Welcome to Episode 122 of the Think Forward Show! In this insightful episode, I sit down with Joanna Lepore, who leads Global Foresight at McDonald's Corporation. From her journey as an "accidental futurist" to co-founding FIG (Foresight Insight Group), Jo shares how real transformation starts at the core and ripples outward.In this episode, we explore:Why internal foresight capabilities are crucial for large organizationsHow to break through the "baggage" of corporate futures workThe ev...
"The only future we can make is the one we can imagine."Most organizations treat imagination like New Year's exercise equipment—they know they should use it, but somehow it ends up gathering dust in the corner.Join me for Episode 121 of the Think Forward Show as we explore how imagination transforms futures work from abstract possibilities into tangible futures we can build.In this episode, we explore:- Why imagination is the secret sauce of futures work- How to break free from the "tyranny o...
🚀Episode 120 of the Think Forward Show is ready for you! 🚀What if the key to seeing the future was learning to notice what others miss?🎙️ Welcome to the Think Forward Show Episode 120: Non-Obvious Thinking with Rohit Bhargava 🔍I'm Steve Fisher, your guide on this futurist journey, and in this enlightening episode, I sit down with Rohit Bhargava, author of the Non-Obvious series and the new book "Non-Obvious Thinking." We explore how developing a non-obvious mindset can help us spot opportunit...
🎙️ Welcome to Think Forward Show Episode 119: The Art of Trendspotting 🔍🌐I’m Steve Fisher, your guide on this futurist journey. In this episode, we continue our Being a Futurist series, and I dive deep into Trendspotting—a crucial skill for anyone looking to anticipate change, identify opportunities, and navigate the future. If you’ve ever wondered how to distinguish between a fad, a trend, and a megatrend, or if you want to spot hidden signals shaping tomorrow, this episode is for you!🔑 Key ...
🎙️ Welcome to Think Forward Show Episode 118: Engineering Foresight with Kara Cunzeman 🌌🔧In this episode, I sit down with Kara Cunzeman, a visionary in applied foresight, to discuss how engineering and futures work intersect to tackle some of the most complex national challenges. Kara brings a unique perspective, blending systems engineering with strategic foresight to guide national security and space policy.🔑 Key Takeaways:•How to build a foresight function within large organizations from s...
🎙️ Welcome to Think Forward Show Episode 117: Mapping Impacts: The Futures Wheel 🔮🧠I’m Steve Fisher, your guide on this futurist journey. In this episode, we continue our Being a Futurist series and dive into The Futures Wheel, a powerful tool to explore the ripple effects of trends and decisions. Whether you’re in strategy, innovation, or foresight, this episode will equip you to map out impacts and visualize the cascading effects of change.🔑 Key Takeaways:What the Futures Wheel is and how i...
🎙️ Think Forward Show Episode 116: The Future is Plural with Dr. Dimeji Onafuwa 🌍🌈I’m Steve Fisher, your guide on this futurist journey, and in this thought-provoking episode, I sit down with Dr. Dimeji Onafuwa to dive into pluralism in design and the concept of the pluriverse, where diverse perspectives create a more prosperous, more inclusive future. From transition design to ontological design and beyond, Dr. Onafuwa shares insights on how embracing multiple viewpoints can lead to more imp...
🎙️ Welcome to Think Forward Show Episode 115: Futures Research Methods 🔮🧠I’m Steve Fisher, your guide on this futurist journey, and in this episode, we continue our Being a Futurist series by diving into one of the most essential aspects of foresight: Futures Research. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just beginning your futures journey, this episode will help sharpen your research skills and open your mind to new possibilities.🔑 Key Takeaways:•What Futures Research really is: exploring what ...
🎙️ Welcome to Think Forward Show Episode 114: The Future of Systems Part 2 featuring John Smart 🌍🔧In this exciting follow-up, I continue my conversation with renowned futurist John Smart, diving even deeper into systems thinking and evolutionary development. We cover:🔧 The three mandates: creation, protection, and adaptation📊 How networks are the ultimate winners in complex systems💡 Key insights on foresight, leadership, and how to manage conflict in strategy🚀 The interplay of individuals, gr...
Welcome to Think Forward Show Episode 113: The Future of Systems Part 1 featuring John Smart 🌍🔧I’m Steve Fisher, your guide on this futurist journey, in this special two-part episode, I sit down with futurist John Smart to explore systems thinking and how it shapes our understanding of the future. Whether you’re in strategy, product innovation, or a foresight enthusiast, this conversation is packed with actionable insights on:🔧 How systems evolve and adapt📊 The balance between innovatio...
