Dominic Bowen: Geopolitical Risk Planning & Management

This insightful Kitecast episode features Dominic Bowen, Partner and Head of Strategic Advisory at 2Secure in Stockholm, Sweden. With over 20 years of experience supporting business leaders, boards, and executives, Dominic brings valuable perspective from his work across cybersecurity, generative AI, risk management, and crisis response. His background spans strategic leadership positions in humanitarian organizations, military service with Special Operations Command, and law enforcement—providing him unique insights into risk management across diverse environments.

Many risks facing organizations today are predictable, not "black swan" events. Dominic emphasizes that effective risk management begins with understanding the business environment before identifying, analyzing, and mitigating threats. Companies that neglect this approach face potential disruptions, as demonstrated by European and North American businesses that expanded into China without adequate risk assessment or those slow to withdraw from Russia after its invasion of Ukraine. Businesses must recognize that events like inflation spikes, terrorist attacks, or regional conflicts aren't unpredictable—proper planning and preparation can help organizations navigate these challenges.

Cybersecurity represents one of the most pressing concerns for business leaders globally. Dominic notes that cyber threats have evolved into warfare weapons, with European officials warning businesses and citizens to prepare for heightened threats. This reality is demonstrated by the Russian attacks on Ukrainian financial institutions before the 2022 invasion and ongoing attacks against energy infrastructure throughout Europe. For businesses, this necessitates not just regulatory compliance but leveraging security frameworks as competitive advantages that enable boards and executives to move forward confidently despite increasing threats.

Artificial intelligence offers transformative benefits for risk management—when properly implemented. Organizations can gain significant advantages through AI-powered predictive analytics, automated threat detection, improved decision-making capabilities, and scenario development. Those organizations leveraging AI for fraud detection, identifying insider threats, and recognizing suspicious transactions position themselves ahead of competitors who fail to adopt these tools.

Effective risk management requires methodical approaches regardless of organizational context. Whether operating in conflict zones, developing humanitarian responses, or expanding business operations, Dominic emphasizes that the process remains consistent: understand the environment before attempting to identify or mitigate risks. Organizations that invest time in thoroughly understanding cultural, linguistic, political, and historical contexts before implementing risk mitigation strategies achieve substantially better outcomes. 

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominic-bowen/ 

2Secure: https://2securecorp.com/ 

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