Inside the Strategy Room 250. Building geopolitical resilience: A conversation with Michèle Flournoy
May 8, 2025
Michèle Flournoy, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of WestExec Advisors and former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, shares her insights on building geopolitical resilience in businesses. She discusses strategies for navigating the current volatile landscape, emphasizing proactive risk management and effective communication during crises. Michèle also highlights the importance of adaptability and recognizes that technological disruptions can present opportunities amidst uncertainty. Tune in for practical advice on strengthening strategic decision-making in these challenging times.
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Steps to Manage Geopolitical Risk
- Assess your company's specific geopolitical risk clearly and focus on what materially matters.
- Involve your entire executive team and external experts in risk management and testing through scenario exercises.
Invest Time in Crisis Preparedness
- Dedicate executive time upfront to crisis preparedness and invest in scenario-based tabletop exercises.
- Align communication strategies early for investors, workforce, customers, and policymakers before crises unfold.
Boards as Crisis Partners
- Engage boards beyond audit committees by involving them in scenario exercises and crisis role definitions.
- Use these exercises to identify gaps and develop better crisis options before actual events occur.