Steve Wells
Global futurist, keynote speaker, strategic advisor, author
and the COO of Fast Future
A Very Human Future
A Very Human Future explores the drivers of future change and the domains of action required to help ensure we enrich humanity in a digitized world, rather than succumb to technology. In this keynote, Steve examines the mind-set 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 people. The content of this keynote draws on the book, A Very Human Future.
Exponential Technology Enabling a Reinvented Future
This keynote considers the pace and scale of technological development and the potential impact it could have on life, society and business. Using a number of case examples of technologies changing existing industries together with the second and third order effects, Steve explores the opportunities presented by new science and technology developments that allow us to reimagine the future. The content of this keynote draws on the book, The Future Reinvented.
Global Megatrends and the Future of Business, Work, and the Workplace
This keynote focuses on the critical future change drivers that are already impacting our world. Steve makes the case for adopting new mind-sets, underscores the importance of change and the context for new ideas on leadership in order to take organisations through the digital transition. This keynote draws on the books, The Future of Business and The Future Reinvented.
Sustainability is Here to Stay
Sustainability is Here to Stay explores the potential impact of the wider adoption of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to promote prosperity while protecting the environment. Steve explores how technological change and evolving political and regulatory mind-sets might create a new landscape for commercial success with social responsibility.
Going Beyond Genuine Stupidity to Ensure AI Serves Humanity
Going Beyond Genuine Stupidity considers the growth in artificial intelligence applications and expectations at how the technology will evolve. Steve explores the implications for business and society including how human futures can be reimagined, how new societal structures may emerge, and the challenges and opportunities for government and business. This keynote draws on the book Beyond Genuine Stupidity.
Two Worlds Collide
In this keynote, Steve focuses on the transition from an analogue world where we experience and focus on physical products, goods, services and adopt a traditional perspective on value and asset ownership; to a digital world where we free ourselves from the physical perspective on value and focus on data, information, and what digitization can help us achieve, and the societal trends it is driving.
Innovation and Disruption
A number of talks can be configured to include elements described above that focus on the “innovation imperative” and how innovation and creativity will impact work, jobs, roles across the C-suite, humanizing the enterprise, and the case for smart human cities. In addition to bespoke research, other talks will draw on the books The Future of Business, Beyond Genuine Stupidity, The Future Reinvented, and A Very Human Future.
Steve is an experienced international speaker, futurist, strategist, and facilitator. He prepares and delivers thought provoking client presentations, executive education workshops, and strategic foresight to clients and event delegates on the future of life, business, and society with a particular focus on how we enable a very human future.
He helps 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, immersive technologies like augmented and virtual reality, 3D and 4D printing, the Internet of Things, and hyper-connectivity. He explores the mind-set shifts and leadership capabilities required to compete in the emerging future in order to help clients and delegates to make informed choices on the potential impact of emerging technologies.
As COO of Fast Future Publishing, Steve is working on delivering a series of multi-contributor books exploring the emerging future. He is a co-editor and a contributing author for The Future of Business, Beyond Genuine Stupidity – Ensuring AI Serves Humanity, The Future Reinvented – Reimagining Life, Society, and Business, and A Very Human Future – Enriching Humanity in a Digitized World. He is also working on two forthcoming books, 50:50 – Scenarios for the Next 50 Years and Unleashing Human Potential – The Future of AI in Business.
VIDEOS:
Entrepreneurs Forum – Mindset and Leadership for a Reinvented Future
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0avZgPmTX60
Latvia Business Forum – Global megatrends and the Future of Business, Work, and the Workplace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3McbXfnJnQ&index=21&list=PL-GAjBmq_k4o8nk3S8s28D-VNHc-Y3qRJ
Zagreb Forum: Megatrends for Cities – Disrupting our way to a Very Human City
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3F55AC2nlE&list=PLzeE3bFunou_htMVo4ezZ7UHk1WYcqSI7
CIO Conference, India – Disruption and Opportunity – Creating a Very Human Enterprise
Presentation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKKpVEy9bYU
Interview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0HwiieFtj8&index=26&list=PLA1mzQveHl9TV8iA06GnMDDogAe-pU4sS
YouTube channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCB3hYhlFJrlRGcCS20t6BOQ
OTHER INFORMATION:
Steve is a regular contributor to the BBC appearing on live national and regional radio and TV broadcasts, live broadcasts with other national radio broadcasters, and on various podcasts and other on-line events on the topic of the role of automation technologies on the future of life, society, and business.
Steve has previously worked as an independent Strategy Consultant and Foresight Researcher, and as a Strategy Development Manager in Pfizer Inc.’s UK business where he worked across C-suite and senior manager level to lead and facilitate the company’s strategic planning process.