2026 Talk Tracks
From Zero to Foresight: building future-ready organizations.
How to embed futures thinking across enterprise organizations, without sacrificing short-term execution.
Most businesses claim they want long-term thinking, but reward quarterly results. This session reveals how to break that cycle by embedding foresight capability that drives both immediate business growth and sustained competitive advantage.
Drawing on experience establishing foresight functions from scratch at the global headquarters of Mars Wrigley and McDonald's. This talk provides a practical playbook for transformation: the organizational battles won, the cultural shifts evidenced, and the metrics that convinced skeptical C-suite executives.
Walk away with >>> The roadmap for building foresight capability (and the mistakes that kill it); where to start and how to measure meaningful impact.
Signature Keynote.
01.
The global brand playbook.
Translating macro global trends to local consumer strategies.
The time of “universally loved” global brands is ending. Multinationals face a strategic paradox: macro forces like climate change, technological disruption, and demographic shifts are universal - but their consumer impact is profoundly local. Brands today require a different playbook to operate successfully across diverse geographical environments.
This talk draws from experience building localized strategies for global brands within General Mills, Mars and McDonald’s, with ways to navigate complex macro forces and shifting local consumer behaviors.
Walk away with >>> macro forces reshaping consumer behavior globally, and how they manifest differently locally.
02.
Future-ready skills.
Why asking better questions is your competitive advantage.
As organizations race to adopt AI for efficiency gains, they're inadvertently creating a new strategic risk in organizational intelligence: cognitive atrophy and creativity bust.
This talk dives into the necessary skills of future organizational leaders: curiosity, futures thinking and adaptability. Drawing on futures thinking and design principles, this talk identifies the distinctly human capabilities that will separate winning organizations from efficient ones.
Walk away with >>> core competencies of great future leaders that can be practically enhanced in corporate environments.
03.
Interactive formats.
Keynotes >>> compelling & provocative talks for large and senior audiences.
Workshops >>> hands-on practical application of methods.
Executive Roundtables >>> deeper discussions.
Fireside Chats & Panels >>> candid conversations that engage an audience.
Past speaking events:
Katty Roberfroid
egta Director General
Jo’s expert insight on an ever evolving media landscape was the perfect close to our forum and really chimed with media executives’ need to anticipate future trends and challenges. Thought provoking and inspiring.
Lauren Praverman
Foresight Leader, PepsiCo
I brought Jo in to present to our PepsiCo leaders on the importance of foresight because she brings heavyweight credibility. Her unique blend of expertise in foresight and equally in internal business leadership makes her a rare expert.
Mark Schaefer,
Marketing expert & speaker
Jo is a remarkable speaker. Although she had a large crowd, her easy manner made it feel like she was talking just to me.
H1 2026 speaking events
University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
Melbourne, Australia
March 2 & 3
Futures & Foresight in Australia
Brisbane, Australia
March 26 & 27
details pending, private event with CIFS