Afshin Molavi

Combining his exceptional breadth of global knowledge, a deep cultural perspective, and engaging anecdotes, Afshin Molavi examines the most critical issues impacting our world—and our businesses—today.

One of the world’s most trusted authorities on global economic trends and geopolitics, Afshin Molavi helps organizations better understand the changing world and prepare for an uncertain future. Covering topics ranging from US-China relations and the ongoing volatility in the Middle East and Ukraine to shifts in energy policy and how the 2025 change in administration might impact the global landscape, Molavi identifies the risks—and opportunities—businesses can expect to navigate in the coming years.

Peppering his talks with anecdotes from his travels, a deep reading of history, and broad industry knowledge of commodities and supply chains, Molavi argues that globalization remains a potent force shaping our world in everything from your morning coffee (“Globalization in a Mug”) to pop culture (“Gangnam Style Globalization”). In an engaging, approachable style, he explains how everything is inter-connected and how small events can have major impacts to the ways we produce, consume, work and live.

With wide experience on the ground in the Middle East and Asia, including journalist postings in Riyadh, Dubai, Tehran, and Cairo, and wide travel across Asia from India to Japan to South Korea to China, Afshin is now a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Institute of the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, co-founder of the emerge85 Lab, and founder of the Emerging World newsletter. His articles and op-eds frequently appear in publications like The New York Times, The Economist, Businessweek, and Institutional Investor. His journalism credits include Reuters, The Washington Post, and the Financial Times. He was a senior global advisor at Oxford Analytica, and was selected by the World Economic Forum in Davos as a Young Global Leader.

From Amsterdam to Abu Dhabi, from San Diego to Singapore, Molavi has delivered impactful keynotes for a wide range of audiences, from global asset management firms and leading investment banks to travel and tourism boards, trade associations, and leading educational institutions.