Risky Business: The New National Security Economy – Globalization, Competition, and Risk

Welcome to Risky Business, a limited series in partnership with Trenchcoat Advisors, a risk advisory firm. In an unpredictable, complex, and chaotic world, the business risks are ever-present. To help navigate the challenges ahead, this series delves into the intersection of business and national security — from influence operations and sabotage to hostage diplomacy and investment security, we’re bringing exclusive conversations with leading experts to better understand and anticipate risk!

In episode three, The Burn Bag's A'ndre Gonawela and Trenchcoat's Holden Triplett speak to David S. Lee about what he terms "the new national security economy." David discusses the framework he outlines in his recent Harvard Business Review article, and how companies are already affected by the 'national security economy' -- where certain dependencies (such as foreign production) can be a national security risk.  David also talks about how U.S.-China competition has driven national security concerns further, and commentates on whether companies are willful participants or victims of these circumstances. We discuss how companies are responding, whether through the creation of risk intelligence units or through having Chief National Security Officers as part of their senior leadership team.

David S. Lee is an award-winning teacher that is active broadly in the areas of ethics, fintech, leadership, law, and corporate governance. He teaches in the undergraduate, executive education, MBA, and other taught postgraduate degree programs, including the IMBA with Fudan University, and the Executive MBA-Global Asia offered with Columbia Business School and London Business School. David is a co-author of the first Asia focused business ethics textbook, Business Ethics: Ethical Decision Making and Cases, An Asia Edition (Cengage Learning Asia, 2019). His forthcomiong book is entitled A Perilous Moment: Navigating the New National Security Economy.