Vali Nasr: Middle East, How Leaders Should Operate in Unpredictability | EDGE 2026
EDGE 2026 Beyond The Stage
•
22-Apr-2026
In this EDGE - Beyond The Stage 1:1, Vali Nasr explains how the Middle East is being reshaped by two forces at once: ambitious geo-economic plans built on trade corridors, artificial intelligence and data centers, and the destabilizing reality of expanding wars across the region. He breaks down why the “old order” is over, what that means for Iran, Israel, and the Gulf, and why CEOs can no longer treat geopolitics as a side issue. His takeaway is clear: leaders are operating in a more unpredictable environment, and the time horizon for business forecasting is getting shorter.
Takeaways:
• “the old order in the Middle East is gone” - the balance of power is shifting and still unsettled.
• CEOs must factor geopolitics into core decisions because regional conflict can quickly disrupt trade and markets.
• Businesses are operating with “unpredictability with much greater risk” and a shorter forecasting horizon.
Up Next in EDGE 2026 Beyond The Stage
-
Marco Vicenzino: Politics Above Profi...
In this EDGE - Beyond The Stage 1:1, Marco Vicenzino explains why leaders are moving from a “profits above politics” world to a “politics above profits” era - and what that means for supply chains, risk, and decision-making. He argues geopolitical risk must be a core part of every leader’s toolki...
-
Louie Schwartzberg: The Secrets of Vi...
In this EDGE - Beyond The Stage 1:1, Louie Schwartzberg introduces “visual healing” - the idea that nature and beauty can measurably reduce stress and anxiety. He shares feedback from his Netflix series Moving Art and discusses clinical trials exploring how visual content can impact heart rate an...
-
Rajeev Kapur: CEOs Must Own the AI St...
In this EDGE - Beyond The Stage 1:1, Rajeev Kapur explains why AI strategy cannot be delegated - “you have to own it.” He breaks down the most common leadership mistake he sees right now: jumping into AI agents without building the data foundation and without team buy-in. Rajeev also shares a pra...
