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 line facing unprecedented challenges. The intensification of geopolitical tensions, the fragmentation of markets, and the questioning of traditional economic models force private actors to rethink their roles and strategies. It is in this context that the United Nations Global Compact – France Network and the Geopolitics & Business Institute of ESSEC are organizing a high-level conference to explore a crucial theme: compliance as a geopolitical lever.
A tension-filled world, with companies at the forefront.
Globalization, once seen as a conduit for 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 multinationals, 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 mere profit-seeking. The central question, which will be at the heart of the debates, is therefore: “In a world becoming more brutalized, how does compliance become a geopolitical issue for companies?”
Compliance as a strategic tool.
Far from being a mere administrative or legal constraint, compliance (or “compliance”) now asserts itself as a true risk management and strategic positioning tool. Respecting international regulations, ensuring the integrity of business partners, guaranteeing product traceability, and aligning with demanding ESG criteria (Environmental, Social, and Governance) become factors of resilience and competitiveness. For a company, a robust compliance policy is insurance against reputational and financial risks, but also a way to affirm its values and differentiate itself on the global stage.
An expert panel to decipher the stakes.
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 8 am to 10 am, 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 Geopolitics & Business Institute of ESSEC. He will host:
– Gwladys Beauchet, Group ESG Legal Director at Thales, a global group in aerospace, defense, and security. – 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 his expert vision.
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 by email at ONUReseauFrance@edifice-communication.com.
