Geopolitical Scenarios for Corporate Leaders in Ukraine

Dr. Hannes Meissner Presenter at Pre-Davos Workshop

On 18 January 2026, the University of Zurich and the European Business Association (EBA) welcomed corporate leaders travelling to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos to participate in a practice‑oriented workshop titled “Geopolitical Scenarios for Corporate Leaders in Ukraine.” During the event, Dr. Hannes Meissner introduced scenario planning as a structured method designed to help companies navigate uncertainty by systematically analyzing future developments. The workshop focused specifically on Ukraine, and in the practical exercise participants identified geopolitical developments and military developments as the two critical uncertainties shaping business strategy.

Scenario planning emphasizes the identification of all relevant influencing factors, the determination of key uncertainties—such as shifts in the military situation and global geopolitics—and the formulation of balanced assumptions informed by expert insights. The method encourages the development of a small number of realistic scenarios, including best‑ and worst‑case options, and the assessment of their implications. Ultimately, companies are guided to develop concrete strategies for each scenario while continuously monitoring ongoing developments, as scenario planning is an iterative and long‑term process rather than a one‑time exercise. Follow the link to the presentation.

Dr. Hannes Meissner leading a workshop group