The latest episode of The Next Five explores how company boards can navigate a world where risks are accelerating, interlinked, and increasingly unpredictable.
From the Financial Times, the podcast is presented by Tom Parker. This latest episode features Sarah Isted, UK Risk Leader at PwC UK, Sean McGovern, UK CEO at AXA XL, and Pam Joshi, Global Head of Insurance and Risk Management at Takeda Pharmaceuticals. Together they discuss how directors can move beyond passive oversight and adopt a more agile approach to complex risks.
Sarah Isted sets the tone by warning that global integration and cooperation are fading, meaning leaders now face not just uncertainty but genuine unpredictability.
Sean McGovern highlights the shift from insuring physical assets to addressing intangible risks such as data and intellectual property, while Pam Joshi emphasises the need for robust governance around artificial intelligence and data-driven modelling.
The conversation explores how boards must adapt governance structures, embrace diverse perspectives, and integrate risk insights into strategic action.
They outline steps such as modelling both near and long-term threats, from cyberattacks to geopolitical volatility, and using technology to prepare for low-probability but high-impact scenarios.
Despite the challenges, the guests point to opportunities for boards that build cultures of agility, learning, and innovation, enabling them to prepare for visible threats and adapt to those not yet imagined.
The Next Five is the FT’s partner-supported podcast that brings together leading voices to explore the forces shaping industries over the coming years.
Previous episodes have tackled themes including AI-driven cybersecurity, cross-border payments, and the future of biotechnology.
The series, produced in partnership with AXA XL, is available now on all major podcast platforms.