Change isn’t just coming — it’s accelerating. In a recent conversation on Business Schooled, John Licata, Chief Innovation Foresight Strategist at SAP, shared an inspiring view on how businesses and individuals can thrive amid this constant disruption.
John brings decades of experience across finance, journalism, and strategy to his foresight role, but one thread ties it all together: curiosity. Being “future ready,” he explains, isn’t about making a one-time prediction. It’s about continuous learning, connecting new dots, and developing solutions for problems that might not even exist yet.
One striking insight John shared is that “long-term innovation” timelines are shrinking. What used to be a five-to-ten-year horizon is now more like two. Technologies like AI and quantum computing are advancing so fast that businesses must rethink how they anticipate and act.
Yet even as technology reshapes what’s possible, John reminds us that people must remain at the center—or, as he puts it, “on the right side” of technology. Solutions need to be personalized, inclusive, and designed to enhance human creativity, not replace it. That means focusing on areas like ethical AI, accessibility, and cybersecurity alongside innovation.
For those building their careers today, John offers practical advice: stay curious, stay calm, and stay proactive about upskilling. Find a domain you love, get specialized, and let AI tools amplify your impact.
In a world where “the future” arrives faster every day, the ability to adapt, tell compelling stories, and keep people first might just be our greatest advantage.