Building Geopolitical Muscle 2026

Distribution and spread of core geopolitical muscle team size FIGURE 8 010 100% 0% 25% 50% 75%2030Number of resources in geopolitical muscle core team % of companies interviewed (sorted by team size)40 Median (~9 resources in core team) Note: Based on executive high-level assessment, not granular analysis. Some companies might report full-time employees; others the number of resources, including part time. Sample size of 37 companies. Source: Interviews, company analysisexperience of the company or business. Such leaders understand how the company competes, how decisions are made and where trade-offs truly lie. They can translate geopolitical analysis into commercial implications and ensure that recommendations resonate with both the board and the front line. Beyond the leadership of the geopolitical muscle, there is value in diverse backgrounds within the core team and a broad network of other contributors. The hosting function, however, often inadvertently induces a recruitment bias – for example, diplomatic background in government affairs, consultants in corporate strategy). The most effective teams know how to combine distinct perspectives. Common professional backgrounds include government and diplomacy, security and intelligence, legal and regulatory affairs, corporate strategy and long-standing industry experts who understand the company’s commercial realities. Seniority balance is also important. Senior staff bring credibility, networks and the ability to engage peers across the executive committee and external policy-makers, while more junior team members contribute analytical and project management competences. Best practices Description Business-anchored leadershipUltimate responsibility is placed with an executive who deeply understands the company and its commercial logic. Balanced compositionTeams blend business, government, intelligence, policy, legal and analytical expertise. Hybrid hiring strategyCombines internal promotion (credibility, networks) with external recruitment (expertise, diversity). Ultimate responsibility for leading a geopolitical team is best placed in an executive with long-standing experience of the company or business. Building Geopolitical Muscle: How Companies Turn Insights into Strategic Advantage 20