The Unchecked Leader: Why Great Decisions Demand Checks, Balances, and Empathy — with Steve Okun When the stakes are high, one mind isn’t enough.In this episode of Decisions That Count , neuroscientist Dr. Shawn Watson  and biotech CMO Michelle O’Brien  sit down with Steven “Steve” Okun —ranked #2 on LinkedIn for Geopolitics & International Relations  in Singapore (Favikon, July 2025)—to explore why the best leaders design decision systems : collaboration, diverse perspectiv

Geopolitics isn’t a backdrop anymore—it’s the arena. I talked with  Steven Okun , CEO of APAC Advisors, to unpack the collision of business and government across Asia: America-first trade policy, the shift from multilateral to bilateral deals, tighter forced-labor enforcement, and why due diligence now requires “Sherlock-level” scrutiny. What you’ll learn: how policy shocks ripple through supply chains and capital flows, what investors and operators must do to stay compliant

At the  Moores Rowland  APAC and  International Practice Group ’s 2025 Conference, APAC Advisors CEO  Steven Okun  spoke about how geopolitics is no longer a backdrop to business, it’s the main event. Every trade deal today is a test of leverage. The U.S. is negotiating one-on-one, not through alliances - and every country is learning how to play in a world where market access depends on power, not predictability. Across the region, investors are spreading their bets.  Pan-As

Steven joined Leila de Lima, Adrian Ang and Nicole Curato on a panel about political comebacks at the Asian Conference for Political Communication 2025 (#ACPC 25), organised by Konrad‑Adenauer‑Stiftung’s Media Programme Asia. He discussed how Donald Trump, drawing from Richard Nixon’s model of fear-driven politics, has fuelled his comeback and consolidated power. His engine isn’t ideas - it’s fear: first over his party, then the media, business and education sectors. The real