The 2025 Perugia Journalism Festival wasn’t just about media—it was a wake-up call for global leaders. From AI disruption to collapsing public trust, the challenges facing journalism mirror those in business and government. Here’s what leaders need to know to stay credible, connected, and ahead.

Despite political headwinds, impact investing is evolving—not retreating. From China to the Gulf, capital is flowing to ESG ventures that align long-term financial returns with strategic reputation and trust.

Brent Hoberman’s question—“How good is the data that governments use to make choices?”—spotlights a deeper issue: it’s not just about the data, but the people and culture behind it. In this article I explore how risk aversion, silos, and bias hinder policy impact—and what leaders can do to fix it.

What if the recent ‘Signal Gate’ leak had happened inside a global bank? In this blog I explores how a similar breach in financial services would trigger regulatory action, reputational fallout, and investor backlash—and what leaders must learn to safeguard trust in uncertain times.

In a House of Lords inquiry, Dr Mhairi Aitken (Alan Turing Institute) and Professor Sander van der Linden (University of Cambridge) warned that AI-driven misinformation—seen by 40% of UK adults—undermines trust and reputation. They called for leaders to strengthen regulation, media literacy, and partnerships with tech platforms to uphold credibility.

In today’s multipolar world, diplomacy is no longer the sole domain of governments. Multinational corporations are stepping into roles once reserved for diplomats, navigating geopolitical risks, engaging regulators, and shaping public policy. Corporate diplomacy is now essential for business diplomacy and resilience, reputation, and global growth.

The recent fire at Heathrow Airport exposed more than a power outage—it revealed critical gaps in the UK’s infrastructure resilience and crisis readiness. For leaders in government and business, the incident is a stark reminder: resilience, reputation, and rapid response must be built into strategic planning now.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming PR by dramatically improving tactical tasks like content creation and analytics. However, strategic advisory—rooted in human judgment, emotional intelligence, and cultural insight—remains essential. Leaders must blend AI efficiency with human expertise to achieve meaningful, trusted outcomes

The UK Government’s digital reform agenda is ambitious, but without strategic communication and stakeholder engagement, it risks resistance and slow adoption. Embedding communications within Agile teams ensures alignment, trust, and success. Discover why communication is the missing link in digital transformation.