<p>Afshin Molavi helps audiences navigate a rapidly shifting global landscape—translating economic, geopolitical, and social changes into insights that matter for their businesses, industries, and communities. </p><p>A leading authority on global trends, Afshin Molavi blends rigorous analysis with engaging storytelling to make sense of complexity, find the unexpected patterns, and uncover opportunity. With decades of reporting and research across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas, Molavi connects the dots between geopolitics, supply chains, demographics, technology, energy, and finance. He shows how the forces reshaping boardrooms in London, Shanghai or Dubai also reverberate in Chicago, Dallas, and Detroit. Always forward-looking, he challenges audiences not just to weather today’s turbulence but to position themselves for tomorrow’s opportunities.</p><p>A Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Institute of Johns Hopkins SAIS, Molavi is the founder of the <em>Emerging World</em> newsletter and co-founder of the emerge85 Lab. His writing has appeared in <em>The New York Times, The Economist,</em> <em>Businessweek,</em> and <em>Institutional Investor, </em>and he has held reporting roles with Reuters,<em> The Washington Post,</em> and t<em>he Financial Times</em>. He has also served as a senior global advisor at Oxford Analytica and was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in Davos.</p><p>Molavi views globalization not as a relic of the past but as an evolving force that shapes our daily lives. As he often puts it, “Globalization is not somewhere distant—it’s in your cup, your car, your culture.” From your morning coffee to the technology in your pocket, he reveals how global connections create both challenges and opportunities for American companies and workers.</p><p>Known for his approachable style, wit, and sharp insight, Molavi often draws on history, literature, film - and even pop culture and sports to make global issues vivid and accessible. From Wall Street to Main Street, from the boardrooms of Europe to the stadiums and cities of Asia and the Middle East, he has delivered impactful keynotes for corporations, associations, and investors worldwide, leaving audiences with a clearer view of where the world is headed and how to prepare for what’s next.</p>
Geopolitics and Global Economics Expert; Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Institute at Johns Hopkins University SAIS
<ul><li><strong>The New Geopolitical Risk (and Opportunity) Map</strong></li><li>Afshin Molavi takes audiences on a fast-paced global tour of the geopolitical and geo-economic shifts reshaping today’s world. From the U.S.–China rivalry and the fallout of the war in Ukraine to supply chain realignments and energy transitions, he reveals the forces driving disruption across industries and borders.</li><li>Far from doom and gloom, Molavi shows how change can be harnessed for growth. Audiences walk away with a sharper understanding of rising powers, demographic surges, and technological breakthroughs—and how to turn risk into opportunity in an uncertain world.</li><li><strong>The Future is Flow: How Trade, Technology, and Talent Are Redrawing the Global Map</strong></li><li>Rather than focusing only on today’s crises, Afshin Molavi spotlights the enduring flows of trade, technology, energy, capital, and people that truly shape our future. With vivid stories from global shipping lanes to digital highways, he uncovers the deeper forces driving competition, opportunity, and disruption.</li><li>Audiences leave with a forward-looking roadmap to navigate uncertainty. They’ll see how supply chain shifts ripple across industries, how demographic booms shape new markets, and how connectivity is rewriting the rules of business and politics.</li><li><strong>The Five Disruption-Proof Trends Shaping Our World</strong></li><li>Afshin Molavi unpacks five megatrends that transcend politics, economic cycles, and trade disputes—forces he calls “disruption-proof.” From urbanization and rising middle classes to digital revolutions and connectivity, these are the enduring drivers of global transformation.</li><li>With sharp analysis and real-world examples, Molavi shows leaders how to align with these unstoppable currents. Audiences gain a clear understanding of the trends shaping the next quarter-century—and how to harness them for resilience, growth, and innovation.</li><li><strong>The World in Your Pocket: How Global Forces Shape Our Daily Lives</strong></li><li>Globalization isn’t abstract—it’s personal. From morning coffee to smartphones, Afshin Molavi reveals the hidden global forces woven into our daily routines. He shows how shifts in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East ripple into the choices we make at home.</li><li>By connecting everyday life to the world’s biggest forces, Molavi makes globalization tangible and relevant. Audiences leave with a fresh perspective on how to navigate—and benefit from—the interconnected world around them.</li><li><strong>Shanghai, Mumbai, Dubai—or Goodbye? The Global Story and Its Impact on America</strong></li><li>Afshin Molavi takes audiences on a whirlwind tour of the “85 World”—the 85% of humanity living in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. These regions are driving demographic booms, new alliances, and rising consumer markets that will reshape the global balance of power.</li><li>Molavi connects these shifts directly to America’s economy, businesses, and workers. Audiences leave with practical insights on how global transformations are shaping the U.S. today—and how leaders can seize opportunities in a fast-changing world.</li></ul>