In this groundbreaking keynote, Dr. Craig Wing introduces the revolutionary “Four Future Seasons” framework, a transformative approach to navigating uncertainty and preparing for an unpredictable future.
Drawing on insights from his PhD research, Japanese philosophy, military strategy, and psychology, Dr. Wing challenges traditional business tools like SWOT analysis and Porter’s Five Forces, demonstrating why they are outdated in today’s rapidly evolving world. He explores how qualitative and quantitative tools can be leveraged to design resilient strategies and reveals the cognitive biases and corporate blind spots that often hinder progress.
This keynote equips leaders with the foresight needed to thrive in a world of unknown unknowns, where black swan events and disruptive forces are the norm. By embracing design thinking and an entrepreneurial mindset, organizations can move beyond mere survival to create a future-ready culture.
In a world defined by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA), Dr. Craig Wing presents a bold new paradigm for leadership: responsibility in an UNSAFE world. Using the acronym UNSAFE (Unknown, Nascent, Supervenient, Algorithmic, Factorial, Ephemeral), he unpacks the drivers of success in an era of unprecedented disruption.
From AI-driven transformations to geopolitical shifts, Dr. Wing highlights the factors that leaders must understand to navigate this new reality. This keynote emphasizes the importance of collective responsibility as a cornerstone for sustainable success, urging leaders to transition from an UNSAFE to a SAFER future. By fostering collaboration and ethical decision-making, organizations can build a better tomorrow for all stakeholders.
As artificial intelligence and automation reshape industries and redefine humanity itself, Dr. Craig Wing delivers a thought-provoking keynote on what it means to be human in an algorithmic age. He addresses the fears and opportunities posed by generative AI, robotic assistance, and always-on technologies, offering a clear-eyed perspective on their limitations and potential.
Rather than resisting technological advancements, Dr. Wing advocates for augmenting human capabilities to enhance our humanity. Through practical examples and frameworks, he demonstrates how tasks—not jobs—can be reimagined to leverage AI as a tool for empowerment. This keynote inspires leaders to embrace cognitive augmentation, ensuring that technology amplifies human creativity, empathy, and ingenuity as we step into the Fifth Industrial Revolution.
Leadership is widely regarded as the most critical factor for organizational success—but how do we measure its impact? In this insightful keynote, Dr. Craig Wing unveils groundbreaking research that quantifies the exact influence of leadership on an organization’s future readiness. Based on his PhD study, described as “avant-garde,” he identifies the 25 attributes that drive resilience and adaptability in businesses.
This keynote goes beyond traditional leadership principles, introducing the concept of the Future Fitness Score (FFS)—a single metric to assess an organization’s preparedness for tomorrow. Dr. Wing also explores how leadership evolves as businesses scale or pivot, offering actionable strategies to maximize resource efficiency and supercharge leadership effectiveness. By understanding the sentiment and perception of their organizations, leaders can steer their teams toward long-term success.
The quantum computing revolution is no longer a distant possibility, it is here, and its implications are profound. In this forward-looking keynote, Dr. Craig Wing explores how quantum technologies will disrupt industries ranging from cybersecurity to pharmaceuticals, logistics, and beyond.
He demystifies the science behind quantum computing and outlines its potential applications while addressing the ethical considerations surrounding its use. This keynote provides leaders with a roadmap for staying ahead of the curve without over-investing prematurely. By understanding the risks and opportunities of the Quantum Era, organizations can position themselves to thrive amidst exponential disruption.
Dr. Craig Wing is a globally recognized futurist, innovation strategist, and thought leader on the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). With a career spanning academia, entrepreneurship, and international consulting, Craig has founded six companies including a Silicon Valley non-profit—and advised over 1,000 entrepreneurs worldwide. His mission is to empower leaders and organizations to navigate uncertainty, embrace emerging technologies, and design futures of purpose and resilience.
Having delivered more than 500 keynotes to 5,000 global leaders, Dr. Wing is renowned for his ability to simplify complex ideas about AI ethics, sustainable innovation, and strategic foresight. Named one of CIO Magazine’s “Most Inspirational Leaders Shaping the Business Landscape in 2024,” his insights are as actionable as they are visionary. His forthcoming book, Four Future Seasons, draws from Japanese philosophy and military strategy to help organizations build adaptive, future-fit mindsets.
A global adventurer and lifelong learner, Dr. Wing has traveled to more than 50 countries, studying innovation and leadership across cultures. His talks combine deep research with captivating stories, empowering audiences to act boldly in shaping the future.
Craig Wing empowers businesses to navigate the complexities of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and beyond. With six companies founded—including a Silicon Valley non-profit and over 1,000 entrepreneurs advised, he brings unparalleled expertise in emergent technologies, business model innovation, and cultural transformation.
