The GET: The Global Enterprise Thread

It has been a year since governments and Central Banks focused on bringing down inflation. And while progress has been made, inflation remains higher than policymakers want, and there is still a way to go to achieve the targets Central Banks have set around the world. In Episode 23, we are revisiting a topic we addressed one year ago, Global Inflation and What Decisions CEOs Should Be Making to grow in this economic environment. We are very pleased to have our guests from last year back to provide their perspective on what has happened over the last 12 months and what should CEOs be planning for over the next 12 months to grow their businesses.

In Episode 15 of The GET, we discussed U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris's visit to Africa to push for U.S. business investment in the continent. While this is part of President Biden's recently announced Africa initiative, there are myriad opportunities and challenges for any CEO—U.S. or otherwise--interested in doing business in Africa. Weighing the risks and the rewards, we ask the question, how should CEOs approach market entry on the African continent? Can companies rely solely on distributors? Or do they need a local representative in priority markets to gather market intelligence, manage distributors, and build relationships with the government? In Episode 20, we continue this conversation and do so using a filter of what women CEOs and business owners need to know about these myths and realities.

There is both excitement and worry about the power of generative AI. Public officials have begun discussing what role government regulation should play in shaping its uses. We know from experience that governments and public policy can create, modify, and eliminate markets overnight. How governments will choose to deal with generative AI will directly influence private sector decisions regarding investment and market opportunities. Business leaders will need to participate along with policymakers and other key stakeholders in discussions around what guardrails make the most immediate sense if countries are to balance innovative economic growth and responsible societal behavior. As generative AI advances, CEOs and business leaders have the opportunity to explore the potential of generative AI as a tool that can redefine and reorganize work. From understanding the technology's capabilities to addressing ethical considerations, companies will need to navigate this landscape strategically, exploring best practices for effectively deploying generative AI while ensuring a human-centric approach that values employee well-being and collaboration.

As part of this special encore release, we are sharing two episodes that focus on the information CEO's must know when making major International decisions. In part 1, we dig into the two factors that have shaped the last few decades of global economics. In 2001, the U.S. granted China permanent most favored nation trade status, and China was formally admitted into the World Trade Organization. Since then, CEOs have operated their businesses to factor in a relatively cooperative economic and geopolitical relationship between the U.S. and China. But today things are different. We discuss how things have changed and what are the factors CEOs need to address as they execute their business over the next few decades. In part 2, we explore one of the greatest developments for global trade and economic growth after World War II. The creation of multilateral institutions that set the rules for international trade and economic relations among countries. Institutions like the World Trade Organization (WTO) have brought countries together to agree to a set of common practices. But as the WTO was launched to harmonize of rules for traditional commerce, technology was enabling a whole new type of commerce and only a decade later, eCommerce was a part of everyday life for billions of people. Today's CEOs must decide how to advance their tangible and intangible investments and assets, if they are to capture global opportunities. And they have to do this as geopolitics is reasserting itself over geoeconomics as the organizing principle for trade. CEOs need to adjust to a new landscape that is very different from the rules that have been in place for over 30 years.

In March, President Biden released his administration’s National Cybersecurity Strategy. This episode of The GET discusses the elements of his plan and their significance to CEOs and business leaders. We address the topics of new regulatory approaches and cyber insurance; then discuss data stewardship and responsibility, software security and liability, and cybersecurity market forces vs. regulation. This episode originally aired in May 2023.

A discussion with the co-authors of “Permacrisis: A Plan to Fix a Fractured World” on their framework for addressing the interconnected crises facing our planet and a new model for growth and productivity. Guests: Michael Spence, Nobel Laureate, former Dean, Stanford School of Business, and co-author of Permacrisis: A Plan to Fix a Fractured World Mohamed A. El-Erian, President of Queens’ College, Cambridge, advisor to Allianz and Gramercy, and co-author of Permacrisis: A Plan to Fix a Fractured World

It has been a year since governments and Central Banks focused on bringing down inflation. And while progress has been made, inflation remains higher than policymakers want, and there is still a way to go to achieve the targets Central Banks have set around the world. In Episode 23, we are revisiting a topic we addressed one year ago, Global Inflation and What Decisions CEOs Should Be Making to grow in this economic environment. We are very pleased to have our guests from last year back to provide their perspective on what has happened over the last 12 months and what should CEOs be planning for over the next 12 months to grow their businesses. CGE Moderator: Christopher G. Caine, President of the Center for Global Enterprise (CGE) Special Host: Sam Palmisano, Chairman of the Center for Global Enterprise and former Chairman, IBM CGE Guests: Michael Spence, Nobel Laureate, former Dean, Stanford School of Business, and Kevin Warsh, former member of the Federal Reserve Board, and a distinguished visiting fellow in economics at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution.

