SOIF Community Programme: Disrupt with Impact

Join us for a discussion with Roger Spitz on his new book Disrupt With Impact: Achieve Business Success in an Unpredictable World.

This isn’t another techno-optimist book filled with formulaic innovations. Instead of getting lost in fleeting trends, Roger emphasizes the importance of prioritizing signals over noise, investigating the fundamentals of underlying change, and evaluating their next-order impacts. From tackling major challenges like sustainability and artificial intelligence to navigating geopolitical shifts, disinformation and cybersecurity, be empowered to explore uncharted waters with a compass calibrated for the unpredictable.

The book distills the futures intelligence garnered from Roger's rich tapestry of experiences. It discards tired and outdated formulas, recognizing the diminishing effectiveness of pre-cooked playbooks in our unpredictable world. Ultimately the true impact of innovation isn’t in its disruptiveness. Rather, it lies in its ability to ignite hope, unlock new possibilities, and catalyze positive transformations across systems. James Balzer, NGFP 2023 Fellow, will join Roger to present their work at the DFI Sustainability & Climate Academy, with a real-world case study on climate foresight and sustainable futures.

In this talk, Roger will also introduce key concepts from his book and work at the Disruptive Futures Institute, including "Metaruptions"—systemic disruptions that create self-perpetuating effects, and "Techistentialism," which studies the nature of human beings, existence, and decision-making in our technological world. 

Roger Spitz is President of Techistential (Climate & Strategic Foresight) and Chair of the Disruptive Futures Institute in San Francisco. His organizations guide CEOs, founders, and boards in evaluating strategy under uncertainty, anticipating disruptions, and sustainable value creation. Roger also serves on multiple boards focused on anticipatory governance, sustainability, AI & ethics, venture capital (VC), and academia. He is an expert advisor to the World Economic Forum’s Global Foresight Network, board member of Teach The Future, a Climatebase Fellow, and on the board of Lux Carbon Standard (Brazil’s first carbon credit certifier). Roger authored five books, including the four-volume collection “The Definitive Guide to Thriving on Disruption,” whose frameworks, adopted by organizations worldwide, have featured in Fast Company, Gartner, INC. Magazine, Institute of Directors, Journal of Futures Studies, MIT Technology Review, and World Economic Forum. A strong advocate for startups, he is a partner at Vektor Partners (VC fund), and an advisor to Berkeley SkyDeck. Previously, Roger led Global Technology M&A at BNP Paribas, advising on over 50 transactions totaling $25 billion. He launched the bank’s US M&A practice in San Francisco and built its European Technology & Digital Corporate Finance advisory franchises in London & Paris. Bilingual English & French, Roger has lived in 10 different cities across three continents.