FT Briefing and Networking
Making Sense of Market Complexity:
Volatility, Signals and Strategic Decisions
In-Person | Wednesday 17 June 2026
Financial Times, Bracken House, London
18.00 – 21:30 BST
This is an invitation-only event and designed for senior HR leaders only.
Event
What does it take to remain relevant when the rules of global business are being rewritten — by market volatility, structural shifts in the global economy and an increasingly uncertain geopolitical backdrop?
Join CRF and our partners Headspring for an exclusive evening at the Financial Times offices. Our keynote speaker, Katie Martin, columnist and member of the Financial Times editorial board, brings her deep expertise in financial markets and economic trends to examine how shifts in the global landscape are reshaping organisations — and placing people strategy firmly at the centre of corporate resilience.
Katie will be joined by Björn Beam, whose background spans high‑stakes intelligence work with the CIA and leadership roles in executive education at institutions including MIT and Chicago Booth, bringing a distinctive perspective on how global dynamics translate into strategic decision‑making.
At a time of heightened uncertainty, market fragmentation and structural change, this session will explore what these forces mean for senior HR leaders tasked with building resilient, future‑ready organisations. From the evolving role of artificial intelligence in shaping labour markets to the impact of economic volatility on workforce planning and organisational priorities, the people agenda is increasingly intertwined with the dynamics of global markets.
The session will examine how market signals, economic trends and financial conditions are redefining leadership priorities and human capital strategy in a context of sustained uncertainty. Drawing on her work on The Long View and her perspective on global market movements, Katie will explore how macroeconomic shifts translate into organisational decisions on capability, engagement and design — and what it truly means to navigate complexity with clarity.
The message for HR leaders is clear: to move beyond reactive responses, and instead act as strategic partners capable of interpreting the broader economic landscape and translating insight into sustained organisational advantage through people.
Agenda
| 18:00 – 18:30 | Arrival and Registration |
| 18.30 – 20:00 | Briefing Session with Katie Martin & Björn Beam |
| 20:00 – 21:30 | Networking Drinks |
Who Should Attend?
This is a by invitation-only event designed for senior HR leaders (Directors, CPOs, CHROs etc) only.
CRF members: If you would like to attend, please register interest by completing the form or contacting events@crforum.co.uk.
Non-Members: If you are not a member of CRF but are a senior HR leader working in-house then please contact events@crforum.co.uk.
To register for this event please ensure you are logged in. If you are not a member and interested in attending, please contact us below.
If you would like to amend or cancel your booking please contact events@crforum.co.uk.
About Headspring Executive
As the bespoke leadership development arm of the Financial Times, Headspring offers corporate learning solutions to accelerate transformation and help organisations navigate the future.
Learn more at headspringexecutive.com.
Keynote Speaker
Katie Martin
Markets Columnist
Katie Martin is a columnist and member of the FT’s editorial board. She writes the weekly Long View column on market trends as well as other opinion pieces, and appears weekly on the Unhedged podcast.
Previously, she spent four years as the FT’s markets editor, and also several years on the FT’s live news service. Prior to joining the FT in 2015, she spent 11 years at the Dow Jones/Wall St Journal group, also covering markets.
Björn Beam
Director of Technology Analysis & Geopolitical Intelligence Expert
Björn spent a decade with the United States Central Intelligence Agency, serving in high‑stakes operational roles across some of the world’s most sensitive regions, including North Korea and its nuclear programme. Before joining Arcano, he served as Director of Innovation for executive education programmes at MIT, the University of Chicago and Chicago Booth. He is also the founder of an educational technology start‑up for children and the author of four books on the subject. His intelligence work has earned him eight CIA commendations for innovation.
Björn holds an MBA from IE Business School, a Master’s degree in Terrorism and Counterterrorism Operations from King’s College London, and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Michigan.
Location
Financial Times
Bracken House
1 Friday Street
London
EC4M 9BT
