SMP LeaderTalks

#110 | Geopolitical resilience as a survival strategy

SMP LeaderTalks

10. September 2025

Georgiy Michailov meets Ansgar Baums

On “gray rhinos,” geopolitical bipolarity, and power games.

1 h 21 Min

"'Gray rhinos' are predictable risks that no one does anything about."

Geopolitical risks affect us all—whether we like it or not. Political crises are on the rise and the world order is shifting toward a new bipolarity. And companies? The vast majority ignore these predictable risks. Political scientist and geopolitical expert Ansgar Baums calls these risks “gray rhinos.” And he knows how dangerous they are. In conversation with Georgiy Michailov, he talks about the risk management companies need to invest in right now.

"If you don't know who you want to be in China, you don't have a strategy for the next 20 years."

Ansgar Baums also talks to Georgiy Michailov about the new bipolarity between the US and China and Europe's role in this order. And Baums reveals how companies manage to train the muscle power of their geopolitical resilience.

*Video only in German

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