Money Majlis Ep XTRA 7 : Megacities, Migration, and Money: futurist Parag Khanna on what’s next
In this XTRA edition of Money Majlis, host Suvo Sarkar sits down with Dr. Parag Khanna, best-selling author and celebrated geographer, futurist, and founder of AlphaGeo. Known for his provocative idea that “connectivity is destiny,” Dr. Khanna takes listeners on a journey across Asia and beyond to explore how networks of people, capital, and technology are reshaping the global economy.
Drawing on insights from his bestselling books The Future Is Asian, Connectography, and Move, Dr. Khanna explains why Asia is not just the future but increasingly the present anchor of the world economy. He highlights the three “new Asian values”—technocratic governance, mixed capitalism, and social conservatism—that underpin the region’s dynamism and resilience. With Asia accounting for 40% of global GDP and home to nearly five billion people, he argues that the greatest story of our time is the continent’s extraordinary integration and self-sufficiency.
The conversation dives deep into what connectivity really means for investors. Dr. Khanna illustrates how infrastructure—transportation, energy, and digital networks—forms the backbone of globalization and investment opportunity. He calls data centers, renewable energy, and private infrastructure capital among today’s most undervalued asset classes, offering long-term growth potential for farsighted investors.
Beyond economics, the discussion touches on profound global shifts including the erosion—but not disappearance—of national sovereignty, the competitive arms race in connectivity, and the rise of a truly multipolar world. Dr. Khanna also explains how megacities rather than states will drive innovation and resilience, why human migration is an unstoppable force for the 21st century, and how demographic imbalances and climate stress will redraw the world’s map of opportunity.
On a personal note, Dr. Khanna shares his entrepreneurial lessons from building AlphaGeo, his leadership takeaways from advising governments and companies in over forty countries, and his conviction that adaptability, travel, and authenticity will be vital skills for the next generation.
This sweeping yet deeply practical conversation offers a rare lens into how connectivity, geography, and strategy intersect to create investment opportunities and shape the human future. For anyone who wants to understand where the world is heading—and how to position themselves within it—this episode is required listening.
To explore the guest further, visit www.paragkhanna.com. And don’t forget to visit www.moneymajlis.com to redeem your free $50 GiveCard for a charity of your choice.
Giving partner : Goodworld
Produced by : Sabine Achkar @ Poddster UAE