When Disruption Becomes the Operating Model
Executives are being asked to make sharper decisions in a business environment where geopolitical risk, cyber exposure, tariff uncertainty, tax complexity and supply chain volatility are all moving at once.
In this episode of The ExecutiveEDGE Podcast, Abby White and Geert De Lombaerde discuss the five ExecutiveEDGE stories that resonated most this month and what they reveal about the executive mood right now: leaders are not waiting for calm. They are trying to protect margin, preserve optionality and build more resilient organizations before the next disruption hits.
From tariff refunds and supply chain redesign to cyber risk during organizational transitions and proactive tax planning, this conversation examines where leaders should act now, where they may be absorbing unnecessary risk, and why discipline may be the defining executive advantage in 2026.
What You’ll Hear
- Why many businesses are hesitant to pursue tariff refunds, even when relief may be available
- How one company used reshoring, nearshoring and automation to turn supply chain disruption into a growth advantage
- Why geopolitical instability can no longer be treated as background noise in executive planning
- How mergers, acquisitions and expansions can widen cyber exposure if security is not built into the transition plan
- Why proactive tax planning should be treated as a strategic lever, not a once-a-year compliance task
Episode Resources
Why Businesses Aren’t Rushing for Tariff Refunds
Case Study: Building a Resilient Supply Chain in a Volatile World
The Supply Chain Impacts of the Iran War
Protecting Data and Systems in Organizational Transitions: A Guide for Leaders
Your Guide to Proactive Tax Planning: The Executive Tax Advantage
About the Author
Abby White
Vice President, Content Studio
As Vice President of EndeavorB2B’s Content Studio, Abby leads client-driven custom content programs across 90+ brands and the content strategy for topic and role-based newsletters serving executive audiences. An award-winning journalist with a marketer’s mindset, Abby brings 25 years of experience leading editorial, communications, marketing, and audience-building efforts across industries.
Abby launched her first magazine, Abby’s Top 40, in 1988 and made everyone in her family read it. While attending the University of Illinois, she paid her rent as a professional notetaker, which might explain why she still gets asked to take notes in meetings. Since then, she has held editorial leadership roles at an alt weekly, a newspaper, a luxury lifestyle magazine, a business journal, a music magazine, and regional women’s magazines, developing a sharp writing edge and a conversational tone that resonates with professional audiences.
She expanded into marketing while leading communications for an entertainment industry nonprofit and later drove rebranding and audience-building efforts for an NPR music station. At EndeavorB2B, she has been instrumental in driving editorial excellence, developing scalable content strategies across multiple verticals, and building the foundation for EDGE, the company’s portfolio of executive newsletters.
And if you’re a writer interested in contributing to ExecutiveEDGE, she’s the person you need to (politely) bug.
Geert De Lombaerde
Contributor
A native of Belgium, Geert De Lombaerde joined EndeavorB2B in September 2021 to cover public companies, markets, and economic trends primarily for IndustryWeek, FleetOwner, Oil & Gas Journal, T&D World, and Healthcare Innovation. His work focuses on strategy, leadership, capital spending, and mergers and acquisitions, and he also works with Endeavor Business Intelligence on surveys and data projects.
Geert has been in business journalism since the mid-1990s. With a degree in journalism from the University of Missouri, he began his reporting career at the Business Courier in Cincinnati, initially covering retail and the courts before shifting to banking, insurance, and investing. He later was managing editor and editor of the Nashville Business Journal before being named editor of the Nashville Post in 2008. He led a team that helped grow the Post's online traffic by an average of more than 15% annually before joining Endeavor.
Resources
Quiz
Your Competitive Edge, DeliveredMake smart decisions faster with ExecutiveEDGE’s weekly newsletter. It delivers leadership insights, economic trends, and forward-thinking strategies. Gain perspectives from today’s top business minds and stay informed on innovations shaping tomorrow’s business landscape.
