Blog Corner Image

Peter Fisk’s Trends for the 2020s

Peter Fisk’s Trends for the 2020s

It’s undeniable that 2020s will be a transformative decade that will “change every business, every community, every life.” Peter Fisk writes that “the changes in technology, and as a result in business and society, will be rapid, dramatic and profound.” The emerging themes are about changing societies, driven and accelerated by new technology. Fisk is a global thought leader and futurist; he writes an excellent blog that will get your mind spinning with possibility.

How we adapt to change will determine the outcome of the 2020s as well. A recent Harvard Business Review report identified the ability to adapt as the most important skill for business employees, more important than technical knowledge, communication skills or customer-focused problem-solving. Adaptability should be in everyone’s job description. The inability of individuals to adapt is magnified in a large organization, because every person who doesn’t adapt to change is a drag on the overall change efforts, making it less flexible and responsive to competitors.

According to the Harvard Business Review report (2017), their data indicates that in order to adapt and gain a competitive advantage, a company must have its antennae tuned to signals of change from the external environment, decode them, and quickly act to refine or reinvent its business model and even reshape the information landscape of its industry.

He speaks to the following emerging themes for the 2020s:

  • Power redistributed: Rapid urbanization is redefining our world, the nature of markets and power of nations. 1.5 million more people will move to cities every week. This process is driving a global economic power shift from West to East, and placing ever-greater stress on the natural world.
  • Consumption: Environmental threats are intensifying and this brings questions about the durability of existing business models. Public and private sectors will face ever greater pressure to act. A new age of increased accountability will challenge the balance of short-term priorities with long-term sustainability.
  • Smarter Cities: The cities of the future will be smarter, exploiting technology to be cleaner and more efficient in their use of resources. Technology will fuse with humanity in new ways. Connective technology means that by 2020 there will be 7 times as many connected devices on the planet as people!
  • Business Leadership: A trust deficit in society means that people are turning to businesses to show leadership. Generally, people have a declining faith in politicians, institutions and even religion, as illustrated by the latest Edelman Trust Barometer.
Strategic resilience in the US wine industry

Strategic resilience in the US wine industry

How to be resilient when wildfire threatens an industry Wildfire smoke can impact the quality of wine, but vignerons won’t know what the damage is until the wine is opened. Grapevines themselves are pretty resilient to fire, but wildfire smoke can taint the flavor significantly AND the impact might not be revealed until the wine…

Electric recycling and garbage trucks catching on

Electric recycling and garbage trucks catching on

Electrification is catching on in the hauler industry. Republic Services is going all-in on fully integrated electric recycling and garbage trucks. With a fleet of over 17,000 vehicles nationwide, this sustainability initiative puts Republic in the vanguard of leaders in their industry. Republic is one of the largest operators offering residential and commercial recycling and…

Sustainability Spotlight: Bellingham Public Schools Tackles Sustainability

Sustainability Spotlight: Bellingham Public Schools Tackles Sustainability

School districts have a compelling reason to reach for sustainability in their operations and curriculum. The energy their buildings and buses use, the food they serve, the water they consume, and the waste they generate puts schools at the fulcrum of what sustainability entails – reducing their environmental footprint and conserving resources. Additionally, their job…

Climate Change Impacts Seaports

Climate Change Impacts Seaports

Seaports are a vital part of the shipping industry, and they are already feeling the effects of climate change. The concern over climate change must be transformed into action. Climate planning should be budgeted for all ports and should include adaptation and mitigation. Climate change is here. Time is of the essence.

Farmers adapt solar arrays for growing crops

Farmers adapt solar arrays for growing crops

Image credit: Agrivoltaics: How Solar and Farmland can Fight Climate Change (solarreviews.com) Agrivoltaics produce electricity and grow crops on the same land Using the power of the sun solves a host of problems such as reducing farmers’ energy costs, optimizing land use, reducing evaporation, and lowering costs through efficiencies. It is also known as solar…

Sustainability Spotlight: Tony’s Coffee

Sustainability Spotlight: Tony’s Coffee

How did sustainability start for Tony’s? Our sustainability journey can be traced back to 2002, when we began sourcing Organic, Fair Trade, Shade Grown coffee. Since then, we moved to 100% green power, doubled our roasting efficiency, offset our roastery’s carbon footprint, and continue to support causes that we care about. Our commitment to sourcing…

Get started

How ready is your organization for climate change and sustainability? Get your questions answered. Peak can help you move to a strategy-driven roadmap.