09 May HOW CORPORATE SPEAKERS ARE ADAPTING TO THE FUTURE OF WORK, AI AND TECHNOLOGY TRENDS
Corporate speakers and futurist consultants are currently asking: What lies ahead for the world of big business? Although it can be difficult to say for certain, from a forecasting and strategic planning standpoint, many of today’s most well-known and respected corporate speakers and thought leaders have shared their thoughts on the major trends that will shape and transform corporations as we turn our gaze forward.
- Prioritization of Corporate Purpose – There will be an increased focus on corporations clearly defining and living by an authentic purpose that goes beyond just maximizing profits. Companies with a strong sense of purpose will have advantages in attracting top talent and fostering engagement, or so the best corporate speakers remind.
- Embracing a Stakeholder Mindset – Rather than concentrating solely on shareholders, corporations will need to adopt a stakeholder mindset that also considers the needs of employees, communities, the environment and society at large.
- Acceleration of Digital Transformation – The digital transformation of businesses across all industries and functions will only continue to accelerate. Competitiveness will hinge on fully embracing technologies like AI, automation, data analytics, cloud computing and more.
- Increased Agility and Decentralization – To adapt quickly in a fast-changing world, corporations will decentralize authority and decision making. Agility will become just as prized as scale, with more experimentation and faster reaction times.
- Rethinking the Talent Paradigm – The traditional models of recruiting, retaining and managing talent will be disrupted. Top corporate speakers know that firms need to get creative with incentives, learning opportunities, gig work and finding ways to appeal to a changing workforce.
- Prioritizing Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – Creating more diverse, equitable and inclusive workplaces will be an economic imperative, not just about checking a box. DE&I will be viewed as essential to innovation, better decision making and strong corporate cultures.
- Managing the Ethics of Technology – As transformative technologies become ubiquitous, corporations will grapple with weighty ethical issues around data privacy, AI decision making, workforce displacement and more.
- Deeper Focus on Sustainability – Climate change, resource scarcity and other sustainability issues will profoundly impact corporations. Factoring in environmental and social impacts will be crucial for long-term success, corporate speakers report.
- Exploring New Frontiers of Innovation – The most forward-thinking corporations will invest in exploring new frontiers like quantum computing, advanced robotics, biotechnology, space exploration and more.
- Importance of Resilience – Disruptions like pandemics, economic volatility, supply chain issues and other “black swan” events underscore the need for corporations to build resilience into their strategies, operations and cultures.
Consider it a small sampling of the biggest trends that respected corporate speaker voices believe that organizations need to get ahead of in order to thrive in the years and decades ahead. Adapting to these changes won’t be easy, but will separate the corporations that endure from those that stagnate.