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5 December I Milan, Italy

Foresight: How to see the unexpected

Learn more about strategic foresight, discover diverse perspectives across industries, and adopt the tools you need to spot future signals and anomalies.

Event details

5 December 2024

Milan, Italy – Crowne Plaza Milan City

9:30 a.m. (local time)

Transform uncertainties into opportunities with foresight.

Uncover blind spots, anticipate unexpected events, and unearth business secrets to gain valuable insights.

In this era of post-normal conditions and VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity), tackling rapid transformation is essential. Join this event to learn how to navigate the complexities moving forward!

You will walk away with:

  • The answer to “how can you expect the unexpected?”
  • The ability to define possible future events that could affect your business
  • Tools and methods to spot weak signals and anomalies

Join us in this hands-on event to stay ahead of the curve and bolster your business with unique viewpoints of the future.

Whether you are a member of the C-suite or a professional working in R&D, sales, business development, strategy, or an intelligence function, this event is a great opportunity to acquire new ideas and tools for foresighting and apply the insights within your own organization.

Meet the speakers

Speaker Panu Kause

Panu Kause

CEO, FIBRES Online

Panu Kause is an accomplished professional with leadership roles in corporations and startups. His 25+ year career includes business strategy, innovation, and futures intelligence. A proficient trainer, he's coached 4000+ individuals, and is a member of Finland’s Strategic Management Society.

Speaker Nora Karkkainen - Valona Intelligence

Nora Kärkkäinen

Head of Intelligence Best Practices at Valona Intelligence

Nora’s mission is to develop business by asking, “What’s next?” Nora advises companies and management in strategy work by providing market understanding, strategic insights and foresight. She also supports companies in developing and re-designing intelligence activities.

Speaker Mike Shepherd

Michael Shepherd

CEO, MJS Group Consulting

Mike, a seasoned corporate strategist, built Unilever's top-notch competitor intelligence team, driving their growth. With experience on various continents, he has led marketing and R&D, boosted Unilever's China laundry business, and initiated Dove's global launch, a €5bn brand. Passionate about technology, he's driven Unilever's digital innovation and helped many attain senior leadership, including CEO roles.

Event agenda

9:30 a.m. Local time I Welcome & Introduction

IreneDe Lorenzis, Managing Director, South EMEA, Valona Intelligence

10:00 I Presentations:

Nora Kärkkäinen, Author:

“In Search of Unique Viewpoints of the Future: Ground Truths & Lessons Learned from Organizations”

Silvia Fossati, Senior Consultant, Valona Intelligence:

“How to Use Patent Intelligence for Spotting Signals”

Michael Shepherd, CEO at MJS Consulting, former VP Corporate Strategy & Competitor Intelligence at Unilever:

“Can You Predict Your Competitor’s Strategy?”

12:00 I Lunch

13:00 I Presentation and workshop exercises

Panu Kause, CEO, FIBRES Online: “Unknown Unknowns: The Most Challenging Area of Strategic Foresight”

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

14:45 I Wrap-up

15:00 I Workshop ends

Who should attend?

Whether you are C-suite member or professional in the field of R&D, Sales, Business Development, Strategy, Market Intelligence, this event is a great opportunity to get new ideas and tools to foresighting – and apply the learnings into your own context.

Save your spot