Mr. Thake developed his passion for geopolitics during his studies of politics and economics in Potsdam and Beijing as well as during his Master of Public Policy at the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin and the National University of Singapore. He gained his first professional experience in the German Bundestag, at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation as well as in the international environment of PwC and at PD, the in-house consultancy of the German government. Since joining Agora Strategy, he has been a senior manager advising on geopolitical risks and global positioning and market entry strategies with a regional focus on East and Southeast Asia.
„Over time, I realized that I not only wanted to understand how the world is changing, but also help companies to actively use these changes as opportunities. It was precisely this ambition that ultimately led me to Agora Strategy.“
- Benjamin Thake
How global changes have shaped me
My career has been guided by one question from the very beginning: How do shifts in political power, economic interests and technological developments influence the decisions of governments and companies? During my studies in Germany, China and Singapore, I learned not to look at these dynamics individually, but as an overall system that is constantly changing. In East and Southeast Asia in particular, you experience very directly the dynamism and willingness to change as priorities, dependencies and opportunities shift. These experiences have permanently shaped my view of international competitiveness and geostrategic positioning.
From the political environment to the strategic perspective
In my first professional positions in the Bundestag and in the foreign office of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Beijing, I saw how political decisions influence economic developments. Later, at PwC and the PD, I worked more on questions of how organizations react to uncertainty and how strategic decisions are made under geopolitical pressure.
Over time, I realized that I not only wanted to understand how the world is changing, but also help companies to actively use these changes as opportunities. It was precisely this ambition that eventually led me to Agora Strategy.
Strategic consulting in a challenging time for global politics
Today, as a senior manager, I primarily support German and European companies in navigating an increasingly fragmented global landscape with confidence. This is less about short-term risk analysis and more about long-term decisions:
My focus is on East and Southeast Asia. This region is not only economically dynamic, but also central to technological developments and the economic success of German companies. This is where global competition will be decided in the coming years - and how companies define their role in it.
What inspires me in my work
I love the fact that we support companies in situations where geopolitical developments have direct consequences. When our analyses and strategic proposals guide board meetings and investment decisions, you can feel very directly that this work has an impact.
The environment in which this happens is just as important. Agora Strategy combines analytical depth, an international perspective and a team that really gets to grips with complex issues. People work together here who are curious, want to take responsibility and pursue a common goal: To help companies remain agile in an uncertain world and recognize strategic opportunitiesFor me, this is the kind of work that makes sense. It combines global perspectives with concrete decisions. It offers room for personal priorities and new ideas. And it shows that geopolitical consulting doesn't have to be a deterrent in this rapidly changing world, but can provide orientation.
