Joana Lenkova Profile Picture

Keynote SpeakerJoana Lenkova

Professional Futurist and Strategist

Joana Lenkova is a distinguished strategist and professional futurist with over 20 years of international experience, holding high-profile roles at the LEGO Group, The Walt Disney Company, AB InBev, and Societe Generale. As the first Futurist in Residence at the LEGO Group, she leads the development of advanced foresight capabilities,... Read more

Biography

Joana Lenkova is a distinguished strategist and professional futurist with over 20 years of international experience, holding high-profile roles at the LEGO Group, The Walt Disney Company, AB InBev, and Societe Generale. As the first Futurist in Residence at the LEGO Group, she leads the development of advanced foresight capabilities, enhancing brand strategies with valuable futures intelligence that drives sustainable growth and business adaptability.

In 2019, Joana founded Futures Forward Ltd, a London-based consultancy known for guiding global brands, governmental institutions, and NGOs toward future skills and opportunities. Her firm specializes in leveraging cutting-edge foresight and robust strategic frameworks to prepare organizations for dynamic market shifts, technological advancements and their implication on needs and societal values. By embedding foresight and innovation into their core strategic processes, she enhances decision-making and competitive edge. Her work synthesizes complex data and emerging signals into actionable foresight, helping organizations navigate and proactively shape an ever-changing global landscape.

An alumna of Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, Joana is a respected voice in the innovation, strategy and foresight community, actively contributing to global forums on emerging trends, foresight capability building, and strategic planning. Her foresight, known for its depth and applicability, addresses today’s pressing business challenges with a forward-looking perspective.

As an author, Joana translates her extensive field experience into practical advice for leveraging innovation and foresight, making her upcoming strategic foresight book, due to be published in 2025, highly anticipated by industry leaders.

Joana’s influence extends beyond business strategy, shaping the foresight discipline itself. She is a founding member of the Global Foresight Advisory Council of The Futures School, a member of the Association of Professional Futurists, and a mentor for the Next Generation Foresight Practitioners, playing a crucial role in setting industry standards for practical and actionable foresight.

All opinions are her own.

“It was great to collaborate with Joana for a session at our Annual Meeting. She was very engaging with the audience, leading an interactive session that was both insightful and enjoyable. We highly recommend her for any event seeking a dynamic and knowledgeable speaker.” LUCERNE DIALOGUE, Switzerland
“Joana has played a pivotal role in the panel of experts in a recent project we delivered in the Middle East. Her deep insights into strategic foresight and innovation were of great value to the deliverables of the project, providing actionable initiatives. Her engaging storytelling has captured the attention of the audience and provided a better understanding about future foresight with a large library of best practices that helped in engaging better with our client. We highly recommend Joana to any organization looking to stay ahead of the curve.” Cesar Mourkazel, Sia Partners, UAE

Popular Talks by Joana Lenkova

  • Envisioning Our Tomorrow - Navigating Key Trends and Multiple Future Scenarios
    Joana Lenkova offers a compelling exploration of the key trends and multiple future scenarios that define our potential world. In “Our Future World,” she delves into the driving forces shaping technological, socio-economic, and environmental shifts. This presentation is tailored for those seeking inspiration and readiness, detailing how these scenarios might...
  • The Future Beyond Tech - Exploring the Future of Being Human in an AI World
    As AI reshapes our landscapes, Joana navigates the intricate balance between technological advancement and human essence. How will AI influence our behaviors, skills, and daily lives? This discussion challenges us to envision a future where technology supports human values and development, maintaining a focus on how AI will transform human...
  • The Future of Childhood - Looking Into How the Future Will Shape Consumer Needs And How We Can Address Them
    Joana delves into the future that awaits the next generations. What world will our children inherit? Will they thrive on Earth, or venture to live in space? This talk prompts audiences to contemplate the societal shifts and ethical considerations necessary for a nurturing future. Joana stirs thought on how today’s...
  • Leading Organizations into the Future - Entering the Future of Strategy and Modernizing our Key Processes with Strategic Foresight for Long-Term Success
    In this forward-thinking presentation, Joana Lenkova examines the concept of ‘The Living Company’—organizations that not only survive but thrive through centuries of change. What distinguishes these enduring entities from those that vanish? Joana reveals how integrating strategic foresight into strategic planning and innovation equips organizations to navigate future uncertainties with...