Teneo Insights Podcast

As conflict in the Middle East roils global energy markets and raises fresh concerns about supply shocks, a historic disruption is forcing leaders to confront just how fragile the system remains. In this episode of Teneo Insights, Kevin Kajiwara is joined by Dan Gabaldon, Teneo Vice Chair of Management Consulting and Head of Energy, and Emily Stromquist, Teneo Managing Director, to unpack the geopolitical and economic implications of the war with Iran and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz—triggering the largest oil supply disruption in history. Together, they explore how this crisis fits into the broader, already complex energy transition shaped by geopolitics, policy, climate and market forces and what to watch as industry leaders convene for CERAWeek.

Emily Stromquist, Teneo political risk and energy markets specialist. Morgan Muir, former intelligence official and national security advisor. Dennis Ross, veteran U.S. diplomat on Middle East policy. They discuss Operation Epic Fury, Tehran’s leadership transition, risks of miscalculation and proxy escalation. They examine U.S.-Israel and Gulf alignments and the near-term impacts on global markets and corporate operations.

Ryan Cox, Teneo’s Global Head of AI, guides firms on AI strategy and implementation. Sparky Zivin, Global Head of Teneo Research, leads AI-driven analytics and authored the CEO survey. They discuss why AI returns lag investments, early efficiency wins versus customer-facing revenue, agentic AI beyond chatbots, workforce reskilling, national AI sovereignty, energy and chip constraints, and regulatory and reputational risks.

With Venezuela thrust into crisis after the abrupt removal of Nicolás Maduro, what comes next and what does it signal about the world in 2026? In this episode of the Teneo Insights Series, host Kevin Kajiwara is joined by Teneo Managing Directors Nicholas Watson, Carsten Nickel and Emily Stromquist, alongside Nick Zimmerman, Senior Advisor at WestExec Advisors and former White House National Security Council Director for Brazil and Southern Cone Affairs, to assess how the operating environment is evolving and what to watch across the government, military, opposition and interested international parties. The conversation then widens beyond Venezuela to consider how geopolitics and a fragmented trade environment are reshaping great-power competition, straining Europe’s strategic position and raising the stakes for democracies and corporate leaders navigating uncertainty in the year ahead.

As companies enter 2026 with steadier confidence but a far more complex geopolitical and technological backdrop, CEOs are reassessing how to position their organizations for durable performance in a world where strategic clarity is harder to come by. In this episode of the Teneo Insights Series, host Kevin Kajiwara is joined by Teneo CEO Paul Keary to break down the results of Vision 2026: Where Is the World Going in 2026 and Beyond?, examining how executives are interpreting shifting market signals, responding to transformative technologies and navigating an environment where resilience and adaptability remain essential advantages. The report captures the views of more than 350 global CEOs and 400 institutional investors representing more than $19 trillion USD of company and portfolio value, offering a data-driven look at how leaders expect the global economy to take shape in 2026 and beyond.

As geopolitical tensions sharpen and the long arc of AI-driven transformation becomes harder to predict, CEOs are increasingly split on whether the turbulence shaping today’s markets reflects a passing cycle or a more permanent shift in the global order. In this special edition of the Teneo Insights Series, host Kevin Kajiwara sits down with Teneo Chairwoman Ursula Burns to explore the findings of Teneo’s annual CEO survey, Vision 2026: Where Is the World Going in 2026 and Beyond?, offering insight into how leaders are recalibrating expectations around growth, innovation and resilience amid a rapidly evolving business environment. The report captures the views of more than 350 global CEOs and 400 institutional investors representing more than $19 trillion USD of company and portfolio value, offering a data-driven look at how leaders expect the global economy to take shape in 2026 and beyond.

Jonathan Foster, founder of Current Capital Partners and author with vast board experience, joins Martha Carter, Vice Chair at Teneo and governance advisor. They dive into evolving board dynamics, discussing the importance of CEO succession planning and performance assessments. Foster champions separating CEO and chair roles for better transparency, while Carter highlights challenges like climate risks and stakeholder communication. They also touch on the need for proactive director education and the crucial balance between shareholder and stakeholder interests.

Listen now to the latest on the renewed escalation between the United States and China as President Trump threatens sweeping 100% tariffs in response to Beijing’s new export controls on critical materials. In this Quick Take edition of the Teneo Insights Series, host Kevin Kajiwara speaks with Wendy Cutler, former Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative and Principal at WestExec Advisors, and Gabriel Wildau, Managing Director at Teneo. Together, they unpack how a series of policy announcements has reignited trade tensions, what this means for global supply chains and markets, and whether upcoming diplomacy at the APEC summit can avert a deeper economic confrontation.

Amidst ongoing geopolitical volatility, economic uncertainty and accelerated technological disruption, financial leaders are forced to make critical decisions in real time. In this edition of the Teneo Insights Series, host Kevin Kajiwara is joined by Bloomberg Senior Editor Nina Trentmann and Teneo Senior Managing Director and Co-Head of Investor Relations Christian Buss to discuss findings from Teneo’s inaugural Global CFO and Investor Outlook Survey. Drawing on insights from 132 CFOs and 200 institutional investors representing over $16.7 trillion in market cap and AUM, the conversation explores how leaders are responding to today’s most urgent financial and strategic challenges.

As U.S.-China tensions escalate across trade, security and geopolitics, both countries appear locked in a strategic competition with global consequences. In this episode, Director of the RAND China Research Center Jude Blanchette and Professor of Finance at the Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance (SAIF) at Shanghai Jiao Tong University Zhu Ning join host Kevin Kajiwara to explore the economic and geopolitical dynamics shaping Beijing’s long-term strategy—and Washington’s response. From China’s evolving trade posture and domestic stimulus efforts to rising risks in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea, this conversation examines what’s driving the relationship today and what it could mean for global markets, supply chains and long-term stability.