Business Diplomacy Today

In this episode, host Dr Matthias Catón welcomes Dr. Deborah Elms to unravel the shifting ground of global trade and business diplomacy against a backdrop of accelerating geopolitical and economic disruption. Amidst a world in flux, the conversation focuses on how businesses, governments, and international organisations are grappling with uncertainty, redefining engagement, and seeking sustainable...

In this episode of Business Diplomacy Today, host Dr Matthias Catón is joined by Dr Tevin Tafese, development economist and research fellow at the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA), to assess the dynamic economic landscape of Africa and its meaning for international business. Together they unpack the continent’s diversity, growth prospects, and innovation potential, as well as th...

In this episode of "Business Diplomacy Today," host Dr Matthias Catón welcomes Dr Kira Vinke, Deputy Research Director at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) and Head of the Centre for Climate and Foreign Policy, to examine the profound interplay between climate change and maritime security within a shifting geopolitical landscape. The conversation uncovers how environmental pressures a...

### Introduction This episode, presented by the German Maritime Centre, explores the essential role of subsea cables as critical infrastructure underpinning global communications and business operations. Host Matthias Catón is joined by guests Camino Cavanagh and Jonas Franken, both experts in cyber security, international security, and maritime systems. ### What Are Subsea Cables? Subsea cables a...

In this episode of "Business Diplomacy Today, host Matthias Catón is joined by Daniel Jones, Professor of Management at the University of Nevada, Reno, to explore the complexities of negotiation in international and cross-cultural business contexts. The discussion begins by broadening the definition of negotiation, highlighting that it permeates every aspect of daily life and is not limited to tra...

In this episode of Business Diplomacy Today, host Matthias Catón discusses the topic of online voting with Simone Ehrenberg-Silies, a senior consultant at the Institute for Technology and Innovation at VDI VDEIT. The conversation begins with a definition of online voting, differentiating it from traditional and electronic voting. The discussion delves into the reluctance of many countries to adopt...

In this episode of Business Diplomacy Today, guest Martin Drux from Marsh McLennan delves into lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and the importance of businesses preparing for future events like the permafrost virus. Host Matthias Catón discusses technology’s role in risk assessment, citing Google’s use of search data to track flu outbreaks. Drux highlights how AI and technology can enhan...

In this episode, host Matthias Catón join Christina Rabe, the Market Unit Lead for Accenture in Austria, Switzerland, and Germany. They delve into the Pulse of Change Index developed by Accenture. Raab discusses the interconnectedness of technology, talent shortages, and demographic shifts, emphasizing the movement of talent from countries like India and the critical role of global talent pools. T...

In Episode 29 Matthias Catón is joined by Sugata Bose, Gardiner Professor of Oceanic History and Affairs at Harvard University. Following Sugata's recent publication "Asia After Europe: Imagining a Continent in the Long Twentieth Century", Matthias and him discuss the how Asia's history has been defined by Europe and what the current century brings. Matthias and Sugata's discussion delve into hist...

In Episode 28 of Business Diplomacy Today, host Matthias Catón is joined by Mary Ellen Iskenderian, President and CEO of Women's World Banking. Matthias and Mary Ellen examine the persistent gender gap in financial inclusion and its linkages to digital inclusion. Matthias and Mary Ellen begin their conversation by analysing why finance is not optimised for women, looking at the lack of access to f...

In Episode 27 of Business Diplomacy Today, Matthias Catón is joined by Till Klein, Head of Trustworthy AI at appliedAI. Matthias and Till explore the forthcoming EU AI Act, including an investigation of its core principles and implications for businesses. Their conversation begins by looking at key points of the EU AI Act, including the EU's risk-based approach, where it tries to classify certain...

In Episode 26 Matthias Catón is joined by Lewis Sage-Passant, Global Head of Intelligence at Novo Nordisk and founder of EncyclopediaGeopolitica.com. Matthias and Lewis delve into the intricacies of how multinational corporations navigate geopolitics and international relations. Matthias and Lewis investigate how the changing responsibility of security intelligence teams and how, in a corporate en...

In Episode 25 host Matthias Catón is joined by Simone Menne, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany. In their discussion, Matthias and Simone address the intricacies of transatlantic relations between the US and Germany and how this relationship is shaped by geopolitics. Following themes of economics, politics and international relations, Matthias and Simone discuss the current s...

