Recent Episode… Tanja Schindler - 'Collective Visioning: From Imagination to Participation’

This episode of 'The New Abnormal' podcast features Tanja Schindler, who has over a decade of international experience and deep expertise in the fields of foresight, innovation, strategy, and leadership.

In her former role as Chair of the APF, she made significant contributions to the global community of futurists. She has held leading roles in multiple European Commission foresight projects, particularly those focused on participatory approaches.  She also serves as an expert within the World Economic Forum's Global Foresight Network. In our interview, Tanja explains her viewpoints about moving foresight beyond prediction towards participation, imagination and collective agency. She argues that organisations and societies need to become better at imagining desirable futures together, using storytelling, speculative artefacts and immersive experiences to make alternative futures tangible. 

Our conversation also explores the European Commission’s “Futures Garden”, the importance of hope alongside risk, why corporate foresight should look at least ten years ahead, and the limitations of trend-led thinking.  It concludes by connecting foresight with philosophy, ethics, sustainability, human connection and the urgent need to rebuild trust and constructive dialogue…