Willis Sparks

Willis Sparks is the Director of Global Macro at Eurasia Group, the world's largest political risk consulting and advisory firm. He focuses on top global political risks and specializes in US politics and elections. Sparks is recognized for his expertise in analyzing risks, opportunities, and trends stemming from geopolitical conflicts and political developments in major emerging market countries, as well as on US politics and foreign policy. He collaborates closely with Eurasia Group President Ian Bremmer on various macro political risk projects.

Before joining Eurasia Group in 2005, Sparks worked at the Council on Foreign Relations, focusing on transnational terrorism and US national security. He holds master's degrees in international affairs from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, specializing in international security policy and the former Soviet Union, and from Sciences Po in Paris. He also holds two bachelor's degrees from Brown University and is a graduate of the Juilliard School, trained in performance and communication. In addition to his academic and professional credentials, Sparks once worked as a stuntman at New York's Metropolitan Opera.

Sparks has delivered keynote presentations on market-moving trends in international politics to investor and corporate audiences globally, except Antarctica. His insights into the market-moving impact of politics in the world’s most dynamic developed and developing states, long-term geopolitical trends, including the rise of emerging market volatility, and a country-by-country analysis of current internal political dynamics are highly valued. He is also a frequent media commentator, having appeared on major news channels such as BBC, CNN, CNBC, CBS, Bloomberg, and FOX.