Creating an entrepreneurial and innovation mindset in governments needs strategic thinking and critical stakeholder engagement if it is to unlock growth for nations and businesses. Martin Wold and Mariana Mazzucato share insights on what the future could be like if the public and private sectors learnt to better support each other.

As the world changes into a multipolar world, countries like China are losing interest in English as a foreign language. This will force Western companies to learn, trade and do business in local languages. Their reputations will be built or broken based on how they adapt to local culture and how consumers relate to their brand and values.

Storytelling is a key pillar and a strategic tool that governments and businesses can leverage to build trust, shape perceptions, and drive action. At the recent recent Milken Institute Middle East and Africa Summit last week, the institute hosted a panel discussion titled ‘The Art of Storytelling: Shaping Culture, Identity, and Global Impact, that highlighted the value of this strategic activity to build reputation and trust.

How strategy, strategic communications and stakeholder engagements can help mitigate the risks and turbulence of 2025.

Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) is shaping the future of innovation, delivering strategic value, and driving returns for businesses and investors, with insights tailored for board members and C-Suite executives. Senior CVC leaders and academics came together at a London Business School event to share their views on the future of corporate venturing and the opportunities for innovation.

Five trends to look out for in 2025, from the development of a multipolar world and the rise of quantum computing to ESG and digital transformation trends. Strategy, strategic communications and stakeholder engagement will help businesses grow.

Battenhall released its 2025 ‘The Year Ahead In Social’ report, which highlighted the rise in ‘dark social’ as a channel that people continue to move towards in a hyper-polarised environment. People want relevance and authenticity from brands that engage with them. Going siloed is becoming a trend.

Consultation on the UK’s new Industrial Strategy has closed. What is needed is the establishment of a culture of collaboration that unlocks the value in the innovation that ranks us fifth in the global innovation index. Business executives need to reposition themselves if they are to benefit from the high-tech future being designed by the new Labour government.

UK universities technology transfer and spin-outs fuel innovation and economic growth. As a nation, we are fifth the global innovation index, yet, compared to other nations, more needs to be done to turn research that our academics do into transformative science and technology that can deliver growth and jobs. We are competing on the global stage and we need effective positioning and strategic communications.