GlobeScan and the Corporate Affairs Academy at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, recently hosted a webinar exploring how Corporate Affairs is evolving in response to geopolitical disruption, AI, shifting stakeholder expectations, and increasing pressure to demonstrate business value.
Moderated by Chris Coulter, CEO of GlobeScan, the discussion featured insights from Rupert Younger, Jon Banner, Arun Sudhaman, and Sheila Redzepi on the future of the function and the capabilities organizations need to succeed.
Watch the webinar recording
Key takeaways:
- Geopolitical and geoeconomic developments are now enterprise risks. Corporate Affairs leaders help organizations interpret a rapidly changing external environment and navigate competing stakeholder, regulatory, and policy demands.
- AI is both a tool and a stakeholder. Beyond supporting insight and decision-making, AI is increasingly shaping reputation, trust, and public perceptions.
- Trust is built through action, not communication alone. Corporate Affairs is helping align business decisions and behaviours with stakeholder expectations, ensuring commitments are backed by meaningful action.
- Policy, government affairs, and advocacy capabilities are increasingly important in a multipolar world. Organizations need stronger capabilities to engage policymakers, contribute to public debate, and help shape enabling conditions for business and society.
- The future of Corporate Affairs requires a broader skill set. Success will increasingly depend on combining strategic foresight, policy expertise, stakeholder engagement, AI literacy, and cultural intelligence.
Together, these themes highlighted the increasingly strategic role of Corporate Affairs in helping organizations navigate uncertainty, build trust, and create long-term value in a fragmented and fast-changing world.
