In this episode of The Global Edge, we build on recent work by global strategist Sophie Krantz, and dive into how businesses are navigating today’s fractured globalisation, a landscape where the traditional playbook for international trade is no longer effective. Despite talk of its end, globalisation persists, continually reshaped by geopolitical rivalry, technological advancements, and climate urgency.
With global trade still accounting for nearly 60% of global GDP, the question isn’t whether to engage globally, but how to do it smarter. Smart firms are adapting with light, fast, and intangible-led models, bypassing the complexities of traditional trade. This involves licensing expertise, franchising service models, monetising proprietary processes or data, and delivering knowledge and value across borders, rather than just physical products.
This strategic shift is dubbed ‘weightless globalisation. Key changes include the slowing movement of goods but rising movement of value (like services, software, and data). It also emphasises that a global footprint isn’t necessary; instead, the right regional, relational, or asset-light foothold matters, and resilience now outperforms uniform global reach. Effective leaders are building on existing assets, turning intangible assets into income, competing through leverage, and navigating complexity with clear vision, allowing them to move faster, risk less, and gain more in a changing world.
Read the article by Sophie Krantz here:
https://www.sophiekrantz.com/p/making-money-in-a-fractured-global