In Episode 24 of Business Diplomacy Today, host Matthias Catón is joined by Karel Lannoo, CEO of the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS). In their discussion, Matthias and Karel dive into the complexities of implementing a digital currency and its impact on the financial landscape; in this episode, specifically on the case of the Eurozone and the Digital Euro. Covering an array of compelling...

In Episode 23 of Business Diplomacy Today, host Matthias Catón is joined by Tom Standage, Deputy Editor of The Economist and editor of its future-gazing annual, The World Ahead. Timely, with the start of the new year, Matthias and Tom delve into global trends and predictions for 2024; as well as their implications for businesses and global affairs. To understand the metholodogy, Matthias and Tom b...

In Episode 22 of Business Diplomacy Today, host Matthias Catón is joined by Prof. Harold James, Professor of History and International Affairs at Princeton University. Drawing inspiration from Harold’s recent publication Seven Crashes: The Economic Crises That Shaped Globalisation (2023), Matthias and Harold discuss seven major turning points in the history of globalisation. Their conversation exp...

Episode 21 of Business Diplomacy Today covers the emerging significance of middle powers. Host Matthias Catón is joined by Michael Mazarr, Senior Political Scientist at the RAND Corporation. Matthias and Michael discuss how middle powers are rising and their impact on global trade and business environment. Beginning with definitions of middle powers, Michael explains the concept of different power...

In Episode 20 of Business Diplomacy Today, host Matthias Catón is joined by Ashoka Mody, Charles and Marie Robertson Visiting Professor in International Economic Policy at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University and author of "India is Broken: A People Betrayed, Independence to Today". Matthias and Ashoka delve into how the world's largest democracy faces obs...

In Episode 19 of Business Diplomacy Today, host Matthias Catón is joined by Vera Axyonova, a Marie Skłodowska-Curie REWIRE Fellow at the University of Vienna and Principal Investigator of the project ‘Expert Knowledge in Times of Crisis – Uncovering Interaction Effects between Think Tanks, Media, and Politics’. Vera shares her expertise on the influence that experts and think-tanks can have on pol...

In this episode, Matthias Catón is joined by Prof. Dr. Jan Kratzer, Chaired Professor for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management and Founder/Academic Director of Centre for Entrepreneurship (CfE) at Technische Universität Berlin. Jan shares his expertise on the unique challenges faced by entrepreneurs in low-income countries, and provides ecosystem comparisons to high-income countries. As thei...

In episode 17 of Business Diplomacy Today, Matthias Catón is joined by Ludivine Wouters, Managing Partner of Latitude Five, an investment and advisory firm operating in emerging markets. Ludivine shares her expertise in the metals and mining industry, specifically concerning the EU Critical Raw Materials Act (CRM Act). Matthias and Ludivine explore the EU’s approach to critical materials and the a...

In this episode, host Matthias Catón and Wilfried Aulbur, Senior Partner of Roland Berger, explore the navigation and development of business strategies in a volatile and ever-changing world. Through topics of geopolitical relations, climate change, and technological innovation, Matthias and Wilfried discuss the importance of agility to transform business strategy and respond to uncertainties. Dra...

This episode of Business Diplomacy Today explores the topic of water security. Host Matthias Catón is joined by Susanne Schmeier, Head of the Water Governance Department and Associate Professor of Water Law and Diplomacy at IHE Delft. They discuss the global water crisis and its implications for meeting the 2030 Agenda, pollution issues, overuse, and potential conflicts. Susanne identifies the nec...

In this episode, Matthias Catón speaks with Famke Krumbmüller, Executive Director of the Geostrategic Business Group at EY, on building a robust corporate strategy in a volatile world. Famke introduces us to definitions and sub-categories of political and geopolitical risk and how companies can enhance their risk management protocols to be more prepared and expectant as the density and intenseness...

In this episode, Matthias Catón and Crystal Ennis discuss the migration governance complex, defined as how migration governance happens in practice and the various actors involved. Their discussion focuses on labor migration and examines its definitions, the fragmentation of migration governance, changing trends and geographical destinations of labor migration, and how we (individuals, organizatio...