There is both excitement and worry about the power of generative AI. Public officials have begun discussing what role government regulation should play in shaping its uses. We know from experience that governments and public policy can create, modify, and eliminate markets overnight. How governments will choose to deal with generative AI will directly influence private sector decisions regarding investment and market opportunities. Business leaders will need to participate along with policymakers and other key stakeholders in discussions around what guardrails make the most immediate sense if countries are to balance innovative economic growth and responsible societal behavior. CGE Moderator: Christopher G. Caine, President of the Center for Global Enterprise (CGE) CGE Guests: Tom Daschle, former U.S. Senator from South Dakota, Senate Majority and Minority Leader and currently Chairman of The Daschle Group; and David Beier, a San Francisco-based venture capitalist, former senior executive at Amgen and Genentech, and former chief of domestic policy for Vice President Al Gore.

As generative AI advances, CEOs and business leaders have the opportunity to explore the potential of generative AI as a tool that can redefine and reorganize work. From understanding the technology's capabilities to addressing ethical considerations, companies will need to navigate this landscape strategically, exploring best practices for effectively deploying generative AI while ensuring a human-centric approach that values employee well-being and collaboration. Guests: Michael Spence, Nobel Laureate, former Dean, Stanford School of Business Doug Haynes, managing partner, Norias Research Group CGE Moderator: Christopher G. Caine, President of the Center for Global Enterprise (CGE)

In Episode 15 of The GET, we discussed the myths and realities of doing business in Africa, and it was very well received by listeners. In Episode 20, we continue this conversation and do so using a filter of what women CEOs and business owners need to know about these myths and realities. Guests: Miranda Naiman, Founder and Managing Partner, Empower Dawn Leaness, Managing Director, African Women Entrepreneurship Cooperative (AWEC) Moderator: Christopher G. Caine, President of the Center for Global Enterprise (CGE)

Part two of the conversation on India- US Relations. The recent visit by Prime Minister Modi to the United States was a major milestone in India-U.S. relations. In this two-part episode, we explore the economic and geopolitical implications for a stronger U.S.-India partnership and discuss the key aspects CEOs should consider for both Indian and American businesses as the drive to deepen economic integration advances. Guests: Vikrampati Singhania, Managing Director of JK Fenner (India) Ltd and JK Agri Genetics Limited; and Shanker Annaswamy, former Managing Director of IBM India and former Chief Executive Officer for GE Medical Systems, South Asia.

The recent visit by Prime Minister Modi to the United States was a major milestone in India-U.S. relations. In this two-part episode, we explore the economic and geopolitical implications for a stronger U.S.-India partnership and discuss the key aspects CEOs should consider for both Indian and American businesses as the drive to deepen economic integration advances. Guests: Vikrampati Singhania, Managing Director of JK Fenner (India) Ltd and JK Agri Genetics Limited; and Shanker Annaswamy, former Managing Director of IBM India and former Chief Executive Officer for GE Medical Systems, South Asia.

This episode focuses on the discussions and agreements from the recent G7 meeting of world leaders in Japan. It highlights additional factors CEOs should consider as they make decisions about U.S.-China business matters and about operating in an increasingly reshaped global economy. We encourage business leaders to consider the G7’s recent actions as you listen to our guests discuss U.S.-China relations in an earlier episode. We are re-releasing Episode 13 because the insights from this discussion factor into the current debate over whether to “de-risk” versus “de-couple” supply chains from a heavy reliance on China. The G7 nations are putting in place agreements to address “de-risking” that will shape the rules of global business. Host: Christopher G. Caine, President of the Center for Global Enterprise (CGE) Guests: John Hamre, President and CEO of the Center for Strategic and International Studies and Sam Palmisano, Chairman of The Center for Global Enterprise, and Chairman of the America’s Frontier Fund. Replay Episode 13: Looking Ahead at U.S.-China Relations; Factors Shaping CEO Decisions

Humanity is on the verge of a new technological revolution powered by generative AI tools like ChatGPT with the potential to fundamentally change the way we live and work. The excitement and expanding use of ChatGPT have ignited a race to develop and deploy even more powerful tools. Many stakeholders, such as government regulators and business leaders, are now scrambling to understand the impact the rapid emergence of new AI tools will have on consumers, businesses, society, and global economies. Regulators are considering new rules and guidelines for AI, while even some leaders in the tech community are calling for a timeout to better understand the ramifications of generative AI. Listen, as we explore the implications of these new AI tools and the challenges and opportunities they present for businesses and others in society.

