Sophie Krantz

Particularly when the most significant trends, technologies, and threats increasingly emerge far from where we live and work.

To weather the storms.
To reach the planned destination.
To go further, faster, together.

Adapted 📷 : Melbourne, Australia

"A pessimistic sailor complains about the wind. An optimistic sailor hopes it will turn. A good sailor adjusts their sails."

Perfect conditions may not arise.
Much like what could unfold for business leaders throughout 2025.

Having the right tools, techniques, and crew matters.

“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” - W.B. Yeats, Irish poet

“When the winds of change blow, some people build walls and others build windmills.” - Chinese Proverb

“Let him who would move the world, first move himself.” - Socrates

www.sophiekrantz.com/p/breaking-o...

If commodities were toys, in 2025, they’re being thrown out of the pram. Tangible goods attract tariffs and power-plays.

In 2025, intelligence, IP, and intangibles are harder to throw out of the pram.
It’s a more grown-up game.

How to de-commodify: www.sophiekrantz.com/p/how-to-de-...

Beyond zero-sum models are businesses that create positive-sum, win-win opportunities while contributing to a sustainable future.

International business success means crossing borders and breaking down barriers.

It’s about making more money in more markets - without leading to winner-takes-all outcomes.

What is international business success in 2025?

Headwinds persist, increasing the cost and complexity of doing business.

Yet, tools, technology, and transparency make smarter international success more achievable than ever.

It’s the ultimate hack to achieving more with less.

What you can do in the world is no longer a function of what you believe is possible.

It’s possible to go beyond our lived experience. And, what our boss, workplace, peers or society says we can do.

Amplified ambition is possible by accelerated agency.

This is global strategy playing out in 2025.

As traditional organisations tighten their grip, talent steps out to create on their terms. The world is theirs to shape.

See Paul Krugman departing the New York Times for Substack.

Love that Krugman, a Nobel-winning economist, chooses to stay true to his byline.

What happens when the ambition to say or do more meets accelerated agency? People walk away from steady roles and positions of status in search of something better.

And better alternatives are emerging.

Avoid the Snake's Bite It pays to be China-Informed in 2025.

It almost sounds too simple: Know your competition

Winners are no longer necessarily the biggest players, from the most advanced economies, or those with the most resources.

Competition can be out of sight, out of mind. Until it isn't.

Avoid the snake's bite.

www.sophiekrantz.com/p/avoid-the-...

Who is your competition? No competition?

Okay….

That belief ignores the ambition and agency of people around the world.

This week has shown us the risk in having this belief.

No-Networking Network There's 1 billion LinkedIn users. Who are the most valuable five for you?

How? www.sophiekrantz.com/p/no-network...

There’s not a business card, canapé, or awkward conversation in sight.

AI can be fun to explore, yet its true value lies in leveraging it to secure a competitive edge.

>Key is to know who is missing from your network.
>Then, you can make Boardy, and the net, work for you.

If you've missed it so far, Boardy acts as an AI super connector that helps professionals make strategic introductions.

It’s a new form of networking.

Boardy has blown up.
No wonder. Who doesn't love an Aussie on the end of the phone? 😉

“Your social capital - your ability to form and use connections with others - is the most valuable currency you have in today’s world.” - Herminia Ibarra, professor at London Business School, from 'Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader'

Expanding Beyond Borders: A Global Strategy Assessment In times of economic contraction, it’s more important than ever to de-risk and diversify your business. The Expanding Beyond Borders assessment helps you evaluate how well you're positioned to earn fo...

Expand your business beyond borders with our "Expanding Beyond Borders: A Global Strategy Assessment" quiz! Assess your global strategy and discover new growth opportunities. Take the quiz now at sophie-xs0nefnv.scoreapp.com #GlobalStrategy #BusinessGrowth #Quiz

Next, Network Here. Focus on middle powers for a strategic edge.

It's tempting to network where we are.

Yet, there's value in looking beyond our company, city, country, or industry.

Next, network here.

open.substack.com/pub/sophiekr...

Reforming Economics: Interview with Howie Jacobson PhD Last month, Howie Jacobson, host of the Plant Yourself podcast, invited me into his virtual studio to discuss my recent Substack piece on reforming the economics profession.

Had a fascinating chat with Economics Prof @matthewgnagler.bsky.social about the "economics elitism" problem—and why it matters beyond the Iv(or)y Tower. matthewgnagler.substack.com/p/reforming-...