Washington Business Spring 2017 | Washington Business | Page 20

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In Their Words

Affectionately called a “ brain shaker ,” Economist and Futurist Rebecca Ryan gave the keynote address at the Association of Washington Business Institute ’ s first-ever Workforce Summit March 22 in Seattle . Ryan ’ s mission is to encourage business owners , local governments and human resource professionals to plan 20 to 40 years ahead to ensure they have the knowledge transfer and talent necessary for the multi-generational workforce of today and tomorrow . It is a timely message as workplaces today experience a retiring boomer generation , increasing Generation X leadership and historic numbers of millennials and Generation Zs entering the workplace . Staff Writer Bobbi Cussins asked Ryan to explain how she moves leaders from short-term to long-term planning and why it ’ s more important today than ever to understand how the workforce is changing and how to harness the opportunities the shift brings .
Rebecca Ryan
“ Filling a talent pipeline takes three to five years just for knowledge transfer . That assumes you have all the right people on the bench , ready to start working .”
For the benefit of our readers , can you explain what a “ futurist ” is and how it pairs with your background as an economist ?
In the same way that a historian studies the past , and a journalist reports on the present , a futurist studies the future and , in my case , tries to help people make sense of it and learn how to do so for themselves . My training in economics was very helpful . Remember all those charts and graphs you study in economics ? Well , those are records of historic patterns , usually . In foresight , we try to anticipate where those charts and graphs will be in the future .
In your book , “ ReGeneration : A Manifesto for America ’ s Next Leaders ,” you discuss how America goes through seasons . What season is it now , what do you predict is next and how can employers prepare for the change ?
America is currently in winter . Winter is a season when we traditionally ask , “ Who is America for , and what is America for ?” You see those questions writ large in our current and previous president . I anticipate that by 2020 , most of America will be in spring , or largely making the turn toward spring . The best way to prepare for this is to try to anticipate where your markets and residents will be , and be ready for that .
“ In the same way that a historian studies the past , and a journalist reports on the present , a futurist studies the future and , in my case , tries to help people make sense of it and learn how to do so for themselves .”
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