Author name: Simba Mariwande

Board Series: The Amazon dilemma – will Bezos do better in Trump 2.0?

Jeff Bezos’ relationship with President Trump appears much improved in Trump’s second term, at least at face value. Bezos, now a key global leader in IT infrastructure and cloud, supply chain, e-commerce, and space ventures, attended Trump’s 2025 inauguration alongside other business executives. He has even expressed enthusiasm about the administration’s space agenda. Additionally, he has downplayed concerns over Elon Musk’s ties to Trump, trusting Musk to act in the public interest. The bigger question remains – with so much exposure in its global operations to trade barriers and tariffs, how will Amazon thrive during Trump’s second administration?

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Board Series: Are you ready for EUDR? Europe’s enhanced deforestation regulation is here

With the EU’s deforestation laws coming online this month, CPG and Industrial companies will need to ensure that select commodities in their supply chains do not contribute to deforestation. The commodities scoped into the regulation include wood, rubber, palm oil, soy, beef, cattle, and cacao. In advancing this regulation, the EU aims to reduce its impact on climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, and biodiversity loss. Companies will have to quickly adapt their commercial operations to ensure compliance and think strategically to gain a competitive edge in doing so.

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Sanctions – is your business ready?

With national security central to Trump’s policy agenda, sanction compliance will be a critical topic for all management teams to reassess. Especially so, as nearly one third of all countries are impacted. As stewards of the company, business leaders must ensure responsible and ethical operations, which include strict adherence to sanctions. Failing to comply can expose the company to significant legal and reputational risks, which will ultimately harm shareholders’ and company interests.

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Board series: Is your CPG business sanction-proof?

With national security central to Trump’s policy agenda, sanction compliance directly ties into CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) boards of directors’ duties of care and loyalty. As stewards of the company, directors must ensure responsible and ethical operations, which include strict adherence to sanctions. Failing to comply can expose the company to significant legal and reputational risks, which will ultimately harm shareholders’ interests. Therefore, it is imperative that boards fully understand the sanction compliance requirements relevant to their company.

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Tariffs, Energy Crisis, and AI – an industrial executive view

From Paramita Das’s lens as a leading global executive in industrials and critical minerals, we asked her the most pressing questions on the future of ESG and Sustainability. Be it the rise of AI and automation, tariffs, the rolling out of China+1, or other geopolitical issues, business leaders will have to be ready for a myriad of new challenges in 2025 and beyond.

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Board series: What’s your sanction exposure? Readiness for Industrials

With national security central to Trump’s policy agenda, sanction compliance directly ties into Industrial companies’ boards of directors’ duties of care and loyalty. As stewards of the company, directors must ensure responsible and ethical operations, which include strict adherence to sanctions. Failing to comply can expose the company to significant legal and reputational risks, which will ultimately harm shareholders’ interests. Therefore, it is imperative that boards fully understand the sanction compliance requirements relevant to their company.

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Policy upheaval with Trump 2.0 – what will impact businesses the most?

With an “America First” philosophy, President Trump will bring structural shifts to U.S. domestic economy and America’s approach to trade, foreign policy, and investment flows. As Trump takes office today, he and his team will push aggressively. Business will feel immediate pressure and have to navigate peripheral clatter . This will be especially true for businesses that are resource- and knowledge-intensive with global operations. Expect greater deregulation, sweeping tax reform, enhanced competition with China, and a reconfiguration of global supply chains due to broad tariffs, levies, duties, and import/export bans. Business leaders will have to ensure readiness to absorb major policy shocks and redirects in Q1 and well beyond.

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Board series: A snapshot of Trump 2.0 policy priorities

With an “American First” philosophy, President Trump will bring structural shifts to U.S. domestic economy and America’s approach to trade, foreign policy, and investment flows. As Trump takes office today, he will push aggressively to sign what he can immediately. Business will feel immediate pressure and have to navigate peripheral clatter. This will be especially true for businesses that are resource- and knowledge-intensive with global operations. Expect greater deregulation, sweeping tax reform, enhanced competition with China, and a reconfiguration of global supply chains due to broad tariffs, levies, duties, and import/export bans. Corporate directors will have to ensure readiness to absorb major policy shocks and redirects in Q1 and well beyond.

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Tariffs, AI, and China – an industrial executive view

Paramita Das is the Chief Strategy Officer and Senior Advisor at Stardust Power Inc., an American developer of battery-grade lithium products. With over 20 years of experience in leadership roles at major global metals and minerals companies, she brings deep expertise in commercial, business development, and technical leadership. Previously, Ms. Das served as the Global Head of Marketing, Development and ESG (Chief Marketing Officer) Metals and Minerals at Rio Tinto. At Rio Tinto, she served as the Global Head of Marketing, Development, and ESG for Metals and Minerals, and has been instrumental in transforming business segments into profitable divisions. She currently serves on the boards of Genco Shipping & Trading Limited and Coeur Mining, Inc. and Toromont Industries. Paramita is dedicated to supporting Stardust Power’s mission of reshoring lithium production to enhance U.S. energy independence while driving sustainability and supply chain security.

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How the LA fires expose unresolved structural and societal risks

Uncontrolled wildfires continue to menace and destroy communities in Los Angeles under a rare red flag warning. Even with the deadly fires still raging across a large swath of Southern California, the estimated damages have made the fires the region’s worst natural disaster in decades. The issues mount – lack of water, cascading electrical outages, un-insurability, privatization of first responder support, finger pointing between local, state, and federal levels. With all of this in mind, the LA fires demonstrate a new vulnerability for Americans. Residents and business leaders alike must call into question closely held assumptions on normalcy in one of the biggest and most prosperous U.S. cities

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