In a world marked by increasingly brutal international relations and multiplying crises, diplomatic mediation has become both central and ambivalent in conflict management. New geopolitical actors, such as Qatar and Oman, are emerging as credible regional mediators, while some permanent members of the UN Security Council appear to be turning mediation into a tool of strategic predation. This shift raises key questions about the nature and limits of mediation: when does it serve as a catalyst for peace, and when does it become interference? To address these issues, ESSEC’s Geopolitics & Business Institute and its IRENE Center for Negotiation and Mediation were pleased to welcome the following distinguished speakers: The ESSEC Institute for Geopolitics & Business explores how geopolitical disruptions are reshaping economic models and how corporate actors are increasingly involved in geopolitical dynamics. The Institute aims to develop more resilient, competitive, and geopolitically aware business strategies. It also examines how market mechanisms are being transformed by state-driven or state-aligned corporate power. Anchored in ESSEC’s academic excellence and global presence in Cergy-Paris, Singapore, and Rabat, the Institute positions the school as a leading voice at the intersection of geopolitics and business, through research, pedagogical innovation, knowledge development, and organizational transformation.