What if happiness wasn’t just about living in the moment—but about preparing for what’s next with purpose and courage?
The Ipsos report “Portrait of a Futurist” explores this question, offering a rare look into how professional futurists think, act, and see the world. In partnership with the Global Futures Society and Dubai Future Foundation, researchers surveyed more than 120 futurists alongside over 52,000 citizens from 50 countries.
What emerged is a powerful insight: futurists—those who devote their lives to imagining what’s ahead—are not just more prepared. They’re also more hopeful, more grounded, and, surprisingly, more content.
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Futurists Are Intentional, Not Idealistic
Forget the stereotype of futurists as dreamers, doomsday preppers, or tech fanatics. The data tells a different story: futurists are planners. Only 21% agree with the idea that we should just “enjoy life today” and let the future take care of itself—compared to 62% of the general public.
Rather than drift into tomorrow, futurists design for it. An impressive 83% say they’re good at long-term planning, significantly more than their trust in institutions like governments or businesses. It’s not blind faith in the future—it’s belief in agency.
To them, the future isn’t something to fear or fantasize about. It’s something to steward.
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Radical Optimism: Hope Without Illusion
Here’s a surprising insight: 91% of futurists say they’re happy, and 84% are optimistic about their own and their families’ futures. That’s significantly higher than the global average.
But their optimism dims when looking at the world at large. Only 24% are hopeful about the future of humanity. Why? Because futurists don’t just dream—they analyze. Their vision includes the hard truths, too. Hope, for them, isn’t naivety. It’s resolve.
This connects directly with a rising leadership philosophy called Hopepunk—a mindset rooted in radical optimism, resilience, and collective action. Coined in 2017, Hopepunk is about choosing kindness and courage in the face of uncertainty.
Hopepunk leadership embraces experimentation, empathy, and long-term thinking. It fosters workplaces where people feel safe to imagine, learn, and care. It sees failure as part of growth. It transforms good intentions into bold strategies.
In essence, futurists live Hopepunk principles. Their brand of realism isn’t cynical—it’s constructive. It pushes beyond surface-level positivity and into courageous, future-shaping action. When organizations lead with hope and clarity, they become catalysts for meaningful change.
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What Futurists Are Watching
When asked which trends will shape the future most, futurists identified three intersecting forces:
- AI and technological acceleration
- Climate change and sustainability
- Geopolitical shifts and demographic change
These forces aren’t just shaping industries. They’re reshaping how we live, govern, and relate to one another
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The Technology Mindset: Calm, Critical, and Curious
Futurists walk a fine line between tech evangelism and skepticism. Only 27% believe that “technical progress is destroying our lives,” compared to 57% of the general public.
They expect disruption, acknowledge privacy concerns, and still remain calm. They don’t panic. They prepare. They see technology as a tool—powerful, imperfect, and worth shaping with care.
In The Age of Intelligence, So Yeon Chun challenges leaders to take this mindset further. Drawing on insights from the INSEAD Americas Conference, she argues that most leaders are asking the wrong questions about AI.
Under-asked (but vital):
- What mission and values guide our AI efforts?
- How do we ensure ethics, fairness, and accountability?
- How will AI and humans collaborate in the future of work?
- Are we operationally ready to deploy AI responsibly?
- How will AI deliver long-term value?
Over-asked (and distracting):
- Are we missing out on the latest trend?
- What’s the short-term ROI?
- Will jobs be lost?
- What if regulators shut us down?
The takeaway? Leaders need to go deeper. Like futurists, they must root their strategies in purpose, ethics, and impact—not just speed or fear of missing out.
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Urgency Without Despair: The Climate Perspective
Ninety-six percent of futurists believe we’re heading toward environmental disaster if we don’t change course—even higher than the 80% of the general public who agree. Yet futurists are more likely to believe we can still fix it.
This dual stance—urgency and agency—defines their approach. They see clearly. They act deliberately.
Ninety-six percent of futurists believe we’re heading toward environmental disaster if we don’t change course—even higher than the 80% of the general public who agree. Yet futurists are more likely to believe we can still fix it.
This dual stance—urgency and agency—defines their approach. They see clearly. They act deliberately.
This perspective aligns with insights shared by Ravi Chaudhry emphasizing the critical role of transformational leadership in addressing existential challenges like climate change. He highlights the necessity for systemic innovation and courageous action.
Futurists embody this proactive mindset, recognizing that while the stakes are high, decisive and ethical leadership can steer us toward a sustainable future.
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Tradition, Ancients, and Evolving Wisdom
Futurists are less religious (only 42% say faith is important) but still value tradition (83% agree it matters). Futurists may seem focused only on what’s next, but the truth is more grounded. While fewer prioritize religion, a strong majority still value tradition. Not to repeat the past, but to evolve from it.
They believe in progress—freedom, equality, and innovation—but also in roots. This balance offers something rare: cultural resilience. It’s not about resisting change, but honoring what came before as we shape what comes next.
This way of thinking isn’t new. It echoes ancient traditions across the globe—from Sámi shamans to Norse seers and Zen monks—where wisdom is passed down not just through teachings, but through symbols, silence, and deep listening.
