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, businesses find themselves at the forefront of unprecedented challenges. The intensification of geopolitical tensions, the fragmentation of markets, and the questioning of traditional economic models require private actors to rethink their roles and strategies. It is in this context that the United Nations Global Compact – French 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 tension, with companies at the forefront
Globalization, once seen as a driver of peace and shared prosperity, now shows a more conflictual face. Trade wars, international sanctions, disruptions in supply chains, and increasing demands regarding 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 just seeking profit. The central question that will be at the heart of the debates is: “In a world becoming more brutal, how does compliance become a geopolitical issue for companies?”.
Compliance as a strategic tool
Far from being just an administrative or legal constraint, compliance now emerges as a true risk management and strategic positioning tool. Adhering to international regulations, ensuring the integrity of commercial partners, guaranteeing product traceability, or aligning with demanding ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) criteria becomes a factor of resilience and competitiveness. For a company, a robust compliance policy is 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 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 – French Network, the roundtable will be hosted by Thomas Friang, Executive Director of the ESSEC Institute of Geopolitics & Business. He will welcome:
– Gwladys Beauchet, Group ESG Legal Director at Thalès, 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, who will share 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.
