---
id: "quote-sourcing-is-geopolitical"
type: "quote"
source_timestamps: ["§ What's Changed", "¶5"]
tags: ["geopolitics", "decision-making"]
related: ["concept-geopolitical-turbulence-as-first-order", "claim-sourcing-is-geopolitical"]
speakers: ["Michael D. Watkins"]
speaker: "Michael D. Watkins"
sources: ["reskilling"]
sourceVaultSlug: "hbr-seg-reskilling"
originDay: 10
articleStem: "hbr-nm-100-3-forces-manager-to-leader"
sourceUrl: "https://hbr.org/2026/06/3-forces-are-redefining-the-transition-from-manager-to-leader"
sourceTitle: "3 Forces Are Redefining the Transition from Manager to Leader"
---
# Sourcing is Geopolitical

> "A sourcing decision is a geopolitical decision. A data architecture choice is a regulatory decision. The external environment has become a first-order leadership concern."
> — [[entity-michael-d-watkins|Michael D. Watkins]]

Anchors [[concept-geopolitical-turbulence-as-first-order]] and [[claim-sourcing-is-geopolitical]].