Events

Trade and Globalisation

Multinational Corporations, Geopolitics and Business Diplomacy Competencies
Europe/Amsterdam 09 2014 09:00
Inleiding

On 12 December, the Egmont Institute in Brussels will be the venue of a seminar on Multinational Corporations in a Geopolitically Dynamic World: How to Shape Business Diplomacy Competencies in Practice. The seminar is co-organized by the Clingendael Institute, Ghent University, and Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, and co-sponsored by Aramco Overseas Company.* It builds on the findings of a special issue on Business Diplomacy of The Hague Journal of Diplomacy (2014:4).

This seminar will bring together businessmen, other practitioners and experts to deepen the understanding of how MNCs can shape Business Diplomacy competencies. Geopolitical change demands a move away from a shareholders perspective to a stakeholders approach. Firms are no governments, but they need executives with skill sets similar to those of effective diplomats. By adopting a more ‘diplomatic mind set’, companies will be able to manage ever-expanding international geopolitical risks, safeguard profit-making and secure their existence in the long haul.

Participation is free of charge, but places are limited. Registration is required. Please write to: Jennifer.Kesteleyn@ugent.be.

Please click here for more information on the topic of the seminar.

Programme

09.00–09.30 Welcome coffee and registration

09.30–09.45 Welcome and Introduction

  • Welcome by Prof. Sven Biscop, Egmont Institute and Ghent University.
  • Introduction by Prof. Jan Melissen, Clingendael Institute and University of Antwerp

09.45–11.00 Panel 1: Business Diplomacy in Times of Globalized Uncertainty

Companies are increasingly confronted by the complex interplay between the necessity to become internationally active and the enhanced risks of doing business abroad. Numerous case studies will be presented which illustrate how MNCs go amiss to efficiently cope with geopolitical and non-commercial risks. By doing this, this panel wants to underline the necessity of adopting a ‘Business Diplomacy’ mind-set to deal with those risks, rather than acting through purely traditional management perspectives.

  • Jennifer Kesteleyn: Researcher at GIIS, Ghent University
  • Alexis Brouhns: Region General Manager Europe Solvay, former Belgian Diplomat
  • Piet Steel: Consultant Dröge & Van Drimmelen, former Belgian Diplomat and former Vice-President External Affairs of Toyota Motor Europe

11.00–11.30 Coffee Break

11.30–13.30 Panel 2: Business Diplomacy Competencies

Operating in today’s international business environment requires Business Diplomacy competences, perhaps more than ever before. However, what are these specific competences that representatives of international firms need to possess in order to be successful business diplomats? And does operating in recently developed countries require a different set of Business Diplomacy competences and skills than operating in developed countries, such as most of the OECD countries. This session will address these questions and aims to result in answers and new insights.

  • Huub Ruël: Professor International Business Windesheim
  • Annemarie Muntz: Director group public affairs, Randstad Holding NV. Randstad.
  • Maartje Van Putten: CEO of Global Accountability and former European Parliament Member

13.30–14.30 Lunch

14.30–16.30 Panel 3: Managing Corporate Geopolitical Risk

Business Diplomacy centres on the creation of strategic coalitions of state and non-state actors to shape the firm’s geopolitical risk environment. This session will explore the development and implementation of Business Diplomacy in the real world and how coalitions can be used to both influence and isolate non-cooperative actors. It will focus on practitioners’ experiences in both identifying corporate geopolitical risk and minimizing its impact on the bottom line. Finally it will also explore the extent to which Business Diplomacy is a mind-set as well as a skill-set.

  • Christopher Nason: Director of Corporate Intelligence PWC
  • Debbie Rosario: Director of Aurora Partners Ltd
  • Shaun Riordan: Senior Visiting Fellow Clingendael and former British Diplomat

16.30–16.45 Concluding Remarks By Shaun Riordan

16.45-17.45 Keynote Speaker (TBA)

17.45-18.45 Network Reception

* Global energy enterprise Saudi Aramco, through its affiliate Aramco Overseas Company based in The Hague, is a sponsoring partner of the Netherlands Institute of International Relations ‘Clingendael’ and co-sponsor of this seminar.