This episode of Imagine What’s Next features Michael Kanazawa, EY Global Innovation Realized Leader, and EY Americas Consulting Growth Strategy Leader who also leads the EY wavespace innovation labs. It can be a challenge for leaders to pause the urgency of what is happening right now in favor of speculating about and planning for the possibilities of the future. But when disruption is staring businesses down, there is no other option than to make space for the far-reaching concepts regarding innovation and future-planning that are fast approaching.

Together with Daniel Forrester, Michael highlights the power of keeping short-termism in balance with long-term goals. He considers ways that leaders are limiting imagination, creativity, and human ingenuity in their team and the needed conversations that encourage inspiration for the brilliant minds that are walking through the halls of an incumbent organization. They discuss the power of future-back thinking, which demands a look at the micro disruptors that have the potential to transform the future of innovation and consider the value of looking to our thousand-year history for effective strategies that will enable humans to better face our future.

Key Takeaways:

[1:31] Michael’s interest in innovation stemmed from his childhood desire to create something out of nothing.

[5:05] Future back strategies focus on transformation in the face of technology disruption.

[9:02] A look inside what happens to C-suite leaders when they are given the opportunity to peer into the future.

[13:30] Michael’s 70-20-10 recommendation for the time allotted to future thinking versus focusing on the now.

[19:20] Keeping short-termism in balance with the long-term goals of an entrepreneurial mindset.

[25:30] The challenges of evoking inspiration in people while balancing a short-term execution of business demands.

[30:48] Michael’s advice for leaders who are committed to transformation beyond the valley of despair.

[36:50] Navigating a moonshot project starts with understanding the greater long-term objectives.

[44:43] The value of looking to our thousand-year history for insights when preparing for the future.

Daniel Forrester

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Michael Kanazawa

Daniel Forrester’s new edX Course — Generating Vision: Long-Term Big Ideas That Motivate Employees and Stakeholders

This episode of Imagine What’s Next features Richard Fisher, BBC Future journalist and author of The Long View. A long-term view is essential to the successful future of our planet and people, but too many of today’s world leaders are unwilling to consider the long view in exchange for the immediate gratification of short-termism. There are countless problems that can be addressed and possibly even solved with a long view, from climate change to growing inequality. While staying trapped in the present only prevents us from tackling these problems, the long view allows us to consider things not only as they are but as they could become. Together with Daniel Forrester, Richard highlights the importance of embracing a long view that will benefit our descendants, the insights he gained while researching his book, and areas of potential improvement, including where energies need to be focused as, globally, we move into a better future.

Key Takeaways:

[1:10] Richard recalls the events that culminated in the writing of The Long View and highlights his focus as a BBC Future journalist.

[5:25] Approaching the notion of time with an understanding of deep time and structured thinking.

[8:40] Insights into the cultural forces that shape our view of time and what makes the longevity perspective of Japan a powerful outlier.

[13:16] The psychology of mental time travel and how it can be implemented in business strategies.

[20:02] Multigenerational thinking and Jonas Salk’s vision of a “good ancestor” informed Richard’s impactful future population diagram.

[25:38] The most surprising studies and research that Richard examined while writing his book.

[29:08] Insights from the book highlight the myopic limitations of infrastructure short-termism and potential next steps to move toward a long-view reform.

[34:08] The future of capitalism and delaying gratification in favor of an achieved long-term vision.

[38:00] Encouraging conclusions from the book that continue to hold Richard’s attention.

[44:01] The inspiring message that Richard would share with one of his future descendants.

Daniel Forrester

Podfly Productions

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Richard Fisher

The Long View: Why We Need to Transform How the World Sees Time

Daniel Forrester’s new edX Course — Generating Vision: Long-Term Big Ideas That Motivate Employees and Stakeholders

In this episode of Imagine What’s Next, Thruline Incorporated Principal Business Strategist Thomas P.M. Barnett sits down with Daniel Forrester to discuss globalization and his new book America’s New Map. As the global superpower that has shaped the history of the world over the last century unlike any other country, the United States continues to set globalization standards high and keep the system moving forward. The stakes have never been higher for the United States to maintain power and global positioning, but what does the future hold for globalization and the U.S.? Together Daniel and Thomas discuss the highlights of Thomas’s career as a geostrategist and deep thinker, the critical role of the United States as a market maker as well as a market player, and the message that future U.S. globalization success will send to the rest of the world.

Key Takeaways:

[1:40] Globalization and America’s role within it has been the focus of Thomas Barnett’s career.

[2:54] The influencers that have shaped Thomas’s views and his description of the audacity of an American new map.

[6:14] The impact that pattern recognition of the systemic failures of the rise and fall of the Soviet Union had on Thomas’s worldview.

[12:20] A visionary perspective resulted in outcast feelings until Thomas connected with the right mentors.

[15:10] Insights into the pre-9/11 rulesets project that addressed potential threats to globalization.

[22:08] A look inside the psyche of an executive who is focused on strategic foresight.

[26:40] The future of military challenges and opportunities as addressed by Arthur Cebrowski.

[33:10] Rule set resets and why they matter when handling domestic and foreign crises.

