Strategic Foresight: A Full-Circle Moment in New York City
From MTV to the United Nations (UN), life has a way of surprising us—and reminding us of the power of Strategic Foresight. Recently, I had the honor of leading a Strategic Foresight workshop at UN Headquarters, helping global leaders anticipate change, navigate uncertainty, and shape more resilient futures.
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Returning to New York City always stirs memories, but this trip was something special. As a young man working at MTV, I never could have imagined that one day I’d be back, this time, speaking at the United Nations. Life has a way of leading us to places we never expect. Standing in that iconic space, I thought of my grandmother, Freda. She was a remarkable woman who spoke seven languages and once dreamed of becoming a UN interpreter. Though she sacrificed her dreams for her family, her spirit was with me in that moment.
The experience reinforced that the greatest challenges we face are rarely solved with a single, flawless plan. Success comes from how well we adapt to change, anticipate opportunities, and prepare for the unexpected. In today’s world of constant disruption, foresight helps leaders recognize the difference between the plan they’ve made and the landscape they encounter and respond with agility, not anxiety.
That’s what this workshop was built for. Strategic Foresight isn’t about predicting the future. It’s about preparing for it.
Through practical tools like systems thinking, environmental scanning, and scenario planning, we explored how to create strategies that thrive in uncertainty. Participants walked away with focused, near-term actions they can use in the next 60 to 90 days to lead their teams through disruption and toward opportunity.
Reflecting on Freda’s resilience, and on the UN’s mission to bridge divides and address the world’s most urgent issues, made the experience even more profound. It’s a powerful reminder of why the work we do to help individuals and organizations anticipate change and navigate uncertainty matters now more than ever.
Empower Your Team with Strategic Foresight Skills
Empower your team to anticipate change, navigate uncertainty, and make future-ready decisions. My Strategic Foresight Workshop delivers practical tools, insights, and frameworks tailored for collective leadership success. Let’s connect to customize a session for your team.
