In 2014, Frank Kendall, then Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Technology and Logistics, advised the military services to “start looking at how to get quantities and lower risks,” replacing what he saw as ill-advised focus “on a small number of expensive objects.” [1] 

Nike’s Dream Crazier ad is sweeping its way across social media. Debuted during this week’s 91st Academy Awards, its message of female empowerment is clear and direct. Beautiful visuals of strong and confident female athletes flash, evoking physical and mental accomplishment. Tennis champion Serena Williams narrates.

Within a day of its release, the 90-second ad earned five million views on YouTube.

Risks to operations. Market share. Profitability. Business leaders are surrounded by risks big and small.  From Target to Wells Fargo to Facebook and Tesla, it’s not difficult to reference a situation that emerged and severely damaged a company’s reputation and bottom line. Your risk profile hinges on your susceptibility to events that may be internal and known – or external, unknown, and unexpected. With such a varied set of sources and impacts, resilience depends on numerous factors, including the nature of the industry and the maturity of your organization.

For more than four decades, the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting has been a beacon for future-focused leaders. Held amongst the beautiful scenery of Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, the event brings together some of the world’s foremost heads of state, business leaders, policymakers, academics, and societal leaders. Their purpose is to engage in constructive, solutions-focused discourse about global issues and the challenges faced by humanity.

I recently watched the new Netflix show, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo. It features Marie and her KonMari Method™.[1] The premise of the method is to “tidy up” by category, beginning with clothing and moving group by group until you reach sentimental items. You begin by taking inventory of what you have, and then for each item, you consider whether the thing offers heartfelt value to your life and a place in your ideal future – in other words, whether it “sparks joy.” If it doesn’t, it is recognized for its historical role and then discarded.

People close to me know that travel is my passion. It has been a priority for most of my life. As the number of trips I’ve had the opportunity to take has risen, my destinations have gone farther off the beaten path. In December, a trip to Antarctica pushed the boundaries to their farthest reaches.

We hear a lot about “disruptive technology,” but what does that really mean? It is one thing to put together a trend piece or identify the next big thing. Understanding it and planning for the disruption is another challenge altogether.

“Time feels like it is accelerating.”

In a December post in Rapport, Deb Westphal opted to skip making a New Year’s resolution, in favor of looking forward. As I step into the Toffler Associates CEO role this January, I am focused on the future of the firm and its unwavering commitment to be a catalyst for change and future value for our clients. 

Building off the momentum of our Disruption 2030 report where we explored the driving changes, shocks, and disruptive technology that will shape the future, and together with the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology (DHS S&T) directorate, Toffler Associates convened public and private sector executives, thought leaders, and technology builders for off-the-record discussions focused on exploring the implications of this future where disruptive technology – more specifically artificial intelligence – is harnessed by us and our adversaries.

Do you get more reflective at year’s end?

Even though time is fundamentally the continual progress of existence, there is something about the end of the calendar year that inspires reflection. Every December brings a flood of publications documenting the year’s end. Reuters, New York Times, and CNN (to name a few) release special edition Year in Pictures, Who We Lost, and Major Events recaps to document the major milestones that affected people and shaped societies. Intentionally or unintentionally, we give mental space to tie up loose ends and consider the hopes, dreams, and failures of the past twelve months. There’s calm in reminiscing and fascination in remembering what we have forgotten in just a short period. As individuals, this process is part of how we translate our accomplishments, missed opportunities and regrets into a new or renewed commitment to “do better next year.”