[38:45] Insights from America’s New Map and how the U.S. is shaped by globalization.

[44:48] The single question Thomas would ask the next leader of the free world.

Daniel Forrester

Podfly Productions

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Thomas P.M. Barnett

America’s New Map: Restoring Our Global Leadership in an Era of Climate Change and Demographic Collapse

Daniel Forrester’s new edX Course — Generating Vision: Long-Term Big Ideas That Motivate Employees and Stakeholders

This episode of Imagine What’s Next features Harvard postdoctoral fellow Adam Bulley and University of Queensland professor of psychology Thomas Suddendorf for a discussion about their new book, The Invention of Tomorrow: A Natural History of Foresight. Together Daniel, Thomas, and Adam examine the importance of foresight in tackling some of the biggest problems that the world is facing today. Our capacity as humans to imagine future situations and act accordingly is what sets us apart and above other living creatures, and it is only by foreseeing the potential consequences of our actions that we are able to do something about them. In this conversation, Adam and Thomas share findings from their research, address potential limitations in foresight, and offer tactics for strong leaders when crafting a strategic foresight team that will succeed in the future.

Key Takeaways:

[2:00] Human foresight is a topic that captured Thomas’ imagination and academic focus long ago.

[5:48] Defining foresight and the psychology that makes it a critical component of being human.

[11:26] Surprising findings from this research regarding mental time travel.

[13:24] Consider how dominant would humans be without the skill of foresight.

[19:24] The power of vivid imagery and concrete language in galvanizing action.

[24:20] The ongoing conflict between short term-ism and foresight.

[29:20] Insights into the importance of multi-generational and cathedral thinking.

[38:05] The current limitations of strategic foresight and strategies for approaching them.

[43:45] Evaluating the costs and benefits of strategic foresight with the example of the COVID-19 pandemic.

[52:25] Thomas and Adam envision a strategic foresight team that will succeed in the future.

[59:24] Upcoming research and potential breakthroughs in the foresight research domain.

Daniel Forrester

Podfly Productions

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Adam Bulley

Thomas Suddendorf

The Invention of Tomorrow: A Natural History of Foresight, by Thomas Suddendorf, Jonathan Redshaw, and Adam Bulley

Daniel Forrester’s new edX Course — Generating Vision: Long-Term Big Ideas That Motivate Employees and Stakeholders

“When I imagine what’s next, I imagine us getting to grips with this really powerful capacity for foresight which we’ve got as part of our cognitive endowment.”

“One of the factors that I think has been largely overlooked is our ability as humans to think about the future.”

“Foresight is at the heart of the human story.”

“Being the ones who are capable of foreseeing the long-term consequences of our actions also makes us responsible for those decisions now.”

“At the end of the day, if you don’t follow through with plans then foresight comes to nothing.”

This episode of Imagine What’s Next features economist and future design expert Professor Saijo, an advocate of “future design” as a framework for research related to sustainability, including the decision-making that takes future generations into consideration. These ideals are being put into practice in workshops for local Japanese governments and other organizations, and have the potential to impact the world in a variety of positive ways. Professor Saijo completed his studies at the University of Minnesota’s Graduate School of Economics and is currently a professor at Osaka University’s Center for Environmental Innovation Design for Sustainability and a professor at Hitotsubashi University’s Institute of Economic Research. He is also the Program Director of the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature and a Research Director with the Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research. Today he sits down with Daniel Forrester for a conversation about future design — its impact, possibilities, and the value that will come with a successful alignment of future design and the multi-generational thinking in Japan into other global cultures. Together Daniel and Yoshi consider the benefits of allowing the future to speak and make a case against the unintended consequences and blind spots that are too often associated with today’s short-term approach to design and planning.

Key Takeaways:

[1:09] Tatsuyoshi Saijo introduces future design and seven-generation planning.

[7:20] The impact of the intergenerational sustainability experiment.

[10:45] Surprising results from this experiment and what we need to do about them.

[15:10] Considerations regarding those who came before us and who will come after us.

[19:30] A definition and example of Yoshi’s high-impact workshops and use cases of future design.

[26:00] Distinguishing features of future thinkers and their level of influence on current plans.

[28:15] The implementation of future design plans in Japan.

[32:49] Activating the possibilities and incentives of future-ability.

[35:48] The importance of transferring the successful alignment of multi-generational thinking in Japan into other global cultures.

[41:37] The sense of urgency that Yoshi feels when educating others on the impact of future design.

[45:05] The role that bias can play and other potential negatives in future design.

[51:35] The quiet revolution of future design and Yoshi’s view of the world from his great-grandchildren’s point of view.

Daniel Forrester

Podfly Productions

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Tatsuyoshi Saijo

The Long View, by Richard Fisher 

Daniel Forrester’s new edX Course — Generating Vision: Long-Term Big Ideas That Motivate Employees and Stakeholders

In this episode of Imagine What’s Next, Daniel Forrester is joined by Princeton scholar Dr. Eddie S. Glaude Jr. One of the nation's most prominent scholars, Dr. Glaude is a passionate educator, author, political commentator, and public intellectual who examines the complex dynamics of the American experience. He is the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor of African American Studies at Princeton University, where he is also the Chair of the Center for African American Studies and the Chair of the Department of African American Studies. Together Eddie and Daniel consider the history and future of bringing into reality a long-term vision of American ideals. They discuss short-termism, long-term hope, the work that has already been done, and all that will yet be required of our young country to make America the place that our founding fathers envisioned it to be.

