Vikram Mansharamani, Ph.D.

Food is emerging as one of the future’s most volatile (and valuable?) assets. Shifting political, economic, climatic and societal change all factor into the equation. In this talk, Vikram will apply his global generalist perspective to the agriculture sector and explore the implications of the rapidly escalating US-China rivalry. Audiences will leave with an understanding of the how the world economy is splitting into two global ecosystems, and the implications for this dynamic on the agriculture markets.

Europe falling apart?  China collapsing?  Treasury bubble popping?  Japan economic implosion? Social networking bubble?  Alternative energy dynamics creating geopolitical unrest?  Vikram Mansharamani applies a unique combination of practitioner experience and academic perspective to help audiences navigate the seemingly unending cross-currents of global economic, financial and political developments.  While audiences often find themselves agreeing with Mansharamani each step of the way, they’re frequently surprised by what turn out to be unconventional conclusions.

The overwhelming uncertainty plaguing the business and economic environment has led to widespread confusion and anxiety across corporate America. In this online briefing, noted financial expert and trend-watcher Dr. Vikram Mansharamani helps attendees make sense of today’s many crosscurrents. After describing how we got to the world we’re in, he proposes scenarios about what may unfold as well as the implications for the audience’s specific industries. What are the implications of the coronavirus outbreak and how will it (if at all) change the geopolitical and geoeconomic trends that were in place before the pandemic? How will it affect the U.S.-China rivalry or the future of global supply chains? And lastly, Dr. Mansharamani will address and discuss the forthcoming U.S. recession. 

Blinded by expertise and single-minded focus? It happens. But in a fast-paced world driven by complex and diverse factors, connecting the dots is often more important than developing the dots. “The future doesn’t have to surprise you,” so says Vikram Mansharamani, global trend-watcher, Harvard Lecturer, author, and investor. Mansharamani shows audiences how to look differently at their industry and business with the goal of helping them spot risk and capture opportunities others miss. The overwhelming flood of political, economic, technological, social, and market forces that bombard us every day is distracting. It prevents us from paying attention to what really matters. Our usual response to the noise is to focus narrowly or turn to specialists for help. But is that the right path? Have we been blinded by focus? Has the mantra of expertise and specialization misled us? Vikram thinks the pendulum has swung too far. He offers scores of compelling real-life examples that show how a narrow lens can lead us to miss the most important signals – the ones we’re least primed to see. The advice he offers is counter-intuitive. He advocates opening up to get a broader view; to zoom out. He calls