The Inspiration: Seeing the Impact of Geopolitics Up Close
I had the privilege of attending NBA All-Star 2025 in the San Francisco Bay Area as a guest of NBA Africa. There I joined the annual Newsmaker Breakfast. The session discussion was moderated by journalist Stephanie Ruhle and featured media giants Tom Friedman, Rashida Jones, and David Brooks. It resonated deeply and Roland Martin and Michael Eric Dyson were in the room. However, it was the question "How does what is happening domestically in the U.S. reflect globally?"—posed during the Q&A—that struck me.
In recent weeks, my global experiences have brought me face to face with firsthand accounts of how today’s shifting geopolitics are creating ripple effects, some visible, others hidden. One personal example that immediately came to mind when the question was asked was that of a delayed delivery to me, from my sister of some medically necessary compression socks. What should have been a routine shipment from Canada to the U.S. turned into an eight-day saga, with multiple calls, paperwork, and even a request for a social security number—all due to threatened new tariff rules. That disruption, and the session question that inspired me to think about it, made me reflect on the accounts that have come to my attention about the larger-scale consequences unfolding around the world.
In South Africa, NGOs that relied on USAID funding had to shut their doors overnight, leaving communities without life-saving health services.
In Asia and Africa, diplomats and international workers suddenly found their jobs at risk, their futures uncertain.
In the U.S., professionals and business owners are dealing with increased financial strain and mental health stress, while having to maintain stability for their families.
We often hear about the big players—governments, corporations, and philanthropists—stepping in to address these challenges. But there’s another sector that makes up 90% of businesses worldwide, that must also consider being part of the solution: Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
In this three-part series, I will therefore explore:
The mental health toll of geopolitical change and how SMEs can support their teams
How SMEs can turn today’s disruptions into opportunities for innovation and resilience
What have you observed? What do you think about mental wellbeing in this context? What can SMEs do? I look forward to reading about your experiences and thoughts as I continue to share mine.
Dr. Memuna Williams has a BA and MA in Translation, an MBA, and DBA. Her doctoral thesis illuminates how SMEs develop social responsibility programs across four phases and 13 categories. Dr. Williams and her husband Victor have three sons. Connect with her at: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-memuna-williams-dba-8193b01
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