Key Takeaways:

[1:09] Eddie Glaude defines short-termism as it impacts policymaking in America today.

[4:55] Though imperfect, America’s founding documents did get these points right.

[7:20] Our work in realizing America’s ideals is far from done — what are the next steps?

[9:45] Imagining a sense of common good starts with identifying our obligations to one another.

[13:58] Reflections on the power of Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

[18:45] Understanding James Baldwin’s view of the nature of the country.

[21:22] The long-term American ideal questions that 2024 presidential candidates need to be able to answer.

[24:01] Eddie’s hopeful views of where America is headed in spite of all that our history holds and the challenges we currently face.

Daniel Forrester

Podfly Productions

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Eddie Glaude

Daniel Forrester’s new edX Course — Generating Vision: Long-Term Big Ideas That Motivate Employees and Stakeholders

“When I imagine what’s next, I imagine a world where your skin color, who you love, your gender, your ability, where you live, your zip code, doesn’t matter in how you perceive your dreams and how we live together.”

“We’ve been living in a society that has been driven by a certain kind of consumerist ethic that has spilled over into our politics that has shadowed our conceptions of the good and our understanding of what it means to flourish.”

“Often we become complacent in the face of the giants who bequeathed to us extraordinary ideas. We think the work has already been done.”

“We have to reject the idea that we are all self-interested persons in competition and rivalry with one another.”

“The common good isn’t possible until we recognize some sense of commonality between us.”

“To be optimistic is naive, but to be hopeful is to fight for a future that you have yet to see.”

In this episode of Imagine What’s Next, Daniel Forrester welcomes Sarah Williamson, CEO at FCLTGlobal. Sarah leads the FCLTGlobal efforts at conducting innovative, practical research, engaging with their global membership, sharing their perspectives and research with constituents globally, and building a strong team. Together Sarah and Daniel explore the value of long-term thinking when developing powerful, lasting company strategies. Sarah addresses the pitfall of short-termism, the power of incentives, and what it truly means to have a long-term vision for a company that will benefit not only our current capital allocation efforts but our children’s children’s well-being as well.

Key Takeaways:

[:56] Sarah Williamson highlights the mission and counterculture efforts at FCLTGlobal.

[3:35] The scope of the FCLTGlobal membership and platform.

[6:03] Defining short-termism and its warning signs, symbols, and examples.

[10:00] Do companies have choices regarding their quarterly reporting behavior?

[15:53] Noteworthy distinctions between short- and long-term investors.

[19:45] A look inside the long-term thinking conversations that Sarah guides.

[23:28] The key role of incentives in supporting a long-term vision.

[27:10] Sarah highlights best practices in utilizing incentives.

[31:45] The role that CEOs play in driving a long-term agenda.

[35:28] Long-term thinking is the only way to approach ESG.

[40:06] Sarah shares her vision for the long-term future and outcomes at FTLCGlobal.

Daniel Forrester

Podfly Productions

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Sarah Williamson

FTLCGlobal

Daniel Forrester’s new edX Course — Generating Vision: Long-Term Big Ideas That Motivate Employees and Stakeholders

In this episode of Imagine What’s Next, Daniel Forrester is joined by Adam Brase, Executive Director and Division Chair of Strategic Intelligence at Mayo Clinic. In his role, Adam works to construct a positive vision of all that is possible in the future at Mayo Clinic. In their conversation, Adam highlights the work that he does in his strategic intelligence role, how he draws others into a more positive vision of the future with future-back planning sessions, and the effective strategies he uses to engage the C-suite in the future of medicine, the possibilities presented by AI technologies and the value of the third dimension of knowledge assembly.

Key Takeaways:

[:52] Adam Brase describes how the Mayo Clinic is organized and the unique aspects of the organization’s governance.

[4:39] What are the demands of Adam’s strategic intelligence role?

[6:46] Three key points of future-back planning when preparing for what is coming next.

[9:30] Setting the conditions for optimal future-back planning sessions.

[12:47] How to prepare for and who to invite into a successful future-back planning session.

[16:02] Effective strategies for facilitating positive, visionary meetings.

[25:04] Using analogy to make a clear and effective point.

[29:48] Navigating conversations surrounding the third dimension of knowledge assembly.

[34:30] The role that humility mixed with curiosity plays in forward thinking and planning.

[36:33] What has Adam learned about future thinking dosage and potency in the C-suite?

[40:18] How can disruptive AI technology be weaved into strategic planning, and what problems could it solve?

[44:51] Adam highlights the newest emerging pieces of progress at the Mayo Clinic.

Daniel Forrester

Podfly Productions

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Adam Brase

The Mayo Clinic

Daniel Forrester’s new edX Course — Generating Vision: Long-Term Big Ideas That Motivate Employees and Stakeholders