Speaking to our host Paul Chapman on this episode is Doomberg, the most popular energy and commodity focused Substack. He and his team publish over 90 articles a year on the intersection of global energy and commodity policy, geopolitics, risk and technology.
How close are we to World War III? Are we already in it? What does that mean for the energy and commodity supply chains? How sanctions and tariffs not only reshape global commodity flows, but also weaken the West, and what the “One Big Beautiful Bill” means for American industry and the energy transition, and much more. Always a challenging and fascinating discussion.
Read below for our key talent impacts from this episode.
Key Talent Impacts
How are we addressing the rising need for geopolitical literacy in energy talent?
Executives, traders and technical specialists increasingly require the ability to interpret complex, multi-source geopolitical intelligence — including adversarial propaganda — and translate it into operational and strategic decisions. Traditional reliance on single-narrative, Western-focused news sources is inadequate for managing risk in volatile global commodity flows.
Do we have strategic supply chain and resource security expertise?
The sector faces acute vulnerabilities in critical minerals, defence-related materials, and energy infrastructure. There is growing demand for leaders who can identify supply chain choke points, anticipate hostile disruption, and design diversification or stockpiling strategies. This is particularly acute in LNG, rare earths, and advanced manufacturing inputs.
How is policy volatility driving our commercial risk management skills?
Rapid and extreme policy shifts — such as the reversal of renewable incentives under the “one big, beautiful bill” — are creating a premium on talent able to plan capital-intensive projects amid political whiplash. Professionals must manage the mismatch between multi-year industrial investment cycles and short-term electoral cycles.
Do we possess the technical resilience and systems-thinking capability required?
Energy systems talent must increasingly blend engineering competence with systems thinking to ensure operational reliability in stressed grids, contested supply lines, and conflict zones. This includes the ability to assess and mitigate risks from emerging military threats (e.g., hypersonic missiles to LNG infrastructure) and cyber or drone-enabled disruption.
Are we developing cross-disciplinary commercial–security leadership?
The blurring of lines between energy policy, national security, and commodity market operations demands leaders who can operate across corporate, governmental and military interfaces. This hybrid skill set — part commercial strategist, part security planner — is now critical for companies navigating the intersection of trade policy, sanctions, and industrial capacity.
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