In this FIR Interview, consultant, writer, and science fiction enthusiast Ezri Carlebach offers a unique perspective on how speculative fiction can be a valuable tool in business leadership, innovation, and ethical decision-making in planning for the future. He discusses how sci-fi fosters imaginative thinking, helping organizations tackle complex challenges, including the ethical dilemmas posed by emerging technologies such as AI, biotech, and space travel.

Carlebach explains his concept of “Applied SF,” highlighting how storytelling and “what if” scenarios can drive creative solutions in strategic planning and leadership development. He explores the role of empathy and ethics in leadership, offering insights on how speculative fiction can inspire future-thinking and better decision-making. A key theme in the conversation is the ethical implications of new technologies. Carlebach argues that speculative fiction can help leaders engage more deeply with ethical issues, fostering empathy and better decision-making. He discusses how fiction, in general, has been shown to improve empathy and leadership, citing examples like Barack Obama, who attributed some of his leadership insights to reading novels.

Overall, the interview highlights the transformative power of speculative fiction in business, offering leaders new ways to think about the future, improve decision-making, and address ethical challenges. Carlebach emphasizes the importance of fostering imaginative capabilities within organizations to better navigate the complexities of modern innovation and leadership.

Whether you’re a sci-fi fan or a business leader, this interview provides a thought-provoking discussion at the intersection of fiction and business.

About Our Conversation Partner

Ezri Carlebach is a multifaceted professional with extensive experience in various fields. He is a communication consultant, writer, editor, facilitator, and musician. His background includes senior communication roles in the public sector, and he has worked as a visiting lecturer at the University of Greenwich for six years, teaching social theory.

Additionally, he is a Fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute and has coordinated AI and emerging technologies on the Institute’s Policy and Practice Committee.

Carlebach has also been involved in PR and communications for over 20 years and has founded the Climate Action Society at University College London. He is known for his expertise in countering conspiracy theories and has written about the power of words and stories to influence beliefs and behaviors.

Follow Ezri on LinkedIn

Links From This Interview

• Ezri Carlebach


• Wikipedia entry on Speculative fiction


• Why Business Leaders Need to Read More Science Fiction – Harvard Business Review


• Bill Gates Says this Sci-Fi Book Helped Him Develop the Mindset for Success – Experts Say He’s on to Something – Inc.com

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