Economist and futurist Rebecca Ryan presents insights about the future workforce, next-gen technologies, new social norms, customer expectations, and more to help YOU build (or rebuild) a company that's future-ready. Presented at the Halifax State of the Economy Conference on May 22, 2013.

1. Is Your Business Future-Ready?
Rebecca Ryan
1Tuesday, May 21, 13

2. You are all futurists
2Tuesday, May 21, 13

3. Small, smart tech
3Tuesday, May 21, 13

4. Biofeedback
4Tuesday, May 21, 13

5. Think like a futurist
5Tuesday, May 21, 13

6. Think like a futurist
Impact: greater or less?
Changing in kind or tone?
Speed: increasing or decreasing?
X Factor
5Tuesday, May 21, 13

7. Twenty years from now, how
will 25 year old workers be
different than today’s?
6Tuesday, May 21, 13

8. 4 Trends and the X Factor
7Tuesday, May 21, 13

9. What is the X Factor?
8Tuesday, May 21, 13

10. XTrend 1 Trend 2
9Tuesday, May 21, 13

11. = Something
totally
unexpected
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12. 11Tuesday, May 21, 13

13. 12Tuesday, May 21, 13

14. 13Tuesday, May 21, 13

15. SMSmybus.com
14Tuesday, May 21, 13

16. 1 15Tuesday, May 21, 13

17. What is It About 20-Somethings?, New York Times, Aug. 18, 2010
16Tuesday, May 21, 13

18. Source: Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
Average Age of First Marriages
17Tuesday, May 21, 13

19. Five Milestones of “Adulthood”
18Tuesday, May 21, 13

20. Five Milestones of “Adulthood”
Moving out of the house
Finishing school
Getting a job
Getting married
Starting a family
18Tuesday, May 21, 13

21. Next Gen Talent
19Tuesday, May 21, 13

22. Next Gen Talent
More diverse and global talent markets
Digital natives
Pushing adulthood back
Meaning and money
X Social Media = Revolt
19Tuesday, May 21, 13

23. An Activist Generation
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24. 21Tuesday, May 21, 13

25. Ory Okollah
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26. 23Tuesday, May 21, 13

27. 2 24Tuesday, May 21, 13

28. 25Tuesday, May 21, 13

29. Project Glass by Google
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30. Technology
27Tuesday, May 21, 13

31. Technology
Smaller
Mobile
Smarter
“Big Data” (Open or Closed?)
X Economy = Crowdfunding & DIY
27Tuesday, May 21, 13

32. FundingCharleston.com
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33. Everyday Systems
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34. 30Tuesday, May 21, 13

35. 3 31Tuesday, May 21, 13

36. Source: Wikipedia
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37. 33Tuesday, May 21, 13

38. In the same way that machines have replaced
our bodies in certain kinds of jobs, software is
replacing our left brains by doing sequential,
logical work. Routine is work you can reduce to
a spreadsheet, to a script, to a formula, to a
series of steps that has the right answer.
Daniel Pink
A Whole New Mind
33Tuesday, May 21, 13

39. Source: xero.com
34Tuesday, May 21, 13

40. Source: Accounting Today, April 5, 2013
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41. Source: collegefrog.com/hello/
36Tuesday, May 21, 13

42. Commoditization
37Tuesday, May 21, 13

43. Commoditization
Professions are not immune
Technology is a margin-squeezing ninja
Growth by market share or differentiation
Innovators will find the right place for technology,
and the right place for humans.
X Technology = Less Office Space
37Tuesday, May 21, 13

44. 38Tuesday, May 21, 13

45. From 2011 to 2012, the percentage of
“virtual” firms doubled, from four to eight
percent.
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
38Tuesday, May 21, 13

46. 4 39Tuesday, May 21, 13

47. The Talent Dividend
For every 1% increase in the number of residents who hold
bachelors degrees, there is a $763 increase in annual
regional per capita income.
40Tuesday, May 21, 13

48. 41Tuesday, May 21, 13

49. Fifty-eight percent of a city’s success, as
measured by per capita income, can be
attributed to post-secondary degree
attainment.
CEOs for Cities
41Tuesday, May 21, 13

50. The World is Not Flat
42Tuesday, May 21, 13

51. So what?
43Tuesday, May 21, 13

52. 44Tuesday, May 21, 13

53. Change almost never fails because it’s
too early.
Seth Godin
Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us
44Tuesday, May 21, 13

54. Think like a futurist
45Tuesday, May 21, 13

55. Think like a futurist
Impact: greater or less?
Changing in kind or tone?
Speed: increasing or decreasing?
X Factor
45Tuesday, May 21, 13

56. Are you next-gen ready?
46Tuesday, May 21, 13

57. Taking the step up
47Tuesday, May 21, 13

58. Photo/Idea Emphasis
Important line of copy goes in here. Can be
inverted to black based on the image used.
48Tuesday, May 21, 13

59. What will you add, change, or
eliminate to make your
business future-ready?
49Tuesday, May 21, 13