Social Impact Pioneers, Ariel Muller & LiLin Loh, of Forum for the Future explore futures thinking and sustainability.
In a world teetering on the brink of 1.5-degree climate change, the need for innovative, forward-thinking solutions has never been more urgent. Big questions often require big answers that are often so lofty they are impossible to deliver in reality – especially when it comes to business transformation.
Meet Social Impact Pioneers, Ariel Muller, Director of Futures and Strategic Initiatives and LiLin Loh, Senior Sustainability Strategist, both from Forum for the Future, both based in Singapore.
Forum for the Future is a leading international sustainability non-profit running out of offices in the UK, US, India and Singapore. Since Forum was founded in 1996, it has been working in partnership with business, governments and civil society to accelerate the shift towards a just and regenerative future in which both people and the planet thrive.
Listen in to this podcast conversation to hear Ariel and LiLin reach from future system level sustainable thinking to practical business orientated solutions.
Join these experts in the realm of futures thinking and sustainability. This is a masterclass in how to anticipate, imagine, and make decisions today for a better tomorrow.
Futures thinking, as Ariel Muller, Director of Futures and Strategic Initiatives at Forum for the Future explains, is a practice of imagination and anticipation. It’s about observing current trends and signals, then using that data to envision possible futures. This isn’t crystal ball gazing; it’s a rigorous, collaborative process that can help businesses, governments, and individuals prepare for what’s coming. Ariel, with a background in creative and values-driven work, emphasizes the importance of combining futures thinking with systems thinking. This dual approach not only helps us understand what might happen in the future but also delves into the power dynamics and structural aspects that shape those outcomes.
But how does this all tie into sustainability? LiLin Loh is a Senior Sustainability Strategist also with Forum for the Future, based in Southeast Asia. She brings the conversation down to earth by discussing the practical challenges businesses face in their value chains, particularly in responsible recruitment. LiLin highlights the culture of fear that often prevents companies from addressing deep-rooted issues, opting instead for surface-level compliance. LiLin’s experience working directly with businesses has shown her the need to go beyond mere compliance and engage in multi-solving—addressing both immediate and long-term risks.
So, if you’re intrigued by the idea of futures thinking, keen to tackle sustainability challenges, or simply want to understand how to navigate the complex landscape of modern business, this is the podcast for you. It’s not just about asking big questions; it’s about finding transformative answers. Tune in to explore how we can collectively look towards the future and address the challenges of today, ensuring a more sustainable and equitable world for all.
Links:
Forum for the Future
