolitics is increasingly defining the rules of the game, the question is no longer whether it will impact business, but how prepared companies are to understand it and integrate it into their strategies.
