Season 4 - Ep. 7 | Elections, Geopolitics, and Global Business: A Conversation with Former President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso

Unprecedented may be an overused word these days, but it certainly applies to the record number of national elections happening around the world in 2024. With more than 70 national elections and almost half the world’s population voting on their country’s leader, the results of this year’s elections could impact countries, business leaders, and perhaps the world for years to come.

In today’s Redefiners episode, José Manuel Barroso – chair of Goldman Sachs’ International Advisors, former President of the European Commission, and former Prime Minister of Portugal – sits down with Simon and Hoda to try to make sense of these global elections and much more. José Manuel talks about his journey from academia to politics, and the multitude of insights he’s gained during his various leadership roles over the years. He digs into what’s at stake with the elections and the growing risk of misinformation/disinformation in the democratic process. And he shares his perspectives on globalization, the critical role of democracy around the world, the green energy transition, and the future of the European Union.

We’ll also hear from Tom Handcock, the global lead of our Center for Leadership Insight team, based in London. Tom will highlight key findings from our latest Global Leadership Monitor—which tracks the top external business threats facing organizations and leaders’ preparedness to face them.

If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like these Redefiners episodes:

• Action Creates Hope: A Conversation with IRC President and CEO David Miliband
• Thriving Through Adversity: How WTO’s Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is Solving Global Problems
• Front Row Seat to the Digital Revolution with Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith – Part 1 and Part 2

José Manuel Barroso
Chair of Goldman Sachs’ International Advisors; Former President of the European Union; Former Prime Minister of Portugal

José Manuel is chairman and non-executive director of Goldman Sachs International and an advisor to the firm. He joined Goldman Sachs in London in 2016. Previously, he was president of the European Commission for two five-year terms from 2004 to 2014, where he played an influential role in the passing of the Treaty of Lisbon, responding to the financial crisis and incorporating new members in the European Union (EU) as it went from 15 to 28 countries. 
Prior to that, he was prime minister of Portugal, a position he was elected to in 2002.

Earlier in his career, José Manuel was president of the Social Democratic Party and became the leader of the opposition, a position he was elected to in 1999. Before that, he served in various roles in the Portuguese government, including as state secretary for home affairs, state secretary for foreign affairs and cooperation, and minister for foreign affairs.

José Manuel was first elected to the Portuguese Parliament in 1985. On behalf of the EU, José Manuel received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012.

Since 2021, José Manuel is chair of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. His academic positions have included visiting professor at Georgetown University, and most recently, he was visiting professor of international economic policy and a policy fellow at Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School.

José Manuel is also a visiting professor at the Catholic University of Portugal and at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva.

He has been awarded numerous honorary degrees and has received more than 60 decorations, prizes and honours, including Portugal’s Grã-Cruz da Ordem Militar de Cristo and Grande Colar da Ordem do Infante Dom Henrique.

He earned a degree in law from the University of Lisbon and earned a master’s degree in political science and a diploma in European studies from the University of Geneva.