If you listen carefully, you can learn what the future is telling you ...

Glen Hiemstra has been listening professionally and then sharing compelling lessons from the future for two decades. The Founder of Futurist.com, he is a highly respected consultant and speaker for business, government, and associations.

Those who hire Glenn are looking for an engaging program on the long range future for their business, conference, enterprise, or community. They are seeking a program that has a lasting impact and that can change things for the better. They are seeking a response like this one from an audience member in 2003'? '?This is the most excited I have felt about the future since [I heard] Gene Roddenbury way back in graduate school.'?-

What kinds of clients have experienced impacts like this? Examples include Microsoft, Adobe Systems, Attachmate, Boeing, Northern Telecom, Burlington Northern, Weyerhaeuser, Hewlett Packard, Regence, Premera, U.S./Mexico JWC, Swedish Medical Center, Seattle Sonics & Storm, Wonderware, Ernst & Young, PaineWebber, APAX Partners, Costa Rica Hotel Association, and Tulsa 2025. Television projects have included Technical Advisor to Steven Bochco Productions for the development of a pilot set in the year 2069, advising Universal Pictures on the new CBS series, Century City, set in the year 2030, and Technical Advisor to 20th Century Fox Television for the revival of the series, Lost in Space.

Co-author of "Strategic Leadership: Achieving Your Preferred Future," Glen is an expert in Preferred Future Planning. Prior to going into business in 1987, he was an award-winning educator, selected Most Influential Professor at Whitworth College. Glen is a Visiting Scholar at the Human Interface Technology Lab at the University of Washington, which works on virtual and augmented reality technology.

Glen is often cited as a resource for articles about the future. For example, quotes such as that below appear in Scenario & Strategy Planning, The Futurist, the Wall Street Journal, U.S. News and World Report, the Los Angeles Times, and the Detroit Free Press.

"The way it is...is not the way it will be. Glen'? s presentations offer insight into surprising developments shaping the 21st Century, and then go beyond that to the deeper challenge of understanding our new world and creating our preferred future. The hallmark of Glen's speaking is the dynamic connection he makes with his audience. His message is clear and heartfelt. His style is crisp, warm and engaging. People feel hope and begin to move in new directions, as a lasting impact is created which goes far beyond the initial experience."

Glen was educated at Whitworth College, the University of Oregon, and the University of Washington. He lives in Washington with his wife Tracie. Three college age and adult kids drop in from time to time.

MOST REQUESTED TOPICS:

How to Profit from Demographic Tidal Shifts 
The title of Chapter 1 of Glen Hiemstra’s 2006 book, Turning the Future Into Revenue, this program examines the five generations alive today – the Traditionals, the Boomers, the X’ers, the Millennials, and the next generation now being born. Customized to the interests of the audience, the program may explore selling into these generations, or recruiting and managing them, or both. A particular focus is often placed on the elder wave now beginning, and on the millennial generation – better characterized as the “digital natives.” This latter group, larger than the baby boom, is unique in so many ways. An in-depth program might examine:

• How big the elder wave actually is, and why we do not yet “get it”
• A long-range view of how Digital Natives will change the world over the next 10 to 100 years.
• Myths and facts about Millennials, and the contexts that shape them.
• Anticipated market and values preferences.
• Activities to improve intergenerational relationships in your enterprise.
• Great ideas for how to recruit, retain, and manage Digital Natives.
• What declining global birth rates might mean for our future.

An important feature of this program is to time-shift the generations ahead, for example to the year 2020, when Boomers will be age 56-74, X’ers will be age 40-55, digital natives will be age 20-40, and the next generation will be age 1-19. As Glen Hiemstra says in Turning the Future Into Revenue , “In this first quarter of the twenty-first century, major demographic tidal shifts are underway. Some we see, but we underestimate the implications. Others we fail to see, though the evidence is right before us.”

Lessons from the Future ... or, The Way it is, is not the Way it Will Be
Glen'? s most popular Keynote ... a powerful presentation that leaves audiences inspired. This is a sweeping overview of the powerful dynamics taking us through a revolution in technology, the economy, and society. Key drivers of change from digital, bio, and nano technology to demographics and global, social and economic forces are illustrated. Changes to basic pillars of life in the past century'?the job, the home, retirement, government, and education are examined. The entire presentation is framed in the context of three questions about the future, what is probable, what is possible, and what is preferred. The Keynote is highly customized to particular audiences, from information technology to manufacturing, from health care to finance, and from transportation to education. The Keynote is usually accompanied by a highly effective visual presentation. Each audience leaves with their horizon stretched, and inspired to create their preferred future.
(Keynote)

Thinking in the Future Tense
This keynote presentation or seminar explores drivers of future change, including technological, societal, economic, demographic and global forces. A process for thinking about the future and creating the future we prefer is outlined, and in a seminar is practiced. This presentation has an equal emphasis on future trends, and processes, skills, and models for thinking about and creating the future.
(Keynote, Seminar)

21st Century Leadership Challenges
This Keynote presentation or seminar explores up to twelve key challenges facing leaders in all enterprises in the first quarter of the 21st Century. Key future trends along with technological, social and economic drivers of change are summarized. The key emphasis is on identifying and exploring leadership challenges, which include leveraging rapid change, maintaining hope and vision when in turmoil, fostering continuous innovation and risk taking, and more.
(Keynote, Seminar)

Create a Custom Program
Customers typically wonder, '?Can Glen customize his futures material and address the interests of my audience?'?- This is basically what he does ... learn about your industry and apply his futures research in a way that specifically addresses the special interests of your audience. Examples are endless, but some include the future of health care, global trade, the workforce, the human resources, public works, cities and communities, transportation, bioethics, technology, computing and the Internet, the insurance, real estate, construction trades, education, manufacturing, banking and financial services, mortgage banking, global investing, philanthropy, our economic future, and many others. In addition, for both keynotes and longer programs, he works with you to assure the right balance between exploring probable and possible futures and suggesting strategies for creating the preferred future, so that you achieve the outcomes that you desire for your event.

Futurist.com Think Tank

Preferred Future Planning Consultation and Facilitation
Glen offers a variety of two-hour to two-day seminars. The topics all focus on issues relate to designing and creating the preferred future. Programs may be customized to individual companies or organizations, or to associations of professionals. Many programs may be customized into a conference breakout session.