Geopolitics for Business: Strategy Lessons from Japan
with Dr. Andrew Staples
Geopolitics has shifted from “background noise” to a primary driver of global trade, reshaping supply chains and technology. As open markets face new challenges, economic security is now a strategic necessity for business.
In this seminar, we explore what these shifts mean for business strategy through the lens of Japan. Having managed repeated geopolitical shocks for over a decade, Japanese firms offer a proven blueprint for resilience. This approach is now reinforced by the Tokyo government, which has placed economic security at the core of its national policy.
The session will be led by Dr. Andrew Staples, Founder and Principal of GeoPol Asia. With 30 years of experience, including as Director of The Economist Corporate Network, Dr. Staples specializes in helping boards and executives translate geopolitical complexity into strategic foresight.
You’ll learn:
- What “economic security” mean in practice for companies
- How geopolitics changes strategy, business models, and technology adoption
- A practical way to assess risk and spot opportunities in uncertain markets
- What global leaders can borrow from how Japanese firms are responding
This session will be of interest and value to anyone seeking a better understanding of the dynamics shaping the world economy today, and an interest in how Japan and Japanese firms are responding.
Overview
| Date: | Tuesday, March 10, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Time: | 12:00 - 13:30 Central European Time (CET) (20:00 - 21:30 JST) |
| Where: | Online |
| Registration Fee: | Free of charge |
| Language: | English |
Agenda
| 11:45 CET | Reception Time |
|---|---|
| 12:00 CET | Introduction |
| 12:05 CET | Keynote Speaker |
| 12:45 CET | Dialogue Partner |
| 13:00 CET | Q&A with the audience |
| 13:25 CET | Closing |
Dr. Andrew Staples
Andrew Staples is director and principal at GeoPol Asia. His career as an Asia specialist spans three decades with a focus on connecting geopolitics and geopolitics and geoeconomics, identifying how global shifts shape local realities, and communicating what this means for businesses. A seasoned public speaker, Andrew has extensive experience advising leaders of multinational firms and maintains a deep network of business leaders, investors, policymakers, and academics.
In addition to decades spent with The Economist Group, Andrew has run regional businesses, been published widely in major publications, acted as a moderator and regular guest speaker for several international business media outlets, and taught at leading universities and business schools in Japan and the UK.
Dividing this time between Singapore and Japan, Andrew is the Singapore CEO Forum chair for IMA Asia and holds a number of advisory or research fellow roles with think tank, non-profits, and consulting firms, including the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the Hinrich Foundation, and Vriens & Partners.
At GLOBIS University, Andrew teaches Global Perspectives and Globalization of Japanese and Asian Companies.
