Insights · July 27th, 2021
Well, it’s been quite the journey from March 2020 to July 2021.
Covid 19 has resulted in 184m cases and 3.99m deaths. I’m not going to go into particular country stats, but needless to say, any emergence of a new coronavirus is accompanied by the pain and suffering so many have felt (and are still feeling).
I send peace and solidarity out to you all.
In my work I have been honored to work with so many who want to learn, see signals of change, anticipate trends and risks, and also dare to help their organizations look our 5, 10 and 20+ years into the future.
In my 2021 predictions I stated clearly that we are in COLLAPSE, and have been for hundreds of years. I continue to spend time researching and advising clients through 2021 on the shifting platforms and algorithms, transcendent social media and misinformation, and the emergent geopolitical theatres of Water-Food-Energy.
I also stated that we need a way out. Well, there is no way out. Here we are. Living on a planet that is warming. It’s not just changing, it’s changed.
FACING OUR FUTURES
Earlier in 2021 I signed an international book deal with Bloomsbury. That comes off of the back of my chapter in The Future Starts Now – ‘Start with Dystopia’.
My new book now has a title ‘FACING OUR FUTURES’. And, this is how it begins:
“There it is. Our future. Look at it. Glorious. Pristine. Accessible. Yours. I am the person that can corral the people and resources to make it happen. All you need to do is believe and it’s possible. We can’t fail, but it won’t be easy. Nothing is impossible. We just need to trust in science, technology and shooting for the moon.
Stop!
That’s not me speaking. That the privileged, the politicians, the people that are not actually looking out for us and our futures. They want to define a narrow view that can easily be regulated and policed. That’s not how we as humans and the complex societal structures we operate in them work.”
It’s a challenge to how thinking has been narrowed and placed in an acceptable box by the leaders of our failing industrial complex.
Through my experience over 25+ years, and the people I speak to, the clients I train and coach in foresight work and the continued work I do to educate as many people I can I see that often organizations and governments lack the consciousness needed to create resilient strategies, risk management and operations needed to thrive (and survive macro impacts, questionable ethics, and bad decisions) in the next 5, 10 and 20+ years.
Even worse, some are creating future-forward plans with ‘moonshots’ and big ideas that have little hope to get off of the ground.
‘FACING OUR FUTURES’ aims to awaken curiosity and bravery in business and governmental leaders to challenge their current thinking. To put the vision they have for their organization, and the strategic thinking they have in place under the microscope.
To think about the plausible, possible, and preposterous futures that lay ahead of us. And, to transform their organizations through applied foresight.
And, to consider what could be terrible futures (some call them dystopias) and consider them beyond the happy-go-lucky rhetoric of political promises with an expiry date.
I’m excited to continue to shape the book to be an essential resource for big strategic thinkers in government and the most impactful organizations in the world. I’ve also undertaken a number of interviews with great thinkers, such as Dr. Wendy Schultz, Dr. Jake Sotiriadis, Karl Schroeder, Madeline Ashby, Dr. Joseph Voros, and others.
A new keynote
Over the next 12 months I will double down in my speaking practice to educate audiences. I have designed a new (ever evolving) keynote, called ‘FACING OUR FUTURES’ and it will illustrate the pathways ahead on the mega trends that will shape our world, and shape your business over the next 20+ years.
I will provide a view on key signals, expert insights and guidance including:
- Shifting mindsets from WHAT IS to WHAT IF, and the power of Strategic Foresight for futures planning
- Global shifts – economic and population growth, global warming and the dynamics of the water-food-energy nexus
- Renewable energy and decarbonization
- Opportunities and challenges on data, sensors, artificial intelligence and automation
- Industry effects relating to smart cities, transportation and logistics, finance, agriculture, retail, media, telecommunications, and more
Your attendees will never see the world in the same way again. And, that will lead to an incredible shift in thinking towards our positive futures.
As always, the keynote will be customized to the client’s needs.
If you want to discuss how we can help your organization or book Nikolas Badminton for a keynote please contact us.
Testimonials
Following are some of the generous testimonials from some of our amazing clients.
“I found Nik’s comprehensive and multifaceted approach to visioning the future and its associated trends quite inspiring and insightful.” Youssef Nassef, Climate Adaptation Director – United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
“Not only was Nikolas delightful AND easy to work with, he quickly learned how his BRAVE NEW WORLD messaging connected with our full slate of programming. Our audience was inspired and entertained, leaving with a new vision of what’s possible and the energy to do so. Whether it’s to motivate your audience toward change today OR imagining our future, you definitely need Nikolas at your conference.” Sarah E. Storrs, United Way Worldwide
“It was a pleasure to have met you and a privilege to have a chance to lead the Qs for the team. I can certainly attest to the fact that it was well received as my own team members were writing to me throughout and after the session with high praise. The consensus was that it was a great balance of ‘out there, big ideas’ coupled with how it could come to life in our ‘real worlds’.” Vanessa Crooker, Vice President, Marketing, Global Merchant & Network Services, American Express
Nikolas Badminton FRSA
Nikolas is the Chief Futurist and Think Tank leader at Futurist.com, a Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (The RSA), and the futurist that the world’s most impactful companies and filmmakers turn to for big ideas, and new futures design.
Nikolas has advised the world’s most impactful companies, including NASA, Google, Microsoft, United Nations, United Way, Bank of Canada, Government of Canada, UK Home Office, Government of Cayman Islands, American Express, AT&T, Thales International, Rolls Royce, Heineken, Procter & Gamble, IDEO, and many more.
His research and thinking has been featured by the BBC, VICE, The Atlantic, Fast Company, Techcrunch, Business Insider, Huffington Post, Forbes, Sputnik, Venturebeat, CTV, Global News, and SIRIUS XM.
Nikolas’ thinking can be seen in the opening chapter for the new book ‘The Future Starts Now’. He’s also writing a new book for Bloomsbury – ‘Facing Our Futures’ that equips world leaders and executives with the tools to imagine new futures, see unforeseen risks and strengthen strategic planning.
Again, If you want to discuss how we can help your organization or book Nikolas Badminton for a keynote please contact us.
