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Keynote SpeakerJerry Michalski

Futurist and Technology Seer, Builder of Positive Futures, Expert on Trust and Innovation

Every day we see and do things that were once “impossible,” from flying in lighter-than-air vehicles to replacing human hearts. This is not just true about technology, but also about cultural norms and assumptions. Securing the vote for women seemed impossible. Until it wasn’t. Commercial air travel and suffrage are... Read more

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Popular Talks

Rethink Your Constraints
Design from Trust
Thriving in our AI Future
What does an optimistic future look like?
How can shifting constraints help you achieve what seems impossible?

More talks

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Biography

Commercial air travel and suffrage are societal-scale issues, but these dynamics also happen in our industries, as well as in our lives and occupations. How can we shift the boundaries of what’s impossible in our own spheres? As a technology-trends analyst in the 1990s, Jerry Michalski saw many barriers and assumptions broken, and helped shape some of them. After his time in tech, Jerry began to see broader patterns, which led him to create bigger ideas, such as the Relationship Economy and Design from Trust. One of his superpowers is seeing patterns others miss, and explaining them in accessible terms.

Today, the two most powerful levers for shifting what’s impossible are Generative AI and trust. The former is obvious; the latter is a sleeper: few of us can see the power of trust. Even fewer have paid attention to the intersection of GenAI and trust, which is Jerry is a trusted advisor to well-known startups, companies, and think tanks worldwide, including the Institute for the Future, the Wharton School, the Public Affairs Institute, OpenEXO, the Highlands Forum, betaworks, Idealist, nexxworks, Nike and Yoti.

One of the startups Jerry saw during his time as a tech analyst had mind-mapping software that caught his eye. Now, 27 years later, he is the sole curator of the world’s largest, hand-made, openly available mind map, which contains over half a million items, all woven into their contexts. Jerry was raised in Latin America and Germany, and is fluent in Spanish and German. His sport is Aikido, where his rank is 1st Kyu.

“Jerry Michalski is one of the brightest, most engaging speakers who has ever participated in our leadership events. Jerry’s presentations help us understand the present, imagine the future and question our assumptions about what it means to work and play.” President, Public Affairs Council

“Years ago when we first met, Jerry, I like so many were a bit ahead of the next wave of potential for AI that has now proven ubiquitous. You were among those few who left indelible knowledge in me for what was possible.” Tracy Saville

“Having Jerry as an advisor has helped us tremendously! Every meeting that we've had with him has greatly expanded our horizons about what's possible when blending tech, learning and community.” Co-founders of Chambr

Popular Talks by Jerry Michalski

Rethink Your Constraints
Many limitations are more malleable than we think they are. The more useful constraints are harder to see, so your first step is to learn to see differently. Innovating at the boundary between what’s possible and what seems impossible is profitable, fun, and a bit frightening. That boundary is the...

Many limitations are more malleable than we think they are. The more useful constraints are harder to see, so your first step is to learn to see differently. Innovating at the boundary between what’s possible and what seems impossible is profitable, fun, and a bit frightening. That boundary is the source of your next distinct advantage. Jerry can help you find it, and craft your organization’s future.

Key Takeaways:

● Learn to see constraints that are hidden from view.

● Reconsider what “impossible” means in your world.

● Discover paths to breakthrough strategies.
Design from Trust
A clear-eyed look at today’s institutions reveals that they are mostly designed from mistrust of the average human. Our fear: So many bad actors! But it turns out people are more trustworthy than we think they are. What happens when you flip those assumptions, and start with trust? Key Takeaways:...

A clear-eyed look at today’s institutions reveals that they are mostly designed from mistrust of the average human. Our fear: So many bad actors! But it turns out people are more trustworthy than we think they are. What happens when you flip those assumptions, and start with trust?

Key Takeaways:

● Learn about Design from Trust and how to apply it.

● Question your assumptions about human nature and our future.

● Understand a revolutionary new approach to the design of systems and institutions.
Thriving in our AI Future
You likely have software superpowers. Is there an app like Excel you barely need to think to use beautifully and powerfully? If so, you have melded with software. With the advent of Generative AI, we will see a lot more melding. How will this affect our jobs? Our lives? Our...

You likely have software superpowers. Is there an app like Excel you barely need to think to use beautifully and powerfully? If so, you have melded with software. With the advent of Generative AI, we will see a lot more melding. How will this affect our jobs? Our lives? Our sense of meaning and worth? This keynote sets a framework for understanding GenAI’s history, potential, and future roles.

Key Takeaways:

● Discover your current and future superpowers.

● Examine the ethical implications of having superpowers.

● Learn how our approach to trust will shape the outcomes of applying GenAI.
What does an optimistic future look like?
How can shifting constraints help you achieve what seems impossible?
What roles does trust play in the GenAI era?
Why don't we know what we know?
How can ideas be more useful?
What if we trusted people?