🎙️ Welcome to Think Forward Show Episode 112: Scanning the Future 🌍I’m Steve Fisher, your guide on this futurist journey, and in this episode, we’re diving deep into a critical tool for every futurist: Environmental Scanning. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned expert, this episode will sharpen your skills and provide new insights on how to spot future opportunities and challenges.🔎 Key Takeaways:What environmental scanning is and why it’s essentialHow to use the STEEP+ Framework for scan...
In the latest episode of the Think Forward Show, I sit down with Dr. Jake Sotiriadis, Executive Director of Global Foresight and Strategy at Phaedrus Engineering, to discuss the future of defense and national security. We explore how strategic foresight, threatcasting, and systems engineering are shaping modern warfare and decision-making. Plus, Jake gives us a sneak peek into his upcoming book The Revenge of Ideology, which dives into the forces driving global instability. Tune in ...
Welcome to the Think Forward podcast. My name is Steve and I am a futurist. Welcome to our eighth episode, where we discuss the concept of "Domain Maps". In this episode continuing our "Being a Futurist" series, we cover the following:What domain maps areHow to build them from scratchReal-life examples of their application in foresight, strategy, and innovationAn walkthrough exerciseSo, ready to map out your future project? Whether you’re working on the future of work, healthcare, ...
🚀 Ready to unlock the future of innovation? In Episode 109 of The Think Forward Show, I sit down with Christian Mulroth, CEO of Itonics, to explore how companies can thrive in a world of rapid technological shifts. From creating a game-changing Innovation Operating System to navigating the transformative power of Gen AI, Christian shares the secrets behind turning ideas into disruptive innovations. We dive deep into AI’s role in reshaping creativity, corporate ambition, and how businesses can...
Welcome to the Think Forward podcast. My name is Steve and I am a futurist. Welcome to our eighth episode, where we discuss the concept of "Futures Literacy". In this episode continuing our "Being a Futurist" series, I break down this powerful skill, showing how it’s not about predicting the future but about expanding your ability to understand and shape it. From personal growth to organizational success, futures literacy equips you with the tools to navigate complexity, foster inn...
Welcome fellow futurists and big thinkers to the Think Forward podcast. My name is Steve and I am a futurist. Welcome to our seventh episode, where we greet our third official guest, Phil Balagtas. Phil is a designer, futurist and author. He was the founder of the Design Futures Initative, current partner at his design firm, HABITAT and a professor at ELISAVA. He is also formerly of McKinsey and Company which is where we met and we co-founded the Futures Practice which is still thr...
Welcome to the Think Forward podcast. My name is Steve and I am a futurist. Welcome to our sixth episode, where we unpack what it means to think like a futurist. So whether you're a seasoned professional looking to sharpen your foresight skills or just someone curious about what the future might hold, this episode is your ticket to understanding how futurists approach the great unknown.My goal with this podcast is to do a few things: first, to have great conversations with futurist...
Welcome fellow futurists and big thinkers to the Think Forward podcast. My name is Steve and I am a futurist. Welcome to our fifth episode, where we greet our second official guest, Guillermo Sohnlein. an explorer and entrepreneur with the WayPaver Foundation, Humans2Venus and SpaceBridge Partners to name a few of his "parallel entrepreneurship" endeavors. In this episode, Guillermo and I cover a range of topics, including the entrepreneurial journey, the differences between ...
Welcome to the Think Forward podcast, where we explore the trends and technologies shaping our future. I'm your host, Steve Fisher. In Episode 104, we'll explore the concept of weak signals and how they help futurists identify emerging trends in our fast-paced, information-rich world.Today's podcast title is called "Can't Stop the Signals". It comes from the movie "Serenity, " a sequel to the hit TV show Firefly. More on that inside the episode. We also discuss the Concepts and Characte...
Welcome fellow futurists and big thinkers to the Think Forward podcast. My name is Steve and I am a futurist. Welcome to our third episode, where we greet our first official guest, Dr. Ja-Nae Duane. a behavioral scientist at Brown University who researches how organizations can prepare for disruptive events and adapt their systems and behaviors. In this episode, Dr. Duane dives into the world of digital nudges and their darker counterpart, dark nudges. We cover the future of ...