If you have known me professionally or personally, or have been following along, you know by now that I have had the privilege of diving into the world of Strategic Foresight over the past few years. It has been one heck of a journey—both exhilarating and challenging—one that has shaped not only how I see the future but also how I approach the present. Foresight is not just about predicting what is to come; it is about crafting the future you want, in a systematic, strategic, and creative way.
Looking back, I have always been curious and a bit of a dreamer when it comes to the future, but co-founding Horizon Z, IMI's first-ever global foresight team, catapulted me into a new realm. We were not just thinking about tomorrow; we were building it. And let me tell you, it was not a smooth ride the whole way—definitely not a piece of cake. But then again, when has the pursuit of greatness ever been easy?
From Crafting Futures to Being Intrapreneurs
One of the most transformative aspects of this journey was getting to work as an intrapreneur within a corporate giant. We had the spirit of a startup, but with the resources (or should I say stability) of an established company—a balance that gave us space to innovate but also came with its own set of hurdles. And trust me, we hit plenty of them.
But that is where the magic happens, isn’t it? When things get tough, that is when you learn about resilience, design thinking, and the power of a growth mindset. And through it all, the biggest lesson I learned was this: do not get too attached (After all, one of the first things they teach in foresight and design thinking is having strong beliefs which are lightly held!! Easy to say, much difficult to practice, dare I say...).
Letting Go: A Foresight Team’s Struggle
As a foresight team, we were the first ones in with the ideas, partnerships, and projects. Sometimes it felt like putting our baby up for adoption, wondering if anyone would care for it as much as we did. The reality? Most of our projects—90% of them, to be a bit precise—either got killed, delayed, or put on hold. Painful? Yes. But necessary. We had to quickly learn not to dwell on these losses. We could not sit around mourning an idea’s premature death. Instead, we had to move forward, planting the next seed and getting the next idea rolling. It is a practice in resilience, creativity, and above all, learning not to hold on too tight.
The Futurist’s Toolbox: Owning the Future
One of the absolute highlights of this journey? The chance to design and build our "Owning the Future" workshops. I had the privilege of interviewing some incredible futurists—each conversation like a mental fireworks show, sparking new ideas, igniting fresh perspectives, and pushing our team to think bigger.
From forming signal scanning clubs to the exhilarating moonshot team exercises (highly recommend this from Google’s X, by the way), it was like getting a brain workout on steroids. We explored forecasting, backcasting, and built scenarios for a variety of possible futures—each one more exciting and sometimes terrifying than the last. But, we did not just look at the what-ifs; we looked at the how-to’s: how to harness our strengths, adopt new processes, and position ourselves to outwin the competition. It is one thing to dream up the future; it is another thing entirely to own it.
If you are stuck in a rut with your team, or looking to push boundaries in your own thinking, give the moonshot exercise a try. It might just be the creative shakeup you need to break through the ordinary. Here is a link to run this moonshot exercise with your teams: Moonshot Exercise.
The Burnout Lesson
Of course, the journey was not all adrenaline and brain-bending exercises. The intensity and pace were, at times, overwhelming. There were moments when my managing partner/co-founder and I found ourselves burnt out—and I mean literally. We both spent our times in the hospital, and it was during those moments of forced reflection that we learned perhaps the hardest lesson of all: take a pause.
Sometimes, even in the middle of a high-speed project, the best thing you can do is stop and reflect, no matter how counterintuitive it may feel. Those pauses were crucial for recharging, recalibrating, and ensuring that we were still on the right track.
What’s Next: Dreaming Forward
As I look back on these past few years, I cannot help but feel that this has been the perfect preparation for the next step in my journey—becoming an entrepreneur (some day, some day who knows maybe?..😜). All the tools, processes, failures, and successes I have encountered have carved out a path that leads me closer to this dream.
And so, I leave you with this: keep dreaming. Keep pushing forward, even when things get tough, even when your “babies” get left behind. Because the future is wide open, and there is so much more to create.
What About You?
Now, let us make this a two-way conversation. I would love to hear from you:
- What is one future trend you are curious or excited about? (For me, it is about how AI will impact our world and life, our interactions—will it be the cure for all our problems or create more of them?)
- Have you ever had to let go of a project you believed in? (There are a couple of projects I feel proud of, and as I see some potential weak signals (don’t go by the words, here in context weak signals are a good thing) on the horizon, I feel a moment of pride knowing that it will eventually become a reality, even though the ownership might be someone else’s. But that is where the art of letting go, and resilience and bigger humanity comes into play)
Looking Forward
In my next post, I will be diving into some exciting scenarios for the future—visions for life in 2030-2040. I will also share some weak signals I have spotted, those little whispers of change that tell us the future is coming faster than we think. Stay tuned, because you will not want to miss this one!
Curious to learn more about foresight and future? Here are some interesting reads and people/futurists/institute to follow:
Books and Materials -
My Favorite Futurists:
Futures Learning Institutions and Thought Leaders:
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