In Zen, we find Daigi, the great questioning that clears away illusion. In Sámi and Norse traditions, the noaidi and völva listen to the world’s rhythms—not just with the mind, but with the soul. Across these paths, the practice of not knowingbecomes a source of clarity, not confusion. They remind us to see the world differently. In Zen, mitate transforms everyday objects into symbols of spirit. Sámi knives, joiks, and Norse runes carry stories, not just function. This is creativity in its most sacred form—where tools become extensions of soul.
And freedom? It’s not just doing what we want. It’s becoming who we truly are. Zen speaks of liberation through presence. The Norse remind us that even within fate, choice remains. The Sámi joik is not a performance—it’s a living essence.
These traditions also invite us to move differently through time. Not racing forward, but circling back. Following seasons, honoring impermanence, living in rhythm with nature. Slowness, here, is not delay—it’s alignment. Ancient wisdom and futurist thinking are not opposites. Zen, as well as Sámi and Norse, is about living with unwavering trust in possibilities, discover hidden value, unlock the key that is placed subconsiusly.
Together, these ancient insights invite us to pause, to see again, and to remember that being fully human is not about achieving more—but about belonging more deeply. To the earth. To time. To ourselves.
Futurists carry a similar energy. They don’t drift into tomorrow. They design it—with care, courage, and connection to something deeper. Ancient traditions and futurist thinking are not opposites. They’re complements. Both encourage us to carry wisdom forward—not to repeat, but to reimagine.
Boards and Leaders: Stewards of the Future
Futurists observe. But boards and leaders act. In today’s fast-changing world, leadership must evolve beyond managing quarterly results. It must embrace foresight as a discipline.
This means scanning for early signals, engaging in scenario planning, and preparing for multiple plausible futures. It means asking not just, “What will happen to us?” but also,
“What future do we want to help create?”
The most effective leaders aren’t simply avoiding risk. They’re pursuing purpose.
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A Call to See Differently
Futurists are not fortune-tellers. They are pattern recognizers, system thinkers, and observers of emerging change. Their perspective is imperfect, yet powerful.
When we begin scanning the horizon for weak signals and sense-making the world around us, we shift from passive recipients to active shapers of what’s to come.
Foresight, in the end, is not about predicting the future. It’s about preparing for it with clarity, courage, and hope.
What remains beautiful now and a hundred years from now?
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References
The portrait of a Futurist (Ipsos, 2025)
Digoshen Insight Guides (Dogoshen, continously updated)
Boardroom Creativity (Gommer & EggenKamp, Caracta, 2023)
Dynamic Board Capabilities (Engstam, Forzelius, Mangusson, Torre, Van der Heyden, 2024)
The Age of Intelligence: Questions That Shape A New World (So Yeon Chun, INSEAD Knowledge, 2025)
Board Leadership in embracing 8 sustainability commitments (Vanessa Rola, Boards Impact Forum, 2025)
Hopepunk: A Vision for Radical Hope for the Future (Engstam/ Novisali, 2024)
Discovering the True Potenial of Self (Musubi Academy, 2025)
Sami Joik Description (Swedish Song Archive, retrieved 2025)
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Dive Deeper – Listen, See and Reflect
Listen to the Playlist with a Music Mix of Joik, Zen and Modern:
Mixed Joik, Zen & Modern
Playlist · Mixed Joik, Zen & Modern · 21 items
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Visit and Explore the Art Exhibition Hopepunk, intuitively pick an artwork that speaks to you and make a reflection with the support of our Art Reflection Guide below.
> To the Art Exhibition Hopepunk: Futures of Radical Hope
Experience the exhibition with the Novisali Art Guide as your guide. Gain deeper insights into the theme and uncover personal reflections as you engage with the artwork.
>Novisali Artguide as AI Companion
Note: This AI-powered guide, built on ChatGPT by OpenAI, inspires personal reflection and action, set against a Novisali artwork. However, for critical decisions, users should always consult a professional or trusted advisor. The usage requires your own ChatGPT account (free).
Data Privacy Notice: Novisali and Digoshen does not track or store user data. By using the Novisali AI-based Guide, you take responsibility for your data choices. To opt out of AI training by OpenAI, disable “Improve the model for everyone” under “Data Controls” in ChatGPT’s settings or manage preferences via OpenAI’s privacy portal. OpenAI may retain conversations for up to 30 days for abuse monitoring before permanently deleting them.
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About Digoshen
This blog post was originally shared at the blog of Digoshen www.digoshen.com, the blog of Boards Impact Forum www.boardsimpactforum.com and the blog of the Digoshen founder www.liselotteengstam.com,
At Digoshen, we work hard to increase #futureinsights and help remove #digitalblindspots and #sustainabilityblindspots. We believe that Companies, Boards, and Business Leadership Teams need to understand more about the future and the digital & sustainable world to fully leverage the potential when bringing their business into the digital & more sustainable age. If you are a board member, consider joining our international board network and master programs.
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