As an experienced futurist, international speaker, and facilitator, I prepare and deliver thought provoking speeches, presentations, executive education seminars, and horizon scanning studies to clients on the future of life, society, and business. My particular areas of interest lie in the mindset shifts required to imbed foresight with leadership, change methodology, and how we enable a very human future.
I help clients understand the key future factors driving innovation, growth, and disruptive change, highlighting the new thinking and business models being enabled by exponential technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, augmented and virtual reality, 3D printing, the Internet of Things, and hyper-connectivity.
As a regular contributor to the BBC, I have appeared on live national and regional radio and TV broadcasts, live broadcasts with other national radio networks, and on various podcasts and on-line events to discuss the role of emerging technologies on the future of life, society, and business.
Speaking Topics
Leading Change with Foresight describes a novel approach to integrating foresight with human-centric change methodology. Change is an investment in the future and not changing can be costly or even terminal for organisations, so I share how establishing a vision set in the context of a foresight exercise, and change plans built to consider different plausible futures can build organisational agility, resilience, and future-ready change-competence.
A Very Human Future explores the drivers of future change and the domains of action required to help ensure we enrich humanity in a digitised world. In this keynote, I examine the mindset shifts required to focus on new ideas of leadership, education and training, the world of work, new ideas of investment for business and society more broadly, and how we should focus on paying greater attention to the needs of society as a whole to drive social sustainability.
Global Megatrends and the Future of Business, Work, and the Workplace focuses on the critical future change drivers that are already impacting our world. In this presentation I use case examples to demonstrate the potential of emerging technologies to change existing industries together with their second and third order effects. I then makes the case for adopting new mindsets, underscore the importance of change, and new ideas on leadership in order to take organisations through the transition to a digital future.
Collaboration and Partnership Working explores why collaboration is increasingly seen as a critical enabler of addressing the opportunities in a rapidly emerging future. In this keynote I explore the nature of collaboration, when and when not to partner, how to assess the potential of a partnership, and the enablers and hurdles of successful collaboration. I share a number of tools and approaches to support collaborative working and draw on my own experience of working in operational collaborative projects and research.
These topics can be tailored to meet your specific needs. I can also speak more broadly about the emerging future. Email me at steve@stevewells.uk for more information.
Publications
To date, I have co-authored and co-edited seven books: Aftershocks and Opportunities 2—Navigating the Next Horizon; Aftershocks and Opportunities—Scenarios for a Post-Pandemic Future; Opportunity at the Edge—Change, Challenge and Transformation on the Path to 2025; A Very Human Future—Enriching Humanity in a Digitized World; The Future Reinvented—Reimagining Life, Society, and Business; Beyond Genuine Stupidity—Ensuring AI Serves Humanity; and The Future of Business. I have also contributed chapters to a new book due to be published in 2024 on the potential implications for life society and business of developing radical solutions to the climate crisis.
Videos
Investment & Development Agency of Latvia - Global megatrends and the future of business, work, and the workplace
CIO & Leader, India - Disruption and Opportunity Creating a Very Human Enterprise
Zagreb Forum - Megatrends for Cities: Disrupting our way to a Very Human City
Kyoorius, India Zee MELT - Future Citizens: The Possibility Explosion
For these and other videos see my YouTube channel.
To discuss your needs and for more information including fees and my availability, email me at steve@stevewells.uk.
Testimonials
Caty Batten - Head of Partnerships, Peter Jones Foundation - “You were absolutely brilliant on the panel thank you so much! I'm so happy we were able to have you as you contributed such a critical piece to the conversation.
Mirza Atif Baig – Project Manager, Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce - “Steve did an amazing job at the International Technology Conference at Microsoft as the Opening Keynote Speaker. His talk on 'The UK’s Future Industries: Tapping the Engines of Futurism, Science, Technology, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship' set the scene for the day providing an overview of the emerging opportunities for the UK emerging from science and technology innovation, entrepreneurship, and visionary thinking about the future.”
Nectaria Passarivakis - President & CEO, Economist Events for SE Europe – “As a keynote speaker in our special Economist event entitled A World in Transition: The New Jobs - The New Skills at The Athens Concert Hall, your participation undoubtedly contributed significantly to the conference success. Your speech was met with great enthusiasm by our distinguished audience of Government representatives, heads of international institutions, prominent businessmen, diplomats and academics.
Chris Crauford - Head of Commercial Planning, Heathrow Airport – “Many thanks again for a great presentation earlier. It definitely got people thinking and provoked some good conversation.”
Frane Šesnić - Zagreb Forum Chairman – “Mr. Wells is a dynamic and energizing speaker who kept our audience engaged throughout the session while providing thought-provoking material coupled with relevant examples.”
Rachel Brushfield - CIPD, Thames Valley – “Steve is very knowledgeable about his fascinating expert topic of global trends affecting both businesses and individuals and brings the topic to life by speaking with passion in an engaging way with the audience, and using the right blend of impactful images and words to get his point across.
I have designed and delivered keynote speeches and presentations to the following organisations (partial list):
9dot9 India
Abacus Worldwide
Association of Change Management Professionals
Association of Independent Tour Operators (UK)
BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT
BDO UK LLP
BP
Brighton and Hove Chamber of Commerce
British Business Excellence Awards
Buckinghamshire Business First
Catering Equipment Suppliers Association
Chambers of Commerce (various accredited chambers in UK)
Chartered Institute of Housing
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (Thames Valley, UK)
CIO & Leader, India
Civil Aviation Authority
Civil Service College, Cayman Islands Government
CoreNet
DC Finance (UK)
Development Agency Zagreb
Dods Training
Economist Events (South Eastern Europe)
Executive Club, European Executive Forum, Poland
Funzing
Global Venture Alliance / IBM Russia
GRI Club
GVK / Bengaluru Airport, India
Heathrow Airport
Institute of Leadership & Management
Investment and Development Agency of Latvia
IQPC
Kings Fund (UK)
Kyoorius, India
Mediafax / Ziarul Financiar, Romania
Naspers (South Africa)
Nat West Bank
Owen James
Peter Jones Foundation
Philanthropy Impact
Plug & Play
Scottish Council for Development & Industry
Shipleys LLP
Smartex
Terrapinn Global Events
Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce
ThirtyOne Media
UK Health Coaches Association
Image Credits: OpenAI DALL-E, Investment & Development Agency of Latvia, Hazlis & Rivas, Economist Events for SE Europe
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