The United Nations Global Compact and ESSEC organize a roundtable to analyze the geopolitical role of compliance in business.
In an international environment where yesterday’s certainties are crumbling, companies find themselves on the front lines facing unprecedented challenges. The escalation of geopolitical tensions, the fragmentation of markets, and the questioning of traditional economic models force private actors to rethink their role and strategy. It is in this context that the United Nations Global Compact – France Network and the ESSEC Institute of Geopolitics & Business are organizing a high-level conference to explore a crucial theme: compliance as a geopolitical lever.
A world under pressure, with companies at the forefront
Globalization, once seen as a driver of peace and shared prosperity, now presents a more conflictual face. Trade wars, international sanctions, supply chain disruptions, and increasing demands in terms of human rights and the environment place companies, especially multinational ones, in a complex position. They are no longer just economic actors, but entities whose decisions can have major diplomatic and strategic repercussions. Navigating this unstable ecosystem requires a much more sophisticated compass than just the pursuit of profit. The central question that will be at the heart of the debates is, therefore, “In a world becoming more brutal, how does compliance become a geopolitical issue for businesses?”.
Compliance as a strategic tool
Far from being a mere administrative or legal constraint, compliance is now emerging as a true risk management and strategic positioning tool. Complying with international regulations, ensuring the integrity of business partners, guaranteeing product traceability, and aligning with demanding ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) criteria are becoming factors of resilience and competitiveness. For a company, a robust compliance policy is an insurance against reputational and financial risks, but also a way to assert its values and differentiate itself on the global stage.
An expert panel to decipher the issues
To address this complex theme, the United Nations Global Compact and ESSEC have brought together a panel of leading experts. The second session of this exclusive breakfast series will take place on May 6, from 8am to 10am, at the Maison du Développement Durable in Paris.
After an introduction by Nils Pedersen, General Delegate of the United Nations Global Compact – France Network, the roundtable will be moderated by Thomas Friang, Executive Director of the ESSEC Institute of Geopolitics & Business. He will host:
– Gwladys Beauchet, Group ESG Legal Director at Thales, a global aerospace, defense, and security group. – Anne De Keghel, Ethics and Compliance Director at Egis, an international player in construction consulting and engineering. – Professor Hugues Bouthinon-Dumas from ESSEC Business School, providing an academic perspective. – Jean-Marc Fenet, Senior Fellow at the ESSEC Institute for Geopolitics & Business, sharing expert insights.
This meeting is aimed at executives, compliance professionals, and anyone interested in the interactions between the business world and contemporary geopolitical dynamics. Journalists wishing to attend the event are invited to accredit themselves via email at ONUReseauFrance@edifice-communication.com.
