Okapi Partners' Christian Jacques compares how activism, proxy advisors, and shareholder engagement work in the US and Europe, and explains how market intelligence can change the outcome of a vote. He also shares what really drives M&A support, and why financial upside usually outweighs governance concerns.

In this conversation between Christopher P. Skroupa and Don Ulsch, the two explore how executives consistently misjudge the true nature of cyber risk. Ulsch uses his “shark fin effect” metaphor to explain why leaders fixate on visible breaches involving personal data while missing the deeper, more damaging threats beneath the surface — the theft of trade secrets, strategic plans, and intellectual property that drive competitive advantage. Together, Skroupa and Ulsch unpack how today’s attackers—nation‑states, transnational criminal groups, cyber mercenaries, and insiders—operate as a sophisticated global business, and why boards must shift their focus from perimeter security to enterprise‑wide resilience, brand protection, and governance‑level cyber strategy.