How families, entrepreneurs and investors can plan life, business, travel, education and budgets in a world of oil shocks, geopolitical uncertainty and economic turbulence.
Category: 100News.TV: Business & Growth Interview
Format: 100News.TV Interview
Presenter: Dominic Ashford, Business & Growth Presenter, 100News.TV
Guest: Svetlana Gerey, Vice-President, International Consortium Global Development Alliance
As oil prices, geopolitical tensions and inflation risks reshape the global agenda, Dominic Ashford, Business & Growth Presenter at 100News.TV, speaks with Svetlana Gerey, Vice-President of the International Consortium Global Development Alliance, about how families, entrepreneurs and investors should plan life and business before 2027.
Dominic Ashford:
Good evening, and welcome to 100News.TV, the international information and analytical platform where we look beyond the headline and try to understand what global events really mean for people, businesses, families and the future.
Today, the world is again divided between what people are watching and what may actually shape their lives.
Millions follow football, sport, celebrities and emotional stories. At the same time, oil prices, sanctions, inflation, bond markets and geopolitical tensions quietly influence household budgets, business plans, travel decisions, children’s summer camps, investment strategies and even the emotional state of families.
Inflation is the rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services is rising, and, consequently, the purchasing power of currency is falling.
Bond markets (also known as the debt market or credit market) are financial markets where participants can issue new debt or buy and sell debt securities.
To discuss this deeper layer, I am joined by Svetlana Gerey, Vice-President of the International Consortium Global Development Alliance.
Svetlana, thank you for joining us.
Svetlana Gerey:
Thank you, Dominic. It is a pleasure to be here. I think this conversation is important because people today are surrounded by information, but very often they do not have a clear system for understanding what this information means for their own lives.
“People Search for Football, but Their Lives Are Priced in Oil”
Dominic Ashford:
Let us begin with a striking contrast. On some days, the internet is dominated by football. People search for matches, scores, players, clubs and emotions. But at the same time, oil markets may be sending a much more serious signal. How do you read this contrast?
Svetlana Gerey:
This contrast is very symbolic.
Football shows us where public attention goes. Oil shows us where economic pressure may go.
A football match gives people emotion, identity, joy, disappointment and discussion. That is normal. Human beings need emotion. They need sport. They need stories that bring them together.
But oil is different. Oil does not ask whether people are interested in it. Oil simply enters their lives through prices.
It affects petrol, transport, delivery, aviation, food logistics, packaging, heating, manufacturing and business costs. If oil becomes more expensive, ordinary people may not immediately understand the geopolitical reason. They simply feel that life has become more expensive again.
So the key problem of our time is this: people often search for emotion, but they live inside economic systems. Serious journalism must connect these two worlds.
The Hidden Chain: From the Strait of Hormuz to the Family Budget
Dominic Ashford:
Many readers may ask: why should an ordinary person care about oil, Iran, China or the Strait of Hormuz? These things feel very far away from daily life.
Svetlana Gerey:
They feel far away, but they are not far away economically.
A crisis in an energy corridor can influence oil prices. Oil prices can influence transport. Transport influences food and retail prices. Food prices influence household budgets. Household pressure influences political moods. Political pressure influences government decisions. Government decisions influence taxes, debt, interest rates and business confidence.
This is the modern chain.
The old world allowed people to think locally. The new world forces us to understand global consequences.
A family in Glasgow, Birmingham, Naples, Warsaw, Dubai or Sydney may not follow every geopolitical development. But if transport becomes more expensive, food becomes more expensive, flights become more expensive, or a business delays salaries or hiring, then geopolitics has already entered the home.
This is why economic literacy is no longer only for economists. It is now a survival skill for families and entrepreneurs.
Geopolitics is the study of the effects of Earth's geography (human and physical) on politics and international relations.
“The Real Question Is Not What Happened Today, but How We Plan the Next Year”
Dominic Ashford:
In our previous analysis, we said that the real question is not only what happened today. The real question is what may happen in one month, three months, six months, by New Year 2027 and by May 2027. Why is this forecasting horizon so important?
Svetlana Gerey:
Because people do not live inside headlines. They live inside calendars.
A headline may last for a day. But a family must plan school holidays, summer camps, travel, mortgages, rent, food, education and health.
A business must plan cash flow, contracts, salaries, stock, marketing, investment and risk.
An investor must plan exposure, currencies, inflation, liquidity and timing.
So when we discuss oil, war, sanctions or bond yields, we must not only say: “This is serious.” We must ask: “How does this affect the next month? How does it affect summer? How does it affect the end of the year? How will we meet 2027?”
The purpose of analysis is not to frighten people. The purpose is to help them live more intelligently.
One-Month Forecast: Volatility, Not Clarity
Dominic Ashford:
Let us move into the forecast. What is your expectation for the next month?
Svetlana Gerey:
The most realistic expectation for the next month is volatility without full clarity.
