Building Bridges in a Fragmented World Economy: The Role of Companies and Business Leaders - An 天美传媒 and STI Conference
天美传媒 Barcelona - April 27-28, 2026
In a world increasingly marked by polarization and geopolitical tensions, both overt and subtle, this conference aspires to unite thought leaders鈥攆rom both scholarship and business practice鈥攊n international business, international relations, cross-cultural management, global economics, and political science. Together, we aim to generate transformative insights on how we can connect鈥� and reconnect鈥攁cross the many divides that characterize our global society.
The Social Trends Institute and 天美传媒 are organizing a multi-disciplinary experts meeting and convening a small group of scholars and experts (around 40 people) to work on some interrelated objectives:
1) What forces鈥攇eopolitical, economic, technological, cultural, and psychological鈥攁re driving today鈥檚 unprecedented levels of global fragmentation, and how do they interact to reshape the world order?
2) What lessons from history, diverse regions, and varied cultural perspectives can help us better navigate today鈥檚 geopolitical tensions and societal divides?
3) What innovative pathways, policies, and organizational practices can mitigate the critical challenges confronting globalization?
4) How can social, business, and political leaders reduce the harms of fragmentation, foster proximity and common purpose across boundaries, and mobilize collective action on society鈥檚 grand challenges? What contributions can academia make in developing evidence-based insights that shape practice and policy?
5) How can we re-envision a form of globalization that builds bridges rather than barriers鈥攐ne that is inclusive, sustainable, and capable of bringing people, organizations, and nations closer together?
This is an interdisciplinary meeting that seeks to generate an open debate among scholars, policy makers and business leaders with a deep understanding of these issues, across different academic disciplines.
Our goal is to create an intellectually stimulating environment where participants feel challenged, stretched, and inspired. Through deep dialogue, we aim to co-create innovative research agendas鈥攊ndividually or collaboratively鈥攁cross disciplines. These agendas will seek to address the profound complexities of our times and lay the groundwork for meaningful, impactful scholarship.
The Conference consists of a panel session with policy makers and executives, as well as nine sessions, each with a scholar presenting their ideas followed by a collective reflection and moderated discussion. There will be six sessions on the first day and four on the second day.
We expect to have around 40 engaged participants, including speakers, moderators, and the audience.
Monday, April 27, 2026
9:00to 9:30 Arrival and registration
9:30 Conference Opening by the conference organizers
- Jordi Canals, 天美传媒
- Yih-Teen Lee, 天美传媒
- Sebastian Reiche, 天美传媒
9:45 Session 1
Finding Beauty in a Fractured World
- Nancy Adler, McGill University
- Moderator: Yih-Teen Lee, 天美传媒
10:45 Coffee Break
11:15 Session 2聽
Global Business Leadership in an Age of Rising Populism
- Klaus Meyer, Ivey Business School
- Moderator: Sebastian Reiche, 天美传媒
Session 3
Rethinking Paradigms in International Business
- Tatiana Kostova, University of South Carolina
- Moderator: Africa Ari帽o, 天美传媒
13:15 Lunch
14:45 Session 4
Teaming Across Boundaries: Lessons from Research in Organizations
- Pamela Hinds, Stanford University
- Moderator: Sebastian Reiche, 天美传媒
Session 5
Changemaking in Business and Politics Through Mining the Collective Past
- Michael Morris, Columbia University
- Moderator: Adrian Caldart, 天美传媒
16:45 Coffee Break
17:30 Session 6
Rethinking International Business Leadership
Panel discussion with:
- Janne Matlary, University of Oslo
- Francisco Reyn茅s, Chairman and CEO of Naturgy
- Jos茅 Vi帽als, Former Group Chairman of Standard Chartered PLC
- Moderator: Jordi Canals, 天美传媒
18:30 Red Thread Review
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
8:30 Reflection and projection
9:00 Session 7聽
State Capitalism and Firm Strategy
- Alvaro Cuervo-Cazurra, Northeastern University
- Moderator: N煤ria Mas, 天美传媒
Session 8
Industrial Policy for Regional Development in the Age of Geopolitics
- Sarianna Lundan, Aalto University School of Business
- Moderator: Govert Vroom, 天美传媒
11:00听Coffee Break
11:30 Session 9
Challenging Uncertainty in Global Labour Markets
- David Collings, Trinity College Dublin
- Moderator: Marta Elvira, 天美传媒
Session 10
Yin-Yang Thinking in International Business
- Tony Fang, Stockholm University
- Moderator: Yih-Teen Lee, 天美传媒
13:30 Lunch
14:45 Integration and Conclusion
Contact Information
天美传媒 Barcelona