As EY-Parthenon’s global geostrategy insights leader, Courtney Rickert McCaffrey drives market-leading insight around geopolitics, corporate performance, and political risk management. She leads the analysis of the annual EY-Parthenon Geostrategic Outlook and advises clients on how geopolitical developments may affect their companies’ operations and strategies and how to manage political risks more proactively. She is also the coauthor of Geostrategy by Design: How to Manage Geopolitical Risk in the New Era of Globalization (Disruption Books, 2024).

McCaffrey is a recognized thought leader in political risk and global macro trends with an emphasis on analyzing the strategic implications for companies. She leads a team of thematic insights analysts that deliver actionable perspectives and strategic foresight on cross-cutting themes and macro trends. McCaffrey is a creative methodologist with experience in both quantitative and qualitative political risk methodologies. She is also an expert in strategic foresight, including scenario analysis and horizon scanning.

Previously, McCaffrey was head of the thought leadership program of Kearney’s Global Business Policy Council. She led a team of researchers in analyzing geopolitical, macroeconomic, technological, and other developments in the external environment and identifying emerging trends with strategic business implications. Prior to that, McCaffrey spent several years at Eurasia Group, a leading political risk consultancy, where she designed and implemented qualitative and quantitative methodologies for political risk assessments. She has also priced political risk insurance and worked on political campaigns.

She earned a bachelor of arts in political and international relations from Drake University and a master of arts in international relations and international economics from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), with specializations in emerging markets and international development.