STRATEGIC SEMINARS

Global Concept

The Strategic Seminars of the ESSEC Institute for Geopolitics & Business are high-level gatherings that bring together corporate leaders, policymakers, diplomats, and scholars to examine how today’s geopolitical disruptions are reshaping the global economy.

Held under the Chatham House Rule, these closed-door sessions provide a unique space for in-depth and candid exchanges between practitioners and thinkers in international affairs. Their purpose is to shed light on the geopolitical forces influencing corporate strategies and to foster forward-looking reflection on global economic transformations.

The Institute convenes this Strategic Seminars Series in Paris, Rabat, and Singapore, leveraging ESSEC Business School’s global footprint to connect European, African, and Asian perspectives on the evolving dynamics of geoeconomics.

Annual Program

• Paris Strategic Seminar (October 2025)

Theme: Influence, Intimidation and Interference: How Exposed Are Companies to the Risks of Hybrid Warfare?

Venue: ESSEC La Défense Campus (Paris – France)
Focus: This seminar explores the growing exposure of businesses to hybrid threats — from economic coercion and information warfare to legal intimidation and talent poaching. Participants will discuss corporate resilience, intelligence-sharing, and the role of influence strategies in safeguarding economic sovereignty.

• Rabat Strategic Seminar (November 2025)

Theme: Rivalries of Power and Market Recomposition: Rethinking Corporate Strategy in the Age of Geoeconomics

Venue: ESSEC Africa Campus (Rabat – Morocco)

Focus: Amid intensifying competition between global and regional powers, African and international executives will assess how shifting alliances and trade flows are redrawing market opportunities across the continent. The discussions will focus on strategic positioning, regional integration, and the emerging architecture of global value chains.

• Singapore Strategic Seminar (December 2025)

Theme: Geopolitics at the Gate: Rethinking Corporate Strategy in a Fragmented Global Economy

Venue: ESSEC Asia-Pacific Campus (Singapore)

Focus: In an era of economic fragmentation and technological bifurcation, the Singapore Strategic Seminar eminar will examine how multinational firms adapt their business models to navigate decoupling, supply-chain realignments, and evolving regulatory environments across the Indo-Pacific.