Cecily Sommers is an exemplary motivational keynote speaker who specialises in guiding leaders to embrace the future in their strategic thinking and decision-making. Known for her expertise in solving complex innovation problems for globally recognised brands, Cecily's passion lies in coaching leaders to adopt a futurist mindset. As a leading business futurist, she offers a unique blend of speaking, writing, and consulting services that focus on the dynamic forces and technologies shaping business and society. Her approach is not just about discussing the future; it's about understanding its implications and turning these insights into strategic catalysts. This holistic view enables her to offer a unique blend of art and science, merging complexity with clarity and juxtaposing long-term visions with immediate actions.
Cecily Sommers doesn't just theorise about the future; she provides practical strategies for navigating it. Her philosophy is that strategy is a deliberate process, not an accidental or aspirational one. She believes in demystifying the often 'fuzzy' front end of strategic planning, enabling leaders to see their future more clearly and set it into motion. This approach is exemplified in her book, ‘Think Like a Futurist’, which has received international acclaim, being translated into several languages and recognised in corporate America's top reading lists. Her expertise is widely acknowledged, with Forbes naming her one of the ‘World’s Top 50 Female Futurists’ and Fast Company recognising her as a ‘Fast 50 Reader’s Favorite’. Cecily's contributions extend beyond speaking and writing; she has played a significant role in academia and advisory, teaching at the University of Houston’s Foresight program and contributing to NPR's ‘All Things Considered’, among other media outlets.
In a world where predicting the future is often seen as a gamble, Cecily Sommers stands out by focusing on understanding and anticipating change. She recognises the challenges faced by organisations in various sectors and addresses the precarious nature of maintaining a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving global economy. Cecily highlights the importance of balancing long-term foresight with immediate priorities, challenging her audience to eliminate short-sightedness. Her approach to strategy emphasises foresight in market forces, championing unique opportunities, and creating a future that can be actively chosen and planned for. This perspective is crucial in an era marked by interconnected economies, competing pressures, and shortened planning horisons.
Cecily's expertise in identifying patterns and future potentials, coupled with her passion for strategising unique opportunities, makes her a sought-after speaker for diverse companies like Accenture, American Express, and Google. She is renowned for engaging her audience with insightful trend analysis and future forecasts, taking them on an enlightening journey into what lies ahead. Her ‘Future Conversations’ segment, a staple on NPR's ‘All Things Considered’ and other media, is both provocative and entertaining, making her a favourite at conferences, business schools, and retreats nationwide. Praised for her visionary approach, Cecily is described as a ‘ChangeMaker’ by Merle Minda, former SVP at Fleishman-Hillard. She is celebrated for tying human elements of meaning and content value to a business context, making her guidance not only visionary but also easy and practical to implement. This unique blend of exploring, connecting, and searching for new trends and ideas marks Cecily as a catalytic and brilliant thinker, always ahead in the quest for the next big thing.
