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Most companies say they care about engagement — but decades of data show those engagement scores barely move. Meanwhile, burnout has become a global epidemic.

In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., we sit down with Mark C. Crowley, bestselling author of Lead from the Heart and the new book The Power of Employee Well-Being, to explore why the billion-dollar engagement industry has failed workers — and what science says actually drives performance.

Crowley argues that engagement is a symptom, not a cause — and that well-being, not busyness, is the real engine of productivity. He shares evidence-backed ways leaders can track and improve well-being, hold managers accountable for the human side of leadership, and create workplaces where people genuinely thrive.

We discuss:

• Why engagement surveys don’t work (and what to measure instead)
• How well-being directly impacts innovation and retention
• What post-pandemic workforces really want from leadership
• The neuroscience of motivation and connection at work
• How to lead with authenticity without losing authority

If you’ve ever wondered why “perks” don’t fix burnout, or what the next era of human-centered leadership looks like, this episode will make you rethink what it means to truly lead people.

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What if luck isn’t random — but designed?

In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., we sit down with Judd Kessler, Wharton economist and author of Lucky by Design, to explore how hidden markets quietly decide who gets what — from job interviews and college spots to concert tickets, dating matches, and even organ transplants.

Kessler argues that what looks like “good fortune” is often the result of understanding — and leveraging — the invisible systems that govern access to opportunity. Whether it’s the algorithms behind dating apps, the psychology of lotteries and waitlists, or the structure of modern hiring, he reveals how we can all become more intentional “designers of luck.”

We discuss:

• How hidden markets shape everything from careers to healthcare
• Why “fairness” isn’t as equal as it looks — and how to spot the trade-offs
• The economics of lotteries, rankings, and “first come, first served” systems
• Why second choices sometimes lead to the best outcomes
• How behavioral design can make opportunity more equitable — or more rigged
• What it means to be “lucky by design” in an algorithmic world

Whether you’re a leader trying to create fairer systems, or an individual looking to navigate them more wisely, this episode reveals the unseen structures that quietly shape your chances — and how to work with them instead of against them.

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Cars have long been sold as the ultimate symbol of freedom. But what if they’ve trapped us instead? In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., we sit down with Arthur Kay, urban designer and coauthor of Roadkill: Unveiling the True Cost of Our Toxic Relationship with Cars.

Kay argues that America’s car dependency is more than a climate issue—it’s a system of financial, political, and social control that burdens working and middle-class families, strains local economies, and limits real choice. Together, we explore:

• Why cars drive hidden costs in housing, taxes, and debt
• How car-centric cities hollow out communities and opportunities
• The global lessons America can learn from more walkable, resilient urban models
• A realistic blueprint for building cities that prioritize people, not vehicles

This conversation goes far beyond traffic jams and tailpipe emissions—it’s about the future of freedom, equity, and the way we design our lives.

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Every leader has data. Few have a story worth following.

In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., we sit down with Christina Farr, journalist-turned-investor and author of The Storyteller’s Advantage. Christina argues that storytelling isn’t a soft skill — it’s a business superpower. Whether you’re pitching investors, recruiting talent, or leading a team through turbulence, the right story can make the difference between momentum and mediocrity.

We explore:

• Why stories outperform facts and figures in memory and persuasion
• How startup founders use narrative to raise money before their product is ready
• The seven plot structures that show up again and again in successful company lore
• Why authenticity and vulnerability make leaders magnetic
• How to use storytelling not just in PR, but across sales, hiring, and product development

If you think storytelling is just marketing fluff, this episode will change your mind.

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Disruption rarely looks like disruption when it begins. In his new book Epic Disruptions: 11 Innovations That Shaped Our Modern World, Scott D. Anthony—ranked by Thinkers50 as one of the world’s leading innovation thinkers—uncovers the stories of 11 breakthroughs that reshaped the modern world. From the transistor radio to AI, from McDonald’s business model to cryptocurrency, he shows how innovation unfolds in surprising, nonlinear ways.