In March, President Biden released his administration’s National Cybersecurity Strategy. This episode of The GET discusses the elements of his plan and their significance to CEOs and business leaders. Due to the importance and extent of the subject, Episode 16 contains two parts. Part 1 addresses the topics of new regulatory approaches and cyber insurance. Part 2 deals with data stewardship and responsibility, software security and liability, and cybersecurity market forces vs. regulation.

In March, President Biden released his administration’s National Cybersecurity Strategy. This episode of The GET discusses the elements of his plan and their significance to CEOs and business leaders. Due to the importance and extent of the subject, Episode 16 contains two parts. Part 1 addresses the topics of new regulatory approaches and cyber insurance. Part 2 deals with data stewardship and responsibility, software security and liability, and cybersecurity market forces vs. regulation.

Host: Christopher G. Caine, President of the Center for Global Enterprise (CGE) Guests: Seif el Sadek, Founder and CEO, Agrocorp, and Bowale Odumade Adeoye, Vice President Investment, Africa Finance Corporation Recently, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris visited Africa to push for U.S. business investment in the continent. While this is part of President Biden's recently announced Africa initiative, there are myriad opportunities and challenges for any CEO—U.S. or otherwise--interested in doing business in Africa. Weighing the risks and the rewards, we ask the questions, how should CEOs approach market entry on the African continent? Can companies rely solely on distributors? Or do they need a local representative in priority markets to gather market intelligence, manage distributors, and build relationships with government?

The world is at an inflection point over growing questions, and in some cases resistance, to globalization and economic interdependence. We see three factors that are having a defining impact: the rise in “deglobalization,” the rise in protectionism, and a commitment to mitigating climate change through operational adjustments. In addition, concepts of supply chain sovereignty are rising and threaten a company’s ability to retain operating flexibility and competitive advantage. Companies are well served to find alternative choices to mitigate these new operating and financial risks. One such alternative model that has arisen is called Constellations of Value, a shift from the traditional linear view of supply chains toward a three-dimensional network of trusted, secure, and expert stakeholders with advanced digital capabilities. It is being embraced by leading supply chain owners and operators and provides a choice for CEOs to consider. Host: Christopher G. Caine, President of the Center for Global Enterprise (CGE) Guests: Mike Bhaskaran, Chief Operating Officer for Digital Technology at DP World, a world leader in global logistics; and Marko Kovacec, the Managing Director of the Digital Supply Chain Institute, a New York-based nonprofit applied research institute.

Two factors have shaped the last few decades of global economics. In 2001, the U.S. granted China permanent most favored nation trade status, and China was formally admitted into the World Trade Organization. Since then, CEOs have operated their businesses to factor in a relatively cooperative economic and geopolitical relationship between the U.S. and China. But today things are different. We discuss how things have changed and what are the factors CEOs need to address as they execute their business over the next few decades.

What opportunities and challenges will business leaders encounter in 2023? Throughout the past year, The GET has asked our guests to identify in one word or one phrase, an emerging issue they see on the horizon that business leaders need to put on their radar. We call this our Emerging Critical Issues Moment. For our first episode of the New Year, we have selected six emerging issues cited by our guests and asked them to spend a few minutes with us to dig a little deeper into the reasons why these issues are on their radar and what CEOs need to consider and plan for. If these topics--energy transition, decentralized finance, economic decoupling, algorithmic safety, identity, and the case regional trading bloc headquarters—are not on your radar, maybe the New Year is a good time to consider if they should be? Host: Christopher G. Caine, President of the Center for Global Enterprise Guests: Michael Spence, Nobel Laureate, former Dean, Stanford School of Business; David Kappos, partner at Cravath, Swaine & Moore and former Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; Victor Fung, Chairman of the Fung Group and the Asia Global Institute; Sam Palmisano, Chairman of the Center for Global Enterprise and the America’s Frontier Fund; Jon Iwata, Executive Fellow at Yale School of Management and Managing Director of the Data and Trust Alliance; and Alexander Fernandez, CEO of Streamline Media Group.