Business Diplomacy Today

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Sponsored and presented by the Indo-German Centre for Business Excellence, the podcast brings international relations and geopolitics to the business world. We live in a dynamic world where business, government, and society converge. Today, every business leader must be a savvy player in the public arena. Geopolitical events, new regulations in other markets, natural disasters, changing public perceptions, etc., directly impact a company’s future, even if they happen far away. Business Diplomacy Today addresses contemporary international relations and geopolitics, looking at the issues from a business perspective. It helps business leaders anticipate changing political and societal trends, build and leverage political networks and take a proactive stake in societal and political matters that influence their business environment.

Dr. Matthias Catón

Frankfurt, Germany


    • Aug 8, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 41m AVG DURATION
    • 32 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Business Diplomacy Today

    Online Voting

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2024 28:47 Transcription Available


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

    The Global Risks Report 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2024 33:23 Transcription Available


    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 ... Read more

    Business Disruption and Change in 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2024 42:24


    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 ... Read more

    Asia After Europe

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2024 42:29


    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 ... Read more

    Achieving Financial Equality

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2024 37:59


    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 ... Read more

    The EU AI Act

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2024 36:22


    In Episode 27 of Business Diplomacy Today, host 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 ... Read more

    Geopolitical Intelligence and Corporate Planning

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2024 48:43


    In Episode 26, host Matthias Catón is joined by Lewis Sage-Passant, Global Head of Intelligence at Novo Nordisk and founder of EncyclopediaGeopolitica. 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 ... Read more

    US-German Transatlantic Relations

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2024 33:39


    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 ... Read more

    The Digital Euro

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2024 36:20


    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 ... Read more

    2024 Trends to Watch

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2024 52:24


    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 ... Read more

    How Crises Shape Globalisation

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2023 43:14


    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 ... Read more

    The Rise of Middle Powers

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2023 36:39


    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 ... Read more

    Social Inequality as a Business Risk

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2023 44:08


    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 ... Read more

    Expert Influence in Policy- and Decision-Making

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2023 41:46


    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 ... Read more

    Entrepreneurship in Fragile States

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2023 33:01


    Jan Kratzer, Chaired Professor for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management and Founder/Academic Director of Centre for Entrepreneurship (CfE) at Technische Universität Berlin, joins Matthias Catón in this episode. Jan shares his expertise on challenges for entrepreneurs in low-income countries, comparing them to high-income countries. As their discussion explores the concept of entrepreneurship in fragile states, Matthias ... Read more

    The EU Critical Raw Materials Act

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2023 47:09 Transcription Available


    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 ... Read more

    Corporate strategy in the age of global uncertainty and volatility

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2023 37:41 Transcription Available


    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. Drawing ... Read more

    Water Governance and International Security

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2023 39:00 Transcription Available


    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 ... Read more

    Corporate Strategy and Political Risk

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2023 40:46 Transcription Available


    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 ... Read more

    The migration governance complex

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2023 46:03 Transcription Available


    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, organizations, and ... Read more

    Lessons from the Munich Security Conference 2023

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2023 48:15


    In this episode, Matthias Catón speaks with Sophie Eisentraut about the Munich Security Conference (MSC), the world's leading forum for debating international security policy. The episode investigates the effectiveness and relevance of multilateral dialogues from a broader perspective and the trends we can see in the future of international cooperation. Matthias and Sophie compare their ... Read more

    Why digital payments can help us achieve the Sustainable Development Goals

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2023 42:38 Transcription Available


    In this episode, Marjolaine Chaintreau, Head of Private Sector Digital Payment Innovation at the Better than Cash Alliance, and Matthias Catón discuss the evolution, importance, and impact of digital payments and, more broadly, access to financial services. The discussion examines how digital payments promote social inclusion and empowerment among individuals and the innovation and regulation ... Read more

    Measuring and managing ESG performance

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2023 50:27 Transcription Available


    This episode of Business Diplomacy Today explores the importance of measuring external impacts in society and how companies can incorporate sustainability practices. Our guest expert, Matthias Mahlendorf, discusses the performance measurement for managing sustainability, performance, and digital transformation of management control. Topics include measuring social value, the benefits of sustainability for companies, normative aspects of ... Read more

    Corporate strategies for emerging markets

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2023 40:07 Transcription Available


    In this episode, Matthias Catón speaks with Talal Rafi, Senior Global Management Consultant at Deloitte and a Deloitte Global Economist Network member. The discussion investigates how markets, notably emerging markets, can navigate the current economic climate when developing corporate strategies. Talal highlights the importance of supply-chain diversification through different lenses, how democracy can influence investment ... Read more

    Geoeconomics in the investment industry

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2023 40:40


    Hosted by Matthias Catón, today's episode is in discussion with Joachim Klement, Head of Strategy, Accounting, and Sustainability at Liberum. We often hear about geopolitics, economics, and our globalized world. In this episode, Joachim introduces us further to geoeconomics. The discussion analyses changes in business models (notably since the pandemic) and the relationship between geopolitical ... Read more

    Climate Diplomacy and Emerging Economies

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2023 45:40


    Climate Change mitigation is discussed mainly on a political level between countries, both in multilateral fora such as the COP (Conferences of Parties), the G20, or bilaterally. Our guest Dhanasree Jayaram is an expert in these negotiations. She talks with Matthias Catón about different approaches to climate change in developed and developing countries. Developing and ... Read more

    International sanctions

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2023 38:59


    In this episode, Matthias Catón speaks with Julia Grauvogel, Senior Research Fellow at the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA). They discuss the implications of economic sanctions and talk about different types of sanctions and the ways to measure their effects on the “target” (the country receiving the sanctions) and the “sender” (the ... Read more

    India and China

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2022 47:27


    In this episode, Dr. Matthias Catón interviews Sujan Chinoy, the Director General of the Indian think tank IDSA. The former Ambassador is an expert in Indo-China relations. They discuss the current political situation and the ongoing border conflict between the two countries, which has been going on for decades but is again tense since 2020. ... Read more

    Identify and manage political risks

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2022 42:51


    Nicolas Schwank is an expert in political risk. His company monitors and analyzes different risks and briefs business clients. Our host Matthias Catón and Nico (who met when they both studied and worked at the University of Heidelberg), discuss different political risks that can affect business and how business leaders can ensure that they stay ... Read more

    ESG Taxonomies

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2022 39:26


    The host Matthias Catón and his guest Karsten Löffler talk about ESG Taxonomies. ESG stands for “Environmental, Social, and Governance” and essentially means how companies “behave” well as corporate citizens. Taxonomies measure this. The best known is the EU Taxonomy, but as we learn, it is by no means the only one in force or ... Read more

    Doing business in China

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2022 38:10


    Our host Matthias Catón interviews Horst Löchel, a true expert on China. They talk about the prospects for international companies to do business in China today. What is different from ten years ago? What are the risks, and what are the opportunities? And what are the specific challenges of operating in a country with an ... Read more

    Social media in global affairs

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2022 39:17


    In this episode, our host Matthias Catón interviews Matthias Lüfkens, a veteran social media expert. They talk about using social media as a means of public diplomacy. How do governments and world leaders use it, what should they avoid, and why can it be such a powerful tool? Of course, they also discuss how business ... Read more

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