Vanessa Mason

Belonging is a basic universal human need that pervades every arena of our lives. Over the next decade, loneliness, disconnection, disaffiliation and exclusion are expected to be more pervasive especially as we re-invent systems in our post-pandemic world. In many ways, the avenues for belonging have diminished or become hidden. Rather than resigning ourselves to a dark lonely future, this session will highlight emerging disruptions that offer opportunities to pioneer new approaches to find the validation, support, safety, connection, and meaning that comes from belonging. Attendees will learn how adopting the outside-in perspective of futures thinking unlocks principles and potential practices for imagining the possible futures of belonging that can inform and influence work in collaboration with their employees, volunteers, clients and constituents. 

Vanessa Mason is the research director at the Institute for the Future, a 52 year old nonprofit organization that helps individuals, organizations and communities think systematically about the future. Her futures research explores how we can redesign and reimagine health and well-being across business, social, and civic spheres. Click Here for Full Bio