World Lens by WTCI

Hosted by World Trade Center Institute

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Latest episode

May 2026

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About the show

Join the World Trade Center Institute and our network of more than 3,500 companies and hundreds of nonprofits, academic institutions, and government agencies every other week for unique insights straight from the experts. Host Michelle Evans is joined by a rotating crop of guests to discuss what’s happening. One week you might learn about the latest elections around the globe, and another might take you inside the succession planning of a small business.

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53 recent

May 26, 2026Episode 5424 min

From Fellow to Leader: How One Nurse Midwife Is Closing Global Health's Leadership Gap

Nurses and midwives make up roughly 80% of the global health workforce — yet they remain dramatically underrepresented in the leadership roles and policy tables that shape the systems they work within every day. Julia Bluestone, Technical Director of Learning and Performance at Jhpiego and a former Bowe Fellow, joins host Michelle Evans to discuss what happens when that changes. From a new nurse leadership cohort in Kenya to the Healthy Birth Initiative in India, Julia breaks down why investing in frontline health workers isn't just a public health imperative — it's also an economic and trade imperative.

May 11, 2026Episode 5329 min

The Drone Arms Race: How Ukraine and Iran are Rewriting the Economics of War

War is becoming increasingly expensive—unless you’re the one selling the weapons. In this episode of The World Lens, host Michelle Evans sits down with Bruce McIndoe, President of McIndoe Risk Advisory, to unpack a startling shift in global defense: the rise of Ukraine and Iran as dominant players in the combat drone market. From $20,000 drones forcing the use of $2 million interceptor missiles to the looming reality of autonomous "robot armies," we explore how battlefield-tested technology is creating a "governance gap" and breaking traditional military budgets. Tune in to hear why the future of national security isn’t just about who has the most advanced systems, but who can survive the brutal cost curve of modern warfare.

April 22, 2026Episode 5220 min

Good Enough Is a Trap: Building Tech That Thinks Ahead

Most businesses don't realize they're stuck — until they are. In this episode of World Lens, host Michelle Evans sits down with Doyin Adewodu, founder of INFRASI, a new WTCI member delivering tailored IT and IoT solutions across healthcare, education, and government sectors. Doyin breaks down why a "good enough" infrastructure is the silent killer of global ambition, what it actually means to view technology through a full life-cycle lens, and how legacy systems are quietly blocking companies from capitalizing on AI and 5G.

April 13, 2026Episode 5121 min

Green Dreams, High Rates: The Capital Crisis Reshaping the Energy Transition

What happens when climate ambition collides with high borrowing costs, Middle East conflict, and a fragmenting global order? Bruce McIndoe, president of McIndoe Risk Advisory, joins Michelle Evans to break down why fossil fuels are still thriving, how China quietly crossed a clean energy milestone, and what businesses should actually be doing to build energy resilience in a world where there is no longer one rule book.

March 30, 2026Episode 5048 min

The Invisible Squeeze: What's Really Happening to the Global Supply Chain

Every product on a store shelf took a journey to get there — and right now, that journey is more expensive, more uncertain, and more politically charged than it's been in a generation. In this episode, host Michelle Evans sits down with Chris Schramm (Nexterus) and Justin Lipsky (First Link) to untangle what the Supreme Court's IEEPA ruling actually means for importers, why the Strait of Hormuz closure hits industries far beyond energy, how a 400% air freight spike ripples from factory to consumer, and why the businesses navigating all of this best started planning before the disruption hit. From pharmaceutical cold chains to polyester made from petroleum — nothing is as simple as it looks, and everything is connected.

March 16, 2026Episode 4933 min

Watch Ships, Not Speeches: Navigating the Iran Conflict's Global Shockwaves

The conflict in Iran has moved far beyond a bilateral standoff — and its ripple effects are already hitting supply chains, gas prices, and global trade alliances. In this episode, host Michelle Evans sits down with WTCI board member and President of McIndoe Risk Advisory, Bruce McIndoe, to break down what's really at stake. From the double-chokepoint crisis blocking both the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab-el-Mandeb to the GCC's escalation ladder, stagflation risk, and the emergence of a "coalition of the hesitant," Bruce offers a clear-eyed framework for understanding what business leaders should actually be watching. His verdict? Ignore the rhetoric. Track the tankers.

March 2, 2026Episode 4813 min

You Can't Protect What You Can't See: Inside the Cyber Exposure Era with Tenable

What if the biggest cybersecurity risk isn't the threat you know about — it's the one you never thought to look for? In this episode of World Lens, host Michelle Evans sits down with Jill Shapiro, VP of Global Government Affairs at Tenable, the exposure management company headquartered right here in Columbia, Maryland. Jill breaks down why counting vulnerabilities is the wrong game entirely, how AI is simultaneously supercharging attackers and defenders, and why Maryland's cyber ecosystem punches well above its weight.

February 16, 2026Episode 4723 min

China’s Managed Meltdown: GDP Targets vs. Economic Reality

While Beijing celebrates hitting a 5% GDP growth target, the view from the ground tells a story of systemic fracture. In this episode, Michelle Evans sits down with risk advisory expert Bruce McIndoe to go beyond the headlines and examine the "new normal" for the world’s second-largest economy. Whether you are a global investor or a business leader, this episode offers a sobering look at how China is preparing for a future defined by a shrinking workforce and a "brain drain" of its most educated talent.

February 2, 2026Episode 4649 min

Beyond the Runway: Shannetta Griffin on Engineering BWI's Next Chapter

Shannetta Griffin didn't just become the first African American woman to lead Maryland Aviation Administration—she's redefining what a major airport can be. The former FAA Associate Administrator discusses BWI's competitive strategy in a three-airport market, navigating Southwest's 70% market share, and why the Hidden Disability Sunflower Program represents accessibility as innovation rather than compliance. From sustainable aviation fuel reality checks to the crucial difference between mentors and sponsors, Griffin reveals how 40 years of breaking barriers taught her that infrastructure isn't just about moving people—it's about transforming lives. If you think airports are just terminals and runways, this conversation will change your perspective.

January 19, 2026Episode 4538 min

Venezuela Operation: Unpacking the U.S. Intervention and Its Global Ripple Effects

WTCI board member Bruce McIndoe breaks down the January 3rd U.S. military operation in Caracas that captured President Nicolás Maduro. We examine the tactical execution, Venezuela's oil reserves and economic recovery challenges, the choice of leadership transition, and what this precedent means for international relations—from Latin American partnerships to NATO dynamics and the emerging global order.