HBR IdeaCast Why Business Leaders Need Political Diplomacy Skills Now
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Nov 18, 2025 
In this thought-provoking discussion, Srividya Jandhyala, an associate professor at ESSEC Business School and author of The Great Disruption, highlights the shift in geopolitics from enabling markets to creating challenges for businesses. She explores how rising national security concerns and protectionist measures affect companies, including small businesses like shrimp farms. Jandhyala emphasizes the need for executives to adapt quickly, utilize former diplomats, and develop new risk management strategies to navigate today's complex global landscape.
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Geopolitics Are Now A Headwind
- Geopolitics have shifted from a tailwind to a headwind for many companies over the past 20 years.
- Leaders trained in an earlier era lack preparation for today's politically driven business risks.
The Center Of Gravity Has Shifted East
- The global center of gravity has become more distributed, with rising powers like China and stronger middle powers.
- That redistribution raises national-security competition and policy friction affecting firms worldwide.
Tariffs Hurt Small Farmers Too
- A shrimp farmer in India lost US market advantages after tariffs made Indian exports comparatively costly.
- That small producer now competes at a disadvantage versus shrimp farms in other countries like Ecuador.