In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., Scott explains why disruption often takes far longer than we expect, what leaders can learn from past “failures” like Google Glass, and how incumbents can overcome the barriers that keep them from investing in transformative change.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why disruption usually takes decades, not years—and why patience matters
• How unexpected figures—from Julia Child to McDonald’s—played surprising roles in innovation
• What makes some technologies “sleeping giants” rather than failures
• The recurring patterns that connect historical breakthroughs to today’s AI revolution
• How leaders can balance operational demands with disruptive bets

Links & Resources:

• Scott’s book: Epic Disruptions: 11 Innovations That Shaped Our Modern World (Little, Brown Spark, Sept 2025)
• Learn more about Scott’s work: Scott D. Anthony at Tuck
• Follow Scott on LinkedIn
  
  

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Most leaders say they want creativity. Few know how to make it happen. Andrew Robertson, Chairman of BBDO Worldwide, has spent two decades leading one of the most awarded creative networks in the world—and now he’s written the playbook for bringing creativity back to the heart of business.

In his new book, The Creative Shift, Robertson argues that organizations can’t just hope for inspiration—they need to deliberately design for it. He explains how to balance operational discipline with imaginative thinking, why bad ideas are essential for breakthroughs, and how simple changes—like rethinking meeting spaces—can spark better group collaboration.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why most corporate cultures quietly stifle creativity
• The flaws in traditional brainstorming—and how BBDO aims to fix them
• How to manage creative risk and know which ideas to pursue
• Practical ways to spark group creativity and make room for unconventional thinking
• Why operational excellence and visionary thinking aren’t opposites—they’re partners

Links & Resources:

• Andrew’s book: The Creative Shift: How to Power Up Your Organization by Making Space for New Ideas (released Sept 2, 2025)

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Gaming isn’t just entertainment anymore—it’s the new frontier of consumer engagement. With more than three billion players worldwide and brands from Peloton to Burberry using game mechanics to build loyalty, gaming has become a mainstream business strategy.

In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., Bastian Bergmann, co-founder and COO of Solsten, explains why every company—not just game studios—needs to think like a game designer. He draws from his new book Press Play and his work with Solsten, which helps brands understand audiences on a psychological level to create immersive, resonant experiences.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
🎮 Why gaming is becoming a must-have strategy for every industry
🎮 How luxury brands, fitness companies, and even media outlets are using play to connect with customers
🎮 The psychology of play and why it unlocks deeper loyalty than ads alone
🎮 Practical entry points for companies curious about gaming without overcommitting
🎮 How audience intelligence and psychology fuel better design and better business outcomes

Links & Resources:

• Bastian’s book: Press Play: Why Every Company Needs a Gaming Strategy (Harvard Business Review Press, Sept 9, 2025)
• Solsten: solsten.io
  
  
• Follow Bastian on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bastianbergmann

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Guest: Nick Foster, futures designer, former Head of Design at Google X, and author of Could Should Might Don’t

Episode Summary:
Everyone’s talking about the future, but few are thinking about it well. Nick Foster, one of the world’s most influential futures designers and former Head of Design at Google X, argues that our imagination about what’s next is often shallow, clichéd, and dangerously incomplete.

In his book Could Should Might Don’t, Foster introduces a powerful framework for rethinking how we approach tomorrow. Instead of relying on sci-fi utopias, doomsday scenarios, or neat statistical projections, he challenges us to combine different lenses—what could, should, might, and don’t happen—to build a more rigorous and useful picture of the future.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why sci-fi optimism and dystopian doom both fail as guides to the future
• The four dominant ways we imagine tomorrow—and how to balance them
• Lessons from inside Google X on how bold organizations explore the unknown
• Why overconfidence in forecasts blinds us to hidden possibilities
• How leaders, policymakers, and innovators can think more responsibly about what’s coming next

Links & Resources:

• Nick’s book: Could Should Might Don’t (on shelves today, Aug 26!)