Sheryl Connelly – Innovate: Uncertainty

In this video, leading global consumer trends expert, Sheryl Connelly, describes how to think like a “futurist.” Sheryl Connelly has led Ford Motor Company’s Global Consumer Trends and Futuring activities for more than a decade. As the in-house Futurist, she is responsible for identifying and tracking trends that will shape consumers’ values, attitudes, and beliefs in the future. This unique position requires that she focus on all things non-automotive by reaching out to thought-leaders in social, technology, economic, environment, and political arenas. Prior to joining the Trends team, Sheryl held a variety of positions within Ford related to franchising, customer satisfaction programs and field assignments interfacing with the dealer network. Before working for Ford, she practiced law for a small civil litigation firm.

Sheryl is skilled at identifying what’s coming around the corner and the potential influences to customer attitudes and behavioral patterns that directly impact business strategy. With the unique ability to translate how consumer and lifestyle trends will affect organizations across industry sectors, Sheryl outlines how to develop a futuring mindset, to act decisively in high-stakes business environments. Fast Company magazine twice named her one of the “100 Most Creative People in Business,” and TechWeek listed her among its “Top 100 Innovators”. Sheryl was also a featured speaker at TED and TED Global, and her strategic viewpoints have been published in The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Financial Times, and the BBC, and she has been profiled in Automotive News, Forbes, and Edmunds. She has also appeared on CBS’ This Morning with Charlie Rose, CNBC’s Fast Money, and NPR’s All Things Considered with Robert Siegel. She is also a former member of the Global Advisory Council on transportation for the World Economic Forum.