
How do you prepare for a future that’s constantly changing?In this episode, John and Kyler sit down with Adam Wint, Global Trends & Futuring Manager at Ford Motor Company, to explore how he helps teams prepare for the unknown and make strategic bets that keep Ford ahead of the curve. Adam shares how his team uses trends, scenario planning, and consumer insights to guide Ford’s strategy and shape products that are relevant for the next 25 years.You’ll also hear Adam’s perspective on the challenges of “nowism,” the art of predicting consumer needs in a shifting world, and why asking “dumb questions” might be the smartest move for growth.
Key Takeaways:
Timestamps:
(00:00) Career Shift to Consumer Insights
(04:10) Future-Proofing Business Decisions
(07:35) Navigating Change and Implications
(10:37) Climbing Change: A Reactive Cycle
(14:27) Uncertain Future of Vehicle Ownership
(17:07) Overcoming Nowism Through Forward Thinking
(22:56) Unified Vision for Future Success
(24:40) Optimistic SaaS Growth Predictions
(27:28) Collaborative Idea Synthesis Shift
(32:58) Consumer Influence on Business Models
(34:37) "AI Unifies Disparate Data Sets"
(39:15) EV Scenario Planning: Consolidation Uncertainties
(42:48) Embrace Mistakes, Learn Fearlessly
(45:39) Embracing Failure as Motivation