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Jacob Shapiro: AgFocus Conference
Jacob Shapiro
Speaker & Researcher: Geopolitics, Markets, and Technology
- Translates complex international developments into real-world impacts for various industries
- With degrees from Oxford and Cornell, Jacob brings academic rigor, clarity, and compelling storytelling to every stage
- Trusted advisor to families and corporations
- Helps redefine how we think about investing
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Jacob Shapiro is a geopolitical analyst who provides strategic guidance to families, investors, and corporations. He is Director of Research at The Bespoke Group, a U.S.-based wealth strategy firm that applies generational thinking to the preservation and growth of generational wealth for families around the world. His approach blends rigorous, empathetic analysis with deep confidence in human agency and the transformative power of new ideas.
Jacob is a global thought leader on geopolitics and its impact on everything from global markets to supply chains. A prolific public speaker, Jacob delivers frequent keynote presentations and tailored corporate briefings. His insights help audiences and c-suites across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world. Jacob also hosts “The Jacob Shapiro” podcast, which features interviews with subject matter experts in geopolitics, technology, markets, and other fields.
He holds a master’s degree with distinction from Oxford University and a bachelor’s degree in Near Eastern studies from Cornell University. He lives in New Orleans with his wife and two daughters. When he’s not tweeting at 4 a.m. about the latest international developments or commodities prices, you might find him at a basketball court near you doing his best Larry Bird impersonation at a pickup game.
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Jacob Shapiro: Keynote
Jacob focuses broadly on geopolitics and can tailor his presentation to the specific interest of his audience/client.
“State of the World” – Tariffs in the time of geopolitics
Why is the U.S. doubling down on tariffs and trade wars? This presentation unpacks the logic—and contradictions—of recent U.S. foreign policy, where imperial habits meet a multipolar reality. The U.S. is using coercive tools like tariffs to defend its economic position while neglecting the fiscal and industrial strategies needed to sustain it. By connecting headline-grabbing moves—like escalating tensions with China—to deeper, long-term structural shifts in global power, we will explore where world is headed, and what America’s place in it might be.
Geopolitics and the future of American agriculture
For over a century, American farmers have looked outward – feeding the world through open markets and global trade. But as geopolitics enters a new era of multipolar rivalry, the old assumptions are breaking down. Shifting alliances, trade fragmentation, and national security concerns are reshaping access to markets, inputs, and investment. With rising volatility in export demand and tightening foreign competition, American agriculture must reimagine its future—balancing global ambition with domestic resilience and technological innovation.
Beyond borders, beyond returns: Investing in a multipolar world
The world is shifting—away from U.S. dominance, away from seamless global capital flows, and toward a new, multipolar investment landscape. For decades, American markets outperformed the world. But that era is ending. Deglobalization isn’t just about goods—it’s about capital, trust, and where the future is being built. Geopolitical fragmentation is rewriting the rules for bonds, equities, and commodities, challenging old assumptions and opening new opportunities. More than a financial outlook, this is a call to rethink legacy: not just the assets we pass on, but the world we help shape. For investors and advisors alike, this is not a time to retreat, but to adapt, reframe, and invest with vision and purpose.
Wired for change: Geopolitics, multipolarity, and the future of America's digital backbone
As the global order shifts from unipolar U.S. dominance to multipolar competition, the foundations of American trade, security, and digital infrastructure face seismic change. Geopolitical rivalries, economic nationalism, and shifting alliance networks are reshaping where we build, whom we trust, and how we invest in critical technologies. From semiconductors and supply chains to cloud sovereignty and cybersecurity, the future of U.S. digital resilience and competitiveness is being increasingly defined by geopolitics.
