11.02.2025 Today's Insights from Bugge Hansen, Senior Futurist at the Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies, from SHRM

Dear Students,

Have you ever wondered exactly what "futurists"?do? Oxford defines a futurist?as "a person who studies the future and makes predictions about it, based on current trends."?According to the Association for Professional Futurists, there are actually 500 individuals considered professional futurists, across 40 countries, and the APF comprises speakers, authors and researchers in the - no surprise here! - field of "futurology."

Within this context, the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) recently conducted an intriguing interview, with some provocative insights and predictions for ambitious international students (like you and your friends) to consider as you enter the workforce.

A few of the key perspectives (underlining is mine) for aspiring professionals (including you!) to ponder from this conversation with Bugge Hansen, Senior Futurist and Head of Innovation and Technology at the Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies (not a typo!):

• "We’ll likely see a shift toward roles focused on designing and managing AI systems—or being managed by them."
• "For example, tasks that involve creativity and complex problem-solving are less likely to be eliminated. It’s not about the total elimination of jobs but the transformation of tasks within them."
• "We need to rethink curricula and focus on skills like adaptability, critical thinking, and collaboration with AI. It’s also about creating a mindset that embraces change and uncertainty. Lifelong learning must become the norm, not the exception."
• "[Future] preparation involves embracing uncertainty and engaging in foresight projects to map potential futures. From there, backcasting?helps organizations identify steps they can take today to build toward those futures."
• "HR leaders stand at the forefront of this transformation. They must embrace a dual focus: addressing immediate challenges while preparing for long-term uncertainties."
• "Success requires fostering a culture that embraces change, encouraging lifelong learning, and building fluency with AI across teams."

https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/flagships/ai-hi/ai-job-disruption-preparing-for-the-future?utm_placement=article1&utm_source=marketo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=editorial~aihi_flag~NL_2025-02-04_AIHI-Project&linktext=READ-MORE&mktoid=194506230&mkt_tok=ODIzLVRXUy05ODQAAAGYcRz2_0HjooiNwxCTXPSZIT-qVuXKdJVKyCcf67xBos3-d3FZOZ0rMVEE-usAQlftY11oQSo9ImuaPM1Qjl1MvJhreu5NDcHrvbVLRRBUVUJJqIyOsg

One important take-away from this brief discussion between Hansen and Nichol Bradford, herself a respected futurist, is that young talent (like you!) our coaches guide will benefit from becoming aware - and assuming ownership - of the enormously powerful role you will play in shaping how companies, teams and individuals both define and adjust to the many potentials in our collective "new normal."

Our coaches are thus dedicated to making sure that students like you recognize how to identify such opportunities, that you learn to emotionally manage the almost unimaginable rate of change, and that you commit to building the power skills that will allow you to lead others (and yourself) in forging and optimizing new ways of working. As "science of possibility" thought leader Dr. Joe Dispenza likes to put it, "the best way to predict your future is to create it," and, with this approach in mind, "backcasting" sounds like a tremendously valuable strategy to learn.

So, what can you?envision for your future this evening?

Best,

Amy-Louise Goldberg