Strategic Competition and the Pursuit of Purpose
A Distinguished Record of Scholarship and Leadership
After lecture discussion with Cambridge University Students
Mark Kennedy has built a distinguished record of scholarship and a reputation for excellence in the emerging and increasingly vital field of strategic competition. His work has helped shape the national and international dialogue on how democracies respond to rising geopolitical, technological, and economic challenges from authoritarian regimes. This leadership builds on his earlier academic contributions in non-market strategy and the influence of external actors that may not hold a direct stake but can nonetheless shape an organization’s risks or opportunities. These ideas were first articulated in his book Shapeholders: Business Success in the Age of Activism (Columbia University Press).
The Consistent Thread: Strategic Alignment for the Greater Good
- At the heart of both Shapeholders and Kennedy's work on strategic competition is a consistent and deeply held philosophy: that power—whether exercised by organizations or nations—must be aligned with a broader purpose to prevent conflict and maximize prosperity. In both arenas, his scholarship and leadership have focused on reducing tension by helping institutions anticipate and engage with external pressures and pursue strategies that align institutional interests with the common good.
- In Shapeholders, Kennedy examined how organizations can succeed by constructively engaging with non-market actors—politicians, regulators, the media, activists—who may lack a direct financial stake but wield significant influence over its opportunities and risks. In strategic competition, he applies the same lens at the national level: how democratic nations can reduce the risk of confrontation with authoritarian powers by strengthening economic, technological, diplomatic, and military deterrence strategies.
Shapeholders
Strategic Competition
Aligning business interests with societal interests
Aligning U.S. interests with global stability
Reducing business-society conflict
Preventing great power war
Advocating that effective shapeholder engagement maximizes long-term value
Advocating for democratic security and prosperity
Engaging non-market forces
Leveraging economic, diplomatic, and military deterrence tools
Aligning with a purpose that benefits both the bottom line and society
Serving national interest while sustaining global peace
From Shapeholders to Strategic Statecraft
- Kennedy’s scholarly journey began with Shapeholders, which introduced a framework for how businesses can thrive by understanding and responding to activist forces that operate beyond shareholder interests. Over the course of teaching in 20 countries on five continents—including at Johns Hopkins, George Washington University, the University of Maryland, HEC-Paris, and Koç University in Istanbul—Kennedy developed a reputation for turning complex policy and business dynamics into actionable insights. He has also lectured on Shapeholders at globally respected institutions such as Cambridge, NYU, Wharton, the University of Tokyo, and London Business School.
- This foundation laid the groundwork for his current work in geoeconomic statecraft and strategic competition—applying similar insights at the national and global level to the challenges of U.S. leadership, economic resilience, and alliance building.
Teaching about Shapeholders at Wharton
Current Contributions to Strategic Competition
- As Director of the Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition, Kennedy leads efforts to strengthen U.S. influence across four strategic pillars: technology, trade, infrastructure, and energy. He has contributed thought leadership on topics ranging from AI governance to economic deterrence, development finance, digital standards, and defense readiness—with a consistent focus on defending democratic systems through both economic, technological, diplomatic and military deterrence.
- Kennedy has been invited to share these insights at premier global forums and institutions, including:
- Harvard University (AI governance)
- AI Action Summit in Paris
- WTO Public Forum in Geneva
- U.S. State Department briefings
- U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) 5-Year Anniversary (as the only academic participant)
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- Vietnam Government Officials Briefing in Hanoi
- NewsNation (regular commentator on U.S.–China relations)
- Notably, the House and Senate’s proposed drafts to reauthorize the DFC incorporated many recommendations from working groups convened by Kennedy through the Wahba Institute.
- He has submitted formal policy guidance to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and to the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). Earlier in his career, Kennedy served as a presidentially appointed trade advisor to the USTR, and was invited to join the APLU Research-Intensive Committee and the National Commission on Innovation and Competitiveness Frontiers—recognitions that predated and helped shape his subsequent work in strategic competition.
- In addition to his role at the Wahba Institute, Kennedy serves as a Civic Leader supporting the Secretary of the Air Force and as a Senior Fellow at the Center for Naval Analyses (CNA). His national security work includes contributions to NATO strategy, U.S. space policy, and the security of global maritime commerce—all of which reinforce his role in shaping strategic competition through both economic and defense lenses.
Speaking at Harvard on AI in the context of strategic competition
A Recognized Scholar-Practitioner
- What sets Kennedy apart is his ability to bridge academia and applied leadership. His writing, teaching, and institute leadership are grounded in both theory and executive experience—in business, in Congress, in higher education, and in global policy. Together, these roles define his contribution as a leading voice in how democracies navigate competition, reduce conflict, and uphold values in a contested global environment.
- His work continues to inform scholars, influence policymakers, and inspire students—fulfilling the highest aims of academic engagement in public life.
📚 Explore Related Work
🗣️ Shapeholders
🧭 Strategic Competition
