Afshin Molavi

Afshin Molavi is a globally recognised geopolitical analyst, author and keynote speaker who explores the forces reshaping the global economy and international politics. As a Senior Fellow at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Afshin has built a reputation for explaining complex geopolitical and economic shifts with clarity and depth. Through his research, writing and speaking, he helps audiences understand the changing balance of global power, the rise of emerging markets and the evolving nature of globalisation.

Afshin’s early career was shaped by journalism and international reporting, experiences that gave him direct exposure to the political and economic realities of the Middle East and wider emerging world. After completing a Master’s degree in Middle Eastern History and International Economics at Johns Hopkins University SAIS, he began working as a foreign correspondent. His reporting roles included Reuters in Dubai and The Washington Post in Tehran, along with assignments across Saudi Arabia and the wider region. Travelling extensively throughout Asia, the Middle East and beyond, Afshin developed a first-hand understanding of the global forces shaping trade, development and political change. These formative experiences gave him a deep appreciation of how global events connect economies, industries and communities across continents.

Building on this international experience, Afshin moved into research, policy analysis and advisory roles that further cemented his expertise in geopolitics and global economics. He served as Senior Advisor at Oxford Analytica, where he advised multinational corporations, investors and governments on geopolitical risk and global market trends. Earlier in his career he also worked at the International Finance Corporation, part of the World Bank Group, focusing on engagement across regions including the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia. Afshin later became Co-Founder of emerge85 Lab, a research initiative examining transformation across Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East, regions that together represent the majority of the world’s population. Alongside these roles, he has written extensively for major publications including The New York Times, Foreign Affairs, National Geographic, Businessweek and The Financial Times. His book, ‘Persian Pilgrimages: Journeys Across Iran’, was widely praised and later republished as ‘The Soul of Iran’. In recognition of his global impact, he was selected as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in Davos.

As a keynote speaker, Afshin is widely respected for helping audiences make sense of a rapidly shifting global landscape. Drawing on decades of travel, reporting and policy analysis, Afshin explains how geopolitical tensions, demographic change, technological development and global trade flows influence business strategy and economic opportunity. His presentations connect the big picture of global power shifts with the everyday realities faced by organisations and investors. By illustrating how supply chains, energy markets, migration patterns and technological innovation shape the modern world, Afshin offers leaders a clearer understanding of risk and opportunity. Organisations hire him because he brings sharp insight, engaging storytelling and strategic foresight, equipping audiences with the knowledge needed to navigate an increasingly interconnected and uncertain global economy.