I do not think serious people should build their plans on either panic or blind optimism. We may see oil react sharply to every signal connected with Iran, China, sanctions, shipping routes and diplomatic attempts to reduce tension.
For families, this means: do not assume that fuel, flights, delivery and food prices will remain calm.
For entrepreneurs, it means: check your suppliers, cash flow, logistics and payment terms.
For investors, it means: do not confuse temporary market calm with real stability.
The next month should be used for preparation, not panic.
Three-Month Forecast: Summer 2026 Will Test Families and Businesses
Dominic Ashford:
What about the three-month horizon? We will then be in the summer season — holidays, children’s camps, business travel, forums, family trips.
Svetlana Gerey:
Summer 2026 may become a very important psychological and financial test.
For many families, summer is not only a season. It is the moment when they try to give their children memories, education, rest and emotional renewal.
But if energy and transport costs remain high, travel may become more expensive. If geopolitical uncertainty continues, airlines, insurers, hotels and event organisers may all adjust prices or conditions. If inflation pressure returns, families may feel more cautious.
For businesses, summer may test liquidity and flexibility. Some companies may still want to expand, but they will have to do it more intelligently.
However, I want to stress something very important. The correct response is not to stop living.
People should not cancel life because the world is uncertain. They should plan better.
A summer camp, a business forum, a family retreat, a mentoring programme or an educational trip may be more valuable in turbulent times than in calm times — if it gives people knowledge, contacts, emotional strength and a clearer direction.
Six-Month Forecast: Autumn May Bring Hard Choices
Dominic Ashford:
And what do you expect by the autumn, six months from now?
Svetlana Gerey:
By autumn, many accumulated pressures may become clearer.
If the energy situation stabilises, we may see some relief. If not, businesses and households may enter the final part of the year under stronger pressure.
Autumn is often the season of decisions. Companies review annual performance. Families look at school costs, winter expenses, heating, travel and savings. Governments face budget pressures. Investors reassess portfolios.
The danger is not only financial. It is emotional.
Economic pressure affects people’s sleep. It affects family conversations. It affects the atmosphere inside companies. It affects trust. It affects the ability to think long-term.
This is why autumn 2026 may reward those who spent the summer not only resting, but also strengthening themselves — intellectually, socially, emotionally and professionally.
New Year 2027: “We Will All Be One Year Older”
Dominic Ashford:
This is a powerful line from our editorial concept: by New Year 2027, we will all be one year older. What should people ask themselves before they reach that point?
Svetlana Gerey:
They should ask not only: “How much money did I earn?”
They should ask:
“Am I healthier?”
“Am I calmer?”
“Do my children know me better?”
“Did my family become stronger?”
“Did my business become more resilient?”
“Did I learn something valuable?”
“Did I meet the right people?”
“Did I join a community that makes me wiser?”
“Did I become more prepared for the world that is coming?”
New Year 2027 should not be seen only as a celebration. It should be seen as a checkpoint.
If a person arrives there financially careful but emotionally empty, that is not success.
If a business survives but loses its culture, that is not full success.
If a family keeps income but loses connection, that is not full success.
The coming year should be used not only to protect money, but to protect meaning.
Forecast to May 2027: Three Possible Scenarios
Dominic Ashford:
Let us go further. What may the world look like by May 2027?
Svetlana Gerey:
We can think in three broad scenarios.
The first is controlled stabilisation. Oil prices moderate, geopolitical tensions do not disappear but become more manageable, inflation pressure weakens, and governments regain part of the trust they need. In this scenario, families and businesses can plan more confidently.
The second is prolonged turbulence. Oil remains expensive, conflicts continue, borrowing costs stay high, and consumers remain cautious. In this world, resilience matters more than ambition alone.
The third is shock escalation. A wider military, financial or political event could push oil, currencies, markets and inflation into a sharper crisis. We should not treat this as the only scenario, but we must not ignore it.
The wise person does not build life only for the best scenario.
The wise person builds flexibility.
Financial flexibility.
Business flexibility.
Family flexibility.
Educational flexibility.
Emotional flexibility.
And intellectual flexibility.
In an unstable world, flexibility is a form of intelligence.
Families: “Do Not Postpone Life Until the World Becomes Calm”
Dominic Ashford:
What is your practical recommendation for families?
Svetlana Gerey:
My recommendation is simple: do not postpone life until the world becomes calm.
It may not become calm soon.
Families should plan carefully, but they should not stop living. Children are growing now. Parents are ageing now. Health is forming now. Memories are being created now.
If you plan a holiday, make it meaningful. If you send children to a camp, choose one that gives them knowledge, communication, confidence and development. If you spend money, spend it in a way that strengthens your family.
The worst mistake is to live only in expectation of a better future while losing the best part of today.
Entrepreneurs: “Isolation Is a Hidden Risk”
Dominic Ashford:
What about entrepreneurs and business owners?
Svetlana Gerey:
Entrepreneurs must become more disciplined, but not passive.
