Think Like a Futurist
With Sheryl Connelly, Former Chief Futurist, Ford Motor Company
As an Administrative Professional, your role as a strategic partner helps navigate the fast-moving, ever-changing business landscape. Sheryl Connelly’s approach to Futuring, using the "STEEP" factors (social, technological, economic, environmental, and political trends), provides valuable insights into how you can anticipate challenges and drive strategic decisions in your organization.
Understanding these macro trends can enhance your ability to support your executives and teams by staying ahead of key shifts that impact business operations. Whether it’s leveraging technological advancements or adapting to economic changes, applying Futuring principles can position you as a proactive contributor who identifies opportunities and risks before they fully materialize.
Through her insights, you’ll also learn how to break free from information overload, focusing on what truly matters—empowering you to make impactful, forward-thinking contributions in your role.
As the Former Chief Futurist for the Ford Motor Company, Sheryl Connelly often jokes that she doesn’t use a crystal ball, or know the winning lottery numbers, but she does know how to interpret what’s going to happen next in a fast-moving world, and how to take advantage of it.
Sheryl's work includes identifying global trends, exploring potential implications and cascading the Futuring insights to organizations throughout the company, including design, product development and corporate strategy. Forbes Magazine recently recognized her as one of the Most Influential Women in Futuring, Fast Company has identified her as one of the Most Creative People in Business and TechWeek has included her in its Top 100. At the request of the World Economic Forum, she sat on its Global Advisory Committee on transportation in 2015 and 2016. Sheryl has been featured speaker around the world included TED2018 and TED Global 2013.
Before working for Ford, she practiced law. In addition to a Juris Doctorate, she holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and a master’s in business administration. Connelly lives in Michigan with her husband and their two daughters.