Fogelman College of Business and Economics
Hosted by the Fogelman College of Business and Economics in partnership with the Institute for Applied Geopolitics (IAG)
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Course Overview
Developed in partnership with the Institute for Applied Geopolitics, this Executive Certificate equips business and supply chain leaders with the analytical frameworks and strategic foresight needed to anticipate geopolitical disruptions and build organizational resilience. In an era of escalating trade tensions, regional conflicts and shifting alliances, the ability to decode geopolitical dynamics and translate them into actionable strategies has become essential for business continuity and competitive advantage.
Led by Rodger Baker, Founder and Principal of Baker Global Insights, LLC, and Steven Smith, Executive Director of the Institute for Applied Geopolitics, this intensive program combines rigorous geopolitical analysis methodologies with practical supply chain applications. Participants will learn to identify emerging risks, assess vulnerabilities across global supply networks, and develop strategic responses that protect operations while enabling growth.
Through interactive lectures, real-world case studies and collaborative scenario planning exercises, you'll gain the tools to transform geopolitical intelligence into supply chain decisions that matter.
Why This Course Matters Now
Global supply chains face unprecedented complexity. The convergence of great power competition, economic nationalism, climate impacts and technological disruption creates a volatile operating environment where yesterday's assumptions no longer hold. Business leaders are increasingly called upon to understand and respond to:
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Shifting Trade Dynamics - Tariffs, export controls and economic sanctions reshaping global commerce
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Supply Chain Concentration Risk - Dependencies on specific regions, suppliers or transportation corridors
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Geopolitical Competition - U.S.-China tensions, regional conflicts and their cascading effects on business operations
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Resource Security - Energy transitions, critical minerals and the geopolitics of supply and demand
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Regulatory Fragmentation - Diverging standards, compliance requirements and political pressures
Traditional supply chain risk management approaches, focused primarily on operational and financial metrics, are insufficient. Building true resilience requires understanding the geopolitical forces that drive disruption and the analytical frameworks to anticipate change before it impacts your operations.
Customized Curriculum
This program has been specifically designed for the Memphis business community and regional supply chain ecosystem. The curriculum incorporates:
- Regional Supply Chain Focus - Case studies and examples relevant to key regional industries including logistics,
manufacturing, healthcare and agriculture
- Memphis Logistics Hub Context - Special attention to the unique geopolitical considerations for North America's logistics capital
What You Will Learn
Participants will develop practical skills in:
- Geopolitical Analysis Frameworks - Master the COMPASS Framework for Geopolitical Analysis, a proprietary two-stage methodology developed by IAG to contextualize global events and understand their business implications
- Supply Chain Vulnerability Assessment - Identify and evaluate geopolitical exposure across your supply network, from raw materials to end markets
- Scenario Planning and Strategic Foresight - Build plausible alternative futures to stress-test supply chain strategies and enhance preparedness
- Risk-Opportunity Analysis - Move beyond threat identification to recognize competitive advantages in geopolitical shifts
- Intelligence Integration - Establish processes to incorporate geopolitical intelligence into supply chain planning and decision-making
You'll learn to answer critical questions such as:
- How do escalating global tensions affect my sourcing strategy and market access?
- What geopolitical factors could disrupt my key supply corridors in the next 12-24 months?
- How should we evaluate nearshoring and friend-shoring opportunities?
- What early warning indicators should we monitor for supply chain disruption?
- How do we balance supply chain efficiency with geopolitical resilience?
- What geopolitical scenarios should inform our strategic planning?
Course Structure
Format: 3-day intensive program
Delivery: In-person (preferred) and virtual option available
(Only 35 in-person seats are available!)
Schedule: March 11-13, 2026
Location: University of Memphis
Geopolitical Fundamentals for Business Leaders
- Understanding geopolitics: Geography, resources and power
- Current geopolitical landscape and key fault lines
- Translating geopolitical dynamics into business impacts
Supply Chain Geopolitics
- Mapping geopolitical exposure across supply networks
- Regional analysis: Indo-Pacific, Europe, Americas and emerging markets
- Critical dependencies: Energy, semiconductors, critical minerals, advanced manufacturing inputs
- Trade policy, sanctions and export controls
Risk Assessment and Vulnerability Analysis
- Building ground-up geopolitical assessments
- Supply chain node vulnerability evaluation
- Early warning indicators and monitoring frameworks
- Using the COMPASS Framework methodology to integrate geopolitical analysis into supply chain risk assessment
Strategic Foresight and Scenario Planning
- Forecasting geopolitical change
- Developing actionable scenarios for supply chain planning
- Stress-testing strategies against alternative futures
- Building organizational capacity for strategic foresight
Building Resilient Supply Chains
- Response strategies: Diversification, redundancy and flexibility
- Nearshoring, friend-shoring and regionalization decisions
- Supplier relationship management in geopolitical context
- Integrating geopolitical intelligence into supply chain operations
Investment
Program Fee:
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- In-Person Attendance: $2,450
- Early Bird Price: $2,150*
- Early Bird Price: $2,150*
- Virtual Attendance: $2,000
- Early Bird Price: $1,700*
- In-Person Attendance: $2,450
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Fee includes:
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- All course materials and resources
- Access to IAG learning management system
- Breakfast, lunch and networking receptions
- Executive Certificate upon completion
- Digital credential
- Ongoing alumni resources
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*Early registration discounts and group rates available through January 31, 2026.
- Receive proprietary analytical templates and assessment tools
- Access to IAG's learning management system with ongoing resources
- Certificate upon completion bearing both University of Memphis and IAG credentials
- Connect with fellow executives facing similar global challenges
- Ongoing access to IAG's network of geopolitical analysts and practitioners
- Post-program consultation opportunities
- Bring real challenges from your organization for analysis during the program
- Develop actionable recommendations you can implement immediately
- Custom scenario planning relevant to your industry and supply chain
- Professional development credits and continuing education units (CEUs)
- Digital credential through University of Memphis for professional recognition
- Alumni access to future IAG programs and briefings
Who Should Attend
This executive certificate is designed for senior leaders and decision-makers responsible for supply chain strategy, risk management, and global operations, including:
- Supply Chain Executives - VPs and Directors of Supply Chain, Procurement and Logistics
- Operations Leaders - COOs and Operations Directors managing global operations
- Risk Management Professionals - Enterprise Risk, Business Continuity and Compliance leaders
- Strategic Planning Officers - Corporate Strategy and Business Development executives
- Business Intelligence Professionals - Business Intelligence Leaders, Competitive Intelligence Analysts and Market Intelligence Specialists
- Strategy and Analysis Professionals - Corporate Strategists, Strategic Analysts and Management Consultants
- Economic Analysis Professionals - Economists, Macroeconomists and Market Analysts
- Trade and Policy Professionals - Government Affairs, Trade Compliance and Regulatory experts
The program is particularly valuable for organizations with:
- Complex global supply chains spanning multiple regions
- Significant exposure to geopolitically sensitive markets
- Critical dependencies on specific countries, suppliers or transportation routes
- Strategic growth plans requiring market entry or supplier diversification decisions
Program Faculty
Rodger Baker brings nearly three decades of experience in geopolitical intelligence and strategic
analysis to this program. As Founder and Principal of Baker Global Insights, LLC,
he advises organizations on navigating global complexity and building resilience in
uncertain environments.
Previously, Professor Baker spent over 28 years with Stratfor and RANE, where he served as Senior Vice President of Strategic Analysis and led the firm's strategic thinking on global issues and future trends. As senior analyst, he guided the development and application of proprietary geopolitical analysis methodologies and trained international analyst teams.
Professor Baker has advised Fortune 500 companies, government agencies and international organizations on strategic risk and opportunity assessment. His expertise spans East Asian security dynamics, global supply chain vulnerabilities and the integration of geopolitical analysis into corporate decision-making. He currently serves as Senior Fellow at the George H. W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations and Coordinator for United States Industry at the Mackinder Forum.
A frequent speaker and educator on geopolitical risk, Professor Baker has trained thousands of executives in applied geopolitical analysis methodologies. He holds a Master of Arts in Military History from Norwich University and a BS in Biology from Long Island University.
Steven Smith serves as Executive Director of the Institute for Applied Geopolitics (IAG), bringing
over 25 years of experience spanning academia, industry and global consulting. His
unique ability to integrate geopolitical analysis with strategic planning has established
him as a thought leader in helping organizations navigate global complexity and build
resilience in uncertain environments.
Professor Smith's diverse career path provides a distinctive perspective on global business challenges. His corporate experience at Procter & Gamble and PepsiCo gave him firsthand insight into multinational operations and supply chain dynamics, while faculty positions at institutions such as Rutgers University, Columbia University and Florida Atlantic University allowed him to develop rigorous analytical frameworks for understanding geopolitical risk.
As a strategic advisor, Professor Smith has partnered with Fortune 500 companies across multiple industries to address geopolitical challenges and optimize global operations. His commitment to advancing geopolitical education led him to co-found the Certificate in Geopolitical Analysis program at Florida Atlantic University with Rodger Baker. Through IAG, he continues to develop cutting-edge training programs that translate complex geopolitical dynamics into actionable business tools, analytic frameworks and methodologies.
Professor Smith has delivered lectures and workshops across six continents to diverse audiences ranging from university students to C-suite executives. He holds a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering, an MBA and Ph.D. in Strategy and International Business from Rutgers University—credentials that enable him to bridge technical, strategic and geopolitical perspectives in his teaching and advisory work.
Secure your spot today!
In a world of increasing geopolitical volatility, the ability to anticipate disruption and build resilient supply chains is no longer optional, it's essential for competitive advantage and organizational survival.
Join us for this transformative executive education experience and gain the analytical tools, strategic frameworks, and professional network to lead with confidence in an uncertain world.
Only 35 in-person seats are available! Early bird pricing offered through January 31, 2026.*
REGISTER NOWREQUEST MORE INFORMATION
For additional information and inquiries, please contact
Dr. Wendy Bedwell-Torres
Director, Executive Education Programs
Fogelman College of Business Economics, University of Memphis
Wendy.Torres@memphis.edu | 407.716.4799