They need to review business models, suppliers, cash flow, debt, pricing and dependence on particular markets. But they also need something else: community.
In turbulent times, isolation is a hidden risk.
A business owner who thinks alone becomes tired faster. A business owner who belongs to a serious business community receives information, contacts, emotional support, opportunities and perspective.
That is why business clubs, international forums, mentoring programmes, retreats and strategic sessions are not luxury formats. In the new environment, they can become instruments of resilience.
The strongest entrepreneurs will be those who combine caution with movement.
Investors: “Read Balance Sheets, but Also Read Maps”
Dominic Ashford:
What should investors take from this period?
Svetlana Gerey:
Investors must expand their definition of analysis.
It is no longer enough to read balance sheets. Investors must also read maps.
They must understand energy routes, sanctions, political risk, currencies, debt, inflation and public trust.
This does not mean avoiding investment. It means investing with geopolitical literacy.
The old investor asked: “What is the price?”
The new investor must ask: “What risk is hidden behind the price?”
Why Development and Community Matter in Times of Turbulence
Dominic Ashford:
You speak often about development, community and cooperation. Some people might say: during turbulence, we should focus only on survival. Why do you believe development is still essential?
Svetlana Gerey:
Because survival without development becomes slow decline.
If people only cut expenses, only wait, only fear and only watch the news, they lose energy. They become weaker. Their children see anxiety instead of leadership. Their teams feel uncertainty instead of direction.
Development is not entertainment. Development is a way to remain alive mentally and strategically.
When people study, communicate, travel meaningfully, attend forums, join business clubs, take part in mentoring programmes and build communities, they do something extremely important: they transform uncertainty into action.
A person with knowledge is calmer.
A person with a network is stronger.
A person with purpose is more resilient.
A family with shared meaning is harder to break.
A business community with trust can survive more than isolated competitors.
Happiness in 2026: Information, Knowledge, Purpose and People
Dominic Ashford:
This brings us to a more human question. What is happiness in such a period? Is it money, stability, work, football, family?
Svetlana Gerey:
Happiness is not one thing.
Football can bring joy.
Work can bring achievement.
Money can bring freedom.
Family can bring love.
But in difficult times, happiness is also the feeling that you are not lost.
You are armed with information.
You have knowledge.
You have purpose.
You have enthusiasm.
You have people around you who share your direction.
That is why happiness today is not only personal comfort. It is also orientation. It is the ability to understand where you are, what is happening around you, who is beside you and why you continue moving forward.
Global Business Week 2026: An Invitation to Meaningful Business and Family Time
Dominic Ashford:
100News.TV is an information partner of Global Business Week 2026, which will take place in Davos, Switzerland, from 9 to 17 July 2026. In the context of everything we have discussed, why is this kind of event especially relevant now?
Svetlana Gerey:
Because people need places where business, family, education, development and international dialogue come together.
Global Business Week 2026 in Davos is not only about speeches or networking. It is about creating an environment where entrepreneurs, top managers, families, young leaders and children can experience business and life in a broader way.
In the Swiss Alps, people can work, rest, think, learn, communicate, recover and build new relationships.
This is very important. We should not separate business from life, or education from family, or leadership from health.
The future belongs to integrated formats — where a business trip can also be a family experience, where a forum can also be a place of renewal, where children see their parents not only working, but developing, communicating and building the future.
This is why Global Business Week is not simply an event. It is part of a wider culture of development and cooperation.
Details are available at:
http://GlobalBusinessWeek.com
And I want to stress: this is not about advertising. It is about inviting people into a community that understands the power of knowledge, development and cooperation during difficult times.
“Do Not Wait for the Perfect World”
Dominic Ashford:
If you had to leave our viewers and readers with one central message, what would it be?
Svetlana Gerey:
Do not wait for the perfect world before you begin to live properly.
The world may remain turbulent.
Oil may remain volatile.
Politics may remain unstable.
Markets may remain nervous.
But your life is happening now.
Your children are growing now.
Your health is forming now.
Your business is being tested now.
Your best years are not waiting somewhere beyond the crisis.
So plan intelligently.
Work seriously.
Rest meaningfully.
Develop yourself and your children.
Join communities that make you stronger.
Choose knowledge over panic.
Choose cooperation over isolation.
Choose purpose over noise.
We cannot control the whole world. But we can control how consciously we live inside it.
A Final Message to Our Readers
Dominic Ashford:
Svetlana Gerey, Vice-President of the International Consortium Global Development Alliance, thank you for this conversation.
Today we began with football and oil, but we arrived at something deeper: how to plan life, business, family, rest and development in a world that no longer offers simple certainty.
The message is clear.
The world may search for football.
Markets may price oil.
But the true value of 2026 will be measured by how wisely we live through it — together.
You have been watching and reading 100News.TV | Business & Growth.
I am Dominic Ashford.
Stay informed. Stay connected. Stay human.
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