In 1954, Peter Drucker introduced "management by objectives," blending human insight with measurable goals. Now, with AI reshaping leadership, one question looms: Will technology erode human leadership — or make it more human?
IFTF’s new research offers a surprising perspective. This issue dives into how organizations are redefining leadership in an AI-powered era — not just for efficiency, but for deeper transformation. Start by taking a glimpse into AI-driven commerce in 2035. And read our feature essay on the traits top leaders will need to thrive in a world of ubiquitous AI. It's based on a new book we're excited about, called Leaders Make the Future, written by three of our IFTF colleagues. The future demands not just new tools, but new wisdom, and this book shows how to lead with both artificial intelligence and authentic humanity.
Also in this issue: Our interview with United Way Worldwide's Next-Generation Leaders Initiative team, who partnered with us to develop a perspective on the future of leadership in civil society.
Signals from the Future
These signals from IFTF's Future Factors platform reveal emerging shifts in leadership — from how we share knowledge to how we destress.
Adults are taking adulting classes
In a world that grows more complex, many U.S. adults are turning to the basics. Classes on "grown-up" skills — sewing, buying a home, filing taxes, handling rejection—are booming. Community colleges, workplaces, and even "Adulting Schools" now offer these lessons, meeting a rising demand for practical know-how.
What if the skills to be a leader focused on more basic elements of being a mature adult—or revisiting the things that make us more human?
Leveling the investment playing field with transparency and data
Launched in 2023, Dub lets users track and mirror the investments of politicians and corporate insiders. By simplifying financial disclosures and government filings, the platform turns complex data into useful strategies for everyday investors — boosting financial literacy and civic transparency.
What if everyday people had easy access to the information their leaders currently do?
Young workers are taking mini-retirements to escape their stress
More young U.S. workers are choosing "mini-retirements." They pause careers to travel, explore hobbies, or grow personally. It's a shift toward work-life balance, valuing experiences over climbing the career ladder.
What if leaders embraced a holistic approach to management that supported employees’ personal fulfillment and mental well-being?
Columbia University instructor teaches cancelled course anyway
Karen Attiah, an American author, was teaching a sought-after course on Media and Race at Columbia University. The class was canceled due to the U.S. federal ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Undeterred, Attiah now offers the course to the public. Payment? Sliding scale or donations to mutual aid efforts.
What if leaders found more ways to distribute critical goods and services by working around institutional barriers?
IFTF FEATURE
The Uncanny Valley of Leadership: When AI Makes Management More Human
As GenAI becomes universal in leadership, an unexpected pattern emerges: AI tools could actually make management more deeply human, not less. IFTF's latest research examines this transformation — from efficiency-focused automation to "human-AI swarms" that enhance decision-making. The key is seeing AI not as a productivity tool, but as a way to amplify our most human qualities: curiosity, clarity, empathy, and humility.
Read a forecast brief about our new perspective, "The Uncanny Valley of Leadership." It's the sixth in a series exploring uncanny valleys across society, culminating in a full exclusive anthology for IFTF Vantage Partners in July 2025.
If you are already an IFTF Vantage partner, read this full Perspective on IFTF Vantage Point.
To learn more about accessing these forecasts and/or joining the IFTF Vantage partnership, contact our team to explore how we can help your organization navigate the critical transitions ahead.
IFTF INSIGHT
Imagine: Your Car Just Scheduled Its Own Repair — Welcome to 2035
Your vehicle detects a problem, negotiates with repair shops, and schedules maintenance while you sleep. This is just one of many scenarios explored in IFTF's latest independent research, sponsored by Visa. Our findings reveal AI won't just change shopping — it'll redefine trust in finance. From managing home repairs to handling your financial planning 24/7 like a personal advisor who never sleeps, the next decade will reshape commerce — and could leave traditional banking behind.
Read the highlights or download the full report here.
IFTF SERVICE SPOTLIGHT
Architects of Possibility: Custom Foresight for United Way's 1,000-Leader Moonshot
What if the next generation of civil society leaders could shape the future instead of just responding to crises? That's the ambitious goal driving United Way Worldwide's partnership with IFTF. Its Next-Generation Leaders Initiative is embedding strategic foresight into an 18-month leadership program, training a thousand emerging leaders to become "architects of possibility." Early results are transformative — from helping communities rebuild after natural disasters to reimagining how boards tackle complex challenges.
Read our full interview with United Way Worldwide's leadership team to learn how this initiative is creating ripple effects across civil society. Ready to bring strategic clarity to your leadership team with an IFTF Custom Leadership training? Contact us to explore how IFTF can help you build a robust plan that transforms today's challenges into opportunities, and ensures your organization thrives in an uncertain future.
Upcoming IFTF Foresight Essentials Trainings:
IFTF Fast Futures Foresight for Beginners Live-Online | May 28, 2025 10am-11:30pm PDT | Learn more here »
IFTF Three Horizons of AI Live-Online | Jun 3-17, 2025 | Learn more here »
IFTF Foresight Essentials Palo Alto, CA | July 15-17, 2025 | Learn more here »
IFTF Experiential Futures Live-Online | July 17-31, 2025 | Learn more here »
ALL UPCOMING TRAININGS & EVENTS »
IFTF FORESIGHT TALK
Sweden's Innovation Agency: Building Tomorrow Through Speculative Futures
For over 20 years, Vinnova has driven Sweden's innovation future. Now, this government agency is pushing boundaries by embracing speculative futures and experiential prototyping. Drawing initial inspiration from Finland and Singapore's futures work, Vinnova has developed its own distinct approach to imagining and testing possible tomorrows.
Join us in conversation with Joakim Skog, Strategic Futures Lead at Vinnova. He'll share how the agency transformed foresight from theory to practical innovation, and reveal their most ambitious projects to date.
Wednesday, May 29 | 9:00am PDT Register here »
IFTF SIGNAL SWAP
Share & Spark: A 30-Minute Signal-Swapping Session with IFTF Faculty
At IFTF we teach that integrating a solid practice of cataloging signals of change is the foundation of good foresight. What’s more, we extract more insight and meaning from signals when we share and discuss them with others.
Join IFTF for a quick and playful round of signal swapping where we’ll gather for a live discussion of signals and their implications. In this 30-minute conversation, three faculty members of IFTF Foresight Essentials demonstrate in real time how organic signal sharing is done when they each present three provocative signals of change then dive together into the different possibilities. Come see where their imaginations lead them!
Thursday, June 12, 2025 | 9:30am PDT Register here. »
RESOURCES
From Power Politics to Planetary Thinking: A Strategic Foresight Perspective
For futures thinkers grappling with how global governance might evolve, Stephen Heintz's "A Logic for the Future" offers a provocative framework for reimagining international relations. The Rockefeller Brothers Fund CEO dissects our current system's obsolescence and maps an alternative future where positive-sum solutions replace zero-sum thinking, cosmopolitanism supersedes imperialism, and human/planetary wellbeing trumps neoliberal economics. This analysis is particularly valuable for scenario planners and strategic foresight practitioners seeking fresh models for anticipating geopolitical transformation and designing more resilient governance systems.