COGITO Talks… Goals, grills and growth: What the World Cup meant for local business

Major sporting events can bring huge crowds and investment to host cities, but how much of that opportunity reaches local businesses? In this episode, Shayne MacLachlan from the OECD speaks with scientist, entrepreneur and investor Riana Lynn about what the 2026 FIFA World Cup meant for local food businesses in Atlanta and Mexico City. Drawing on her experience in both host cities, they explore how restaurants, food vendors, farmers and suppliers benefited from the tournament, and why some businesses were better placed than others to seize the opportunity.
Looking beyond the final whistle, they discuss what host cities can do to turn a few busy weeks into a lasting legacy. From supporting small businesses and local supply chains to celebrating neighbourhood culture and creating opportunities that endure after the crowds have gone, the conversation asks how global sporting events can leave local economies stronger long after the tournament ends.
Podcast host: Shayne MacLachlan - Public Affairs and Communications Manager at the CFE.
As Public Affairs and Communications Manager, Shayne engages with policy issues concerning SMEs, tourism, culture, regions and cities to name a few. He has worked on a number of OECD campaigns including “Going Digital”, "Climate Action" and "I am the future of work".
Podcast guest: Riana Lynn - CEO of Journey Foods
Riana Lynn is a scientist, entrepreneur, and founder and CEO of Journey Foods, the company behind Journey AI, an intelligence and action platform for the global consumption economy. Journey AI helps companies find, understand, and build with the world’s food, ingredient, supplier, and product intelligence. Journey has generated more than 110 billion personalized recommendations and built an intelligence graph spanning millions of ingredients, products, and suppliers, connecting food science, supply chains, and consumption intelligence. A fourth-generation food entrepreneur, former Track & Field athlete, and patented technologist, Riana’s work spans North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. She has been recognized by Forbes, MIT Technology Review’s Innovators Under 35, and the World Economic Forum as a Technology Pioneer. A former Google Entrepreneur in Residence, investor, and educator, she has taught at Stanford and Harvard and explores global food economics through her podcast.
To learn more about this policy area, go to https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/sub-issues/culture-creative-industries-and-sports/leveraging-the-olympics-games-for-local-development.html
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