A sought-after keynote speaker, Dr. Wing has delivered 500+ presentations to 5,000 global leaders, addressing topics such as AI ethics, sustainable innovation, and strategic foresight. His groundbreaking work has earned him recognition as one of CIO Magazine’s “Most Inspirational Leaders Shaping the Business Landscape in 2024,” and his upcoming third book, *Four Future Seasons*, draws on Japanese philosophy and military strategy to redefine how we prepare for tomorrow.
A trailblazer across multiple domains, Dr. Craig Wing’s career spans academia, entrepreneurship, and international advisory roles. Holding advanced degrees from prestigious institutions like Babson College and the University of Johannesburg, where he completed one of South Africa’s first PhDs in Futures Strategy, his research introduces revolutionary frameworks for measuring “Future Fitness.”
He has consulted with global giants such as Google X, the United Nations, Deloitte, Microsoft, Airbus, and Tata, while also leading initiatives like Nigeria’s 2050 visioning process and moderating BRICS summits alongside world leaders including Presidents Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin.
Beyond his professional accolades, Dr. Craig Wing is an adventurer at heart, having traveled to 56 countries and engaged deeply with diverse cultures, from trekking gorillas in Uganda to swimming with whales in Mozambique. This unique blend of intellectual rigor, real-world impact, and personal passion makes him an inspiring voice for audiences seeking to shape a resilient and transformative future.
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In this thought-provoking TEDxAshokaU talk, Dr. Craig Wing challenges the audience to rethink their relationship with the future. He begins by reflecting on humanity’s deep history of innovation, showing how progress has always been driven not by certainty, but by curiosity. As a futurist and entrepreneur, Craig argues that our current era—the Fourth Industrial Revolution—is not defined solely by artificial intelligence or automation, but by the choices humans make about how to use them.
He shares personal stories and insights from advising global organizations to illustrate a central theme: the greatest threat to our future is not technology itself, but complacency. Drawing from philosophy, strategy, and cultural studies, Craig reveals how societies that nurture curiosity are better prepared to adapt to uncertainty. He urges leaders, educators, and innovators to replace fear of the unknown with a spirit of exploration and creativity.
Throughout the talk, Dr. Wing connects global technological shifts to deeply human experiences—emphasizing empathy, ethical decision-making, and inclusivity as critical components of progress. He discusses his concept of “future fitness,” a mindset that measures not how much we know about the future, but how ready we are to learn, unlearn, and evolve with it.
As the presentation builds, Craig’s storytelling and humor bring abstract ideas to life, leaving the audience both inspired and challenged. His closing message is a call to action: to embrace curiosity as a muscle that must be exercised daily if we are to shape a thriving, equitable, and human-centered future.
In this compelling talk at the 2024 Skolkovo Open Innovations Forum, Dr. Craig Wing introduces his Four Future Seasons framework, a strategic foresight model designed to help leaders anticipate and adapt to the rapid transitions shaping our world. Drawing parallels between nature’s cycles and global shifts, Craig explains that the future unfolds through distinct “seasons” of change—each requiring a different mindset, leadership style, and organizational response.
He begins by contextualizing today’s environment as one of accelerating disruption. From artificial intelligence and geopolitical realignments to environmental shifts and generational change, Dr. Wing illustrates that the forces defining our future are both technological and deeply human. His message: success in this new era demands not prediction, but preparation.
The four “seasons” of the future—Spring (emergence), Summer (growth), Autumn (decline), and Winter (transformation)—serve as metaphors for the natural ebb and flow of innovation, opportunity, and renewal. Craig shares real-world examples of organizations that thrive by recognizing which “season” they are in and adjusting accordingly. He challenges leaders to develop Future Fitness, a competency rooted in awareness, adaptability, and ethical foresight.
Throughout the keynote, Dr. Wing’s storytelling is vivid and globally relevant. He references his experiences consulting for the United Nations, Google X, and BRICS summits, weaving together insights from business, philosophy, and cultural anthropology. He emphasizes the importance of cultivating human creativity and emotional intelligence as essential complements to technological progress.
As the session concludes, Craig calls on businesses and policymakers to embrace cyclical thinking and long-term stewardship over short-term gains. He reminds the audience that winter is not the end, but a time for regeneration—and that by understanding these “future seasons,” we can lead with confidence through uncertainty.
Artificial intelligence, future of work, ethical innovation, and long-term strategy design.
Each keynote integrates audience data, industry trends, and foresight methodologies to ensure relevance and practical application.
He bridges global foresight with human-centered strategy, helping organizations prepare for the future without losing their purpose.
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