MAP Insights

The Philippines just had an election last May 12 and with Filipinos so used to political maneuverings and entertainment-colored lens with which the candidates were viewed, the results came as a major surprise. Many candidates that emerged as winners came from the periphery – those that did not expect to win but ran nevertheless in hopes of good governance; and a number of those who rode on the crest of surveys that predicted their win lost. Entertainers, political clans, traditional politicians banking on their status and influence that served them for many years did not see the loss coming. Unexpected, therefore unprepared – and all these happened without warning signs.

This Philippine experience mirrors the state of the global order today. Disruptions are moving in stealthily, more subtle, harder to detect and remaining invisible until we feel their effects cascade across industries, economies, and nations. They move beneath the surface, altering the landscape before many realize a shift has occurred.

The past years had been trying times as business leaders contended with visible disruptions — global pandemic, economic shocks, social upheavals, and disruptive technological advances, among others – testing resolve and agility to navigate their effects. Rising above these crises took a while but pivots are easier because the “enemies” are known and therefore can be managed. What happens when these changes are imperceptible forces that ripple quietly but no less profound?

A Future Without a Blueprint: A Leadership Challenge

We live in these times of rising uncertainty, economic fragmentation, and global realignments – one where leaders can no longer rely on old playbooks to get through. Traditional anchors of power, influence, and predictability are shifting. We see an unfolding global order no longer defined by a single dominant power or narrative but characterized by dispersed influence, competing ideologies, and regionalized interests. We are entering a multipolar world and this is a powerful, foundational lens through which we understand deep disruptions and a future that no longer fits conventional blueprints.

A recent speech of Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong captured it well: “We are in the midst of a messy transition.” He pointed out that the geopolitical tensions and shifting alliances are “reshaping the world as we know it – and we may be dealing with this landscape for years to come.”

The convergence of these two forces — invisible disruptions and a multipolar era — presents a unique and complex leadership challenge. It demands new thinking, new competencies, and a shift away from linear to exponential thinking, from traditional planning towards anticipatory leadership, from process-based operation to systemic awareness, and organizational agility. It expects leaders not only to steer their organizations through volatility, but also to anticipate emerging risks, seize unorthodox opportunities, and lead with clarity amid ambiguity.

The Cumulative Impact of Invisible Disruptions in a Multipolar World

“… we are in a multipolar world, and my call is, rather than wishing this away, wishing that the world turns back to where it was, we work hard to make the best out of economic relations.” (IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva)

Unlike the dramatic, headline-grabbing crises of the past, invisible disruptions can come from the periphery, sending signals through gradual shifts that may may seem insignificant at first but eventually lead to substantial change. They can manifest through:

• Policy realignments that quietly alter trade flows and market access.
• Emerging technologies that displace or even erase the need for jobs even before regulations can catch up.
• Changing social contracts driven by generational expectations around work, sustainability, and governance.
• Cultural shifts amplified by hyperconnected digital communities that influence consumer behavior and public sentiment overnight.

A single disruption might be manageable, but multiple, interconnected forces create complex feedback loops that accelerate change and amplify risks. A regulatory tweak in one region, for instance, can ripple through international financial systems. The challenges are magnified in their cumulative impact.

Both PM Wong and IMF MD Georgieva appear to view these turbulences, however, in another lens – a fresh opportunity for recalibration, rebalancing and even restarts – toward a more agile, more resilient businesses. In this chaos can emerge innovation and growth.

How Leaders Can Prepare

The complex realities that multipolarity brings reflect divergent social values, technological priorities and business models that can amplify the already “fracturing of globalization” (Georgiva). Long-range plans could no longer be built on the assumption of relative stability. To survive and thrive in these shifting global dynamics, leaders must now embrace strategic agility — the ability to pivot quickly in response to emerging signals and to balance short-term resilience with long-term reinvention.

We cannot manage a complicated future with an incremental mindset that has long governed business management. The disruptive times call for building diverse leadership teams capable of interpreting weak signals, making bold calls under uncertainty, and nurturing a culture of continuous learning. Organizations must foster resilience and agility to thrive in a future without clear roadmaps.

The future belongs to leaders who can sense, interpret, and act on signals of change before they become tomorrow’s crises.

Leading Amidst Invisible Disruptions: Agility and Resilience in a Multipolar Era

The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) 23rd International CEO Conference theme “Leading Amidst Invisible Disruptions: Agility and Resilience in a Multipolar Era” aims to be a platform to unpack these complex dynamics and ignite sparks towards shaping collective leadership responses. The Conference will convene thought leaders, strategists, and CEOs navigating these realities in real time. It is an opportunity to gain the foresight and clarity needed to lead in times when the rules are being rewritten and the future remains uncharted. Join us on the 9th of September 2025 at the Shangri-La The Fort in BGC. For particulars, please inquire from the MAP Secretariat thru <map@map.org.ph> or <map.philippines@map.org.ph>.

(The author is Chair of MAP CEO Conference Committee and Co-Vice Chair of MAP Trade, Investments and Tourism Committee.  She is Co-Vice Chair of MAP Research and Development Foundation’s [MAPRDF] Campaign Against Malnutrition And Child Stunting [CAMACS] Committee.  She is President and CEO of Health Solutions Corporation and former Undersecretary of the Department of Tourism. Feedback at <map@map.org.ph>.)