Richard Watson Biography
Richard Watson advises organisations on the future, focusing on strategic foresight and scenario planning and delivers keynote speeches on the corporate circuit. Richard is a futurist, trend spotter and a content aggregrator, pulling together information from multiple sources in order to assist companies in understanding trends and scenarios in the future.
Background and career
Richard is the publisher of the What’s Next report on global trends and is the author of the book Future Files: A History of the Next 50 Years.
He is Chief Futurist at Future Exploration Network and writes for various publications worldwide including Fast Company (US) Retail Banking Review (Aus) and Future Orientation (Denmark).
As well as publishing What’s Next, he is the author of the best selling book “Future Files” and is Chief Futurist at Future Exploration Network.
Speaking Topics
Richard's areas of expertise include innovation, retail, media, airlines and banking, and his speaking topics include:
• Trends (current and future)
• Strategic foresight or the future of specific industries
• Customer segments
For further information or to book Richard Watson, call us on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email us on #EMAIL##
Richard Watson Video
Richard Watson Speaker Showreel - Click play to watch a short sample video clip of Richard Watson. For more information on Richard Watson please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Richard Watson News
A selection of relevant news related to Richard Watson, Keynote Speakers, Business Speakers, Futurists and Innovation Speakers stories. For more information on Richard Watson or details as to how to book Richard Watson for your corporate event, please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
TED Speaker and Futurist Rachel Armstrong Holds Online Chat
11th September 2011
What does the future hold? This is the $64,000 question that cannot be answered but is open to informed and intelligent speculation, and is a frequently used tool, helping to motivate companies in the current climate of economic gloom.
What to Watch out for in 2011
30th December 2010
We cast an eye over the upcoming trends in 2011 with the help of futurist speaker Richard Watson and the Executive Director of Californian thinktank ‘The Institute for the Future’ Marina Gorbis
Futurist Richard Watson releases his latest book - Future Minds
27th October 2010
The speaker and author of the acclaimed book Future Files, has published his latest book, Future Minds. Richard's latest offering explores the way that screen culture is shaping our future and Richard proposes his own thoughts on the dangers of our potential addiction to data!
Futurist Richard Watson's predictions for 2010
31st December 2009
Richard Watson, the man who predicted the credit crunch has made his predictions for 2010. The British trends advisor who lives in Sydney successfully predicted the credit crunch and was spot on when last year he predicted 2009 to be a year dominated by loathsome bankers, comtempt for high-earning CEOs and campaigns to protect local businesses.
Futurist Richard Watson shares a few snippets of his latest trend watching
7th October 2009
Richard Watson is a futurist, consultant and speaker who advises organisations on the future, focusing particularly on trends and on long term strategy. Richard's specific areas of expertise include retail banking, newspapers, airlines and supermarkets. He publishes the What's Next report on global trends and has shared a few of those trends with us at Speakers Corner.
Domino Pizzas are expanding in key business areas and are targeting the corporate market
18th February 2009
Some good news to counter the current economic doom and gloom from Domino Pizza who plan to open 50 stores this year. Having recently opened new outlets in business areas in London and Manchester, CEO Chris Moore is now targeting the corporate market - office workers who are eating in restaurants less often.
Richard Watson's 10 predictions for 2009
6th January 2009
The world is changing so quickly that predictions can be out of date almost as soon as they are made, but futurist, Richard Watson, has been persuaded to make 10 predictions for 2009
Speakers Take the Stage at Google Zeitgeist
24th May 2013
Speakers took to the stage at this year’s Google Zeitgeist, where they explored the ideas that affect our social, economic, political and cultural surroundings.
Innovative Speakers Gather at TED 2012
28th June 2012
California is once again the sunny location for TED, the most innovative and exciting conference on the planet, where speakers with ‘ideas worth spreading’ gather to share their thoughts on technology, design, science, media, politics, the arts, and other insights on how to shape a better word.
Sarah Lloyd-Hughes: ‘How To Be A Brilliant Public Speaker’
7th November 2011
Management Today asks Sarah Lloyd-Hughes, founder of Ginger Training & Coaching and author of ‘How to be Brilliant at Public Speaking’, for her top tips for public speaking.
Richard Watson Reviews
Richard Watson has spoken and appeared at a number of recent corporate events. Please find some client speaker testimonials and reviews for Richard Watson for a number of these events and conferences. If you would like some additional information as to how to book Richard Watson for your corporate event, then please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Richard's presentation was well received by delegates although not as interactive as initially discussed. This was mainly due to the fact that it was the last session of the day and the delegates were feeling "conferenced out".
The objective of Richard Watson's presentation was to push the thinking of our Operational Risk Managers outside of the boundaries of their traditional day to day activities, highlighting themes and early indicators of change within, and around, our industry. Richard delivered a very interesting, gripping and thought provoking presentation that was extremely well received by all of our delegates.
Richard Watson's presentation was very well received and was right in line with our brief. He really engaged the CIOs with thought provoking content. Thanks again to Richard - it was great working with him.
We asked each delegate to provide written feedback at the completion of the event. Richard overwhelmingly 'topped the pops' for the most favourite presentation of the fifteen speakers we had deliver presentations over the course of the 2 days.
Q & A with Richard Watson
Richard Watson answered some probing questions for Speakers Corner. For speaking secrets revealed - read on! To book Richard Watson for your event, please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Speakers Corner: Can you remember your first speaking engagement?
Richard Watson: Yes. It was for an International Thinking Conference (seriously!) in Melbourne. Basically 800 teachers from around the world. I was talking about how physical spaces such as offices influence how people think. Ironically this subject is now a book coming out in the UK in 2010.
Speakers Corner: What’s the worst thing that has happened to you during an event?
Richard Watson: Well the AV generally fails 10% of the time. I had one talk to 100 CIOs (Chief Information (i.e. Technology!) Officers for IBM) and I only had three picture slides. They were sent in advance. They were checked and they were checked again one hour before the talk was scheduled to start. And of course they wouldn’t work. Ended up having to describe what was on the slides, which actually worked rather well! Also gave me a great story which I still use every time the AV won’t work.
Speakers Corner: What was the last event you spoke at?
Richard Watson: A series of 5 talks in different cities for fund managers this week. All over lunch except for one which got moved to a breakfast due to another event clash (nothing to do with me!).
Speakers Corner: Which event has been your favourite and why?
Richard Watson: Very difficult to say. I tend to like events that involve very smart people in very interesting locations. Possibly the best was an innovation conference in Oman that was full of government and business leaders from across the Middle East. The security was totally amazing – there was even a gun boat on patrol just off the beach and soldiers everywhere. The best bit was sitting down to eat breakfast, lunch, dinner and so on. I generally opened with ‘what do you do?” and got answers ranging from “I’m the secretary of state for the treasury” to “Oh, I run the army”. Fantastic!!!
Speakers Corner: If you could speak at any event, past or future, what would it be?
Richard Watson: TED or Davos. I also love speaking to kids, especially in schools. In fact the best responsive I ever got was from a class of ten year old boys who were totally in awe of what was going on and what will happen next.
Speakers Corner: Which speaker/performer do you most admire and why?
Richard Watson: I haven’t been blown away by any speakers recently but I have huge respect for stand-up comedians. I particularly like Eddie Izzard. I think Jeremy Paxman is an amazing moderator.
Speakers Corner: What is your worst on-stage habit?
Richard Watson: You’d have to ask an audience!
Speakers Corner: What annoys you most professionally?
Richard Watson: AV that doesn’t work – although by far the worst is people that are sending text messages whilst I’m talking – as though I can’t tell!
Speakers Corner: Do you have any riders or special requirements?
Richard Watson: Dancing girls, caviar, a piano...no. No, nothing at all.
Speakers Corner: Why should an organiser hire you to speak at their event?
Richard Watson: The practicality and applicability of what I say tinged with the ability to raise a smile or two. Overall an ability to frighten the living daylights out of people mixed with an ability to enlighten and give a sense of future direction.
For further information or to book Richard Watson, call us on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
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