“Thinking about the future is a luxury”

“Thinking about the future is a luxury”

This was one of the more poignant insights from a break out session at the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion convening at the Institute for the Future (IFTF) that I attended in Silicon Valley.

This is a concept I reflect on often, because thinking about the future is indeed a luxury that many cannot afford. So many people all over the world are in survival mode, constantly climbing uphill, carrying the heavy weight of creating a safe, happy and content life for themselves and their loved ones, that they simply do not have room for more. So it is the responsibility of the people who have the ability to do more, to leverage their privilege towards a future where a people’s unique identities do not add to the weight of their loads.

From building future ready transportation systems, to the future of work and it’s impact on health, the futurists at IFTF help organizations, communities, and leaders to become future-ready, be prepared to face systemic shocks, pursue unexpected opportunities, adapt quickly, and build resiliency to face the future. Another thing I found intriguing at this convening was the concept of Future Back Thinking, and how I am convinced it was derived from the Ghanaian concept of Sankofa, to go back in the past to reimagine and build the future.

The answers to many of the questions asked globally can be found buy reflecting on the past to design the future of our dreams, however, who has the time or capacity for that? And what can we do to cultivate that capacity in more people? My recommendation is that we continue to cultivate environments that hold space for open dialogue on complex - and often - difficult conversations about humanity, so we may innovate for a truly inclusive future.