Show Notes
Arguably, the most important thing we need to do when thinking about the future, is to hold our strong opinions weakly. In the world of business strategy, the process of mapping what may lie ahead is usually tempted by a perfected, tried-and-true, method. So what happens when the forecast is wrong? On this episode of Looking Outside we are exploring the process and purpose of scenario planning, with world leading forecaster, professor and futurist, Paul Saffo. Having helped organizations, governments and future leaders build skills in forecasting for the future for decades, Paul knows better than most how predictions of the future can fail when certainty is the desired outcome. Equally he’s seen how people can become entranced with a specific method and obsessed with the accuracy of their predictions. He says instead, when thinking about the future, we should intentionally second guess assumptions, especially, those of so-called subject matter experts. Sometimes, it comes down simply to having a good compass and learning to read the stars. ---------- More: Looking Outside podcast www.looking-outside.com Connect with host, Jo Lepore on LinkedIn & X & jolepore.com Learn more about Paul Saffo, futurist with a past Follow Paul on LinkedIn & X & Instagram Check out more of Paul's work with the Long Now Foundation, Singularity University, The Atlantic Council and the Millennium Project
---------- ⭐ Follow & rate the show - it makes a difference! ---------- Looking Outside is a podcast exploring fresh perspectives of familiar topics. Hosted by its creator, futurist and strategist, Jo Lepore. New episodes every 2 weeks. Never the same topic. All views are that of the host and guests and don’t necessarily reflect those of their employers. Copyright 2025. Theme songs by Azteca X.
More from Looking Outside
Cultural intelligence is the game of the moment. When culture feels like it’s in flux, the natural inclination is to gather more signals. But what if this interrogation of culture is shallow, where we see only what’s bubbling to the top of the volcano, and miss the transition before the eruption? Andreas Krasser, CEO of Omnicom Asia, calls this the cultural flux zone, where deep currents meet surface signals. Andreas says getting to this messy bit in the middle, full of tension and randomness, requires a different process of synthesis, one that is hugely benefited by multicultural thinking. --- Learn more: Looking Outside podcast www.looking-outside.com Connect with host, Jo Lepore on LinkedIn & Substack & jolepore.com Learn more about Andreas at krasserandreas.com Connect with Andreas on LinkedIn Read about Andreas' Cultural Volcano model and the CulturalFLux
What does it take to lead in volatile markets? In this Business Brief we look at how leaders respond under pressure and with competing directives - to transform the business for new external conditions while keeping the status quo. Business Brief is a (very brief, just 5 mins) new solo series by Jo Lepore, exploring immediate business implications of emerging topics. Learn more: Looking Outside podcast www.looking-outside.com Connect with host, Jo Lepore on LinkedIn & Substack & jolepore.com Watch this Business Brief on YouTube
Leaders in volatile and unpredictable markets are often asked to steady the course and stabilize the ship. But what if chaos is the new business normal? Organizational change expert Niven Postma says any leader navigating uncertainty today needs to harness a new type of workplace intelligence. She points to the Stockdale Paradox, where the brutality of the moment is recognized as the reality. Pragmatism, therefore, is the most required skill of the future leader. Without that, Niven argues, the most idealistic leaders quickly become cynics, and cynics become complicit to the complacency of corporate life. --- Learn more: Looking Outside podcast www.looking-outside.com Connect with host, Jo Lepore on LinkedIn & Substack & jolepore.com Learn more about Niven at nivenpostma.com Connect with Niven on LinkedIn Grab a copy of Niven's book If you don't do politics, politics will do you Check out Niven's LinkedIn courses on organizational leadership
The modern influencer economy is worth billions so it's clearly influencing marketers, but does it pay off in the long term? In this Business Brief, we look at how brands have been winning, losing and controlling authority for decades, and why everyday influencers are here today, but will be gone tomorrow. Business Brief is a (very brief, just 5 mins) new solo series by Jo Lepore, exploring immediate business implications of emerging topics. --- Learn more: Looking Outside podcast www.looking-outside.com Connect with host, Jo Lepore on LinkedIn & Substack & jolepore.com Watch this Business Brief on YouTube
Influencer marketing is not a paradigm shift. At best it’s an over-inflated investment (in the billions), at worst it’s serving up false credibility to audiences, masked as ‘trust’. And yet, it’s all that seemed to be on the agenda at Cannes this year, and is being heavily weighted in the marketing media mix by marketers that should know better. Is marketing through influencers, or content creators, a waste of money then? Ramanathan Vythilingam says no - if it’s intentionally used. Ram has been researching the effectiveness of influencer campaigns, following two decades behind the scenes at Unilever. He says the name of the game now is to get savvy and more protective of brand assets and marketing dollars, especially in this marketing era of abundance and clutter. --- Learn more: Looking Outside podcast www.looking-outside.com Connect with host, Jo Lepore on LinkedIn & Substack & jolepore.com Connect with Ram on LinkedIn Read Ram's WARC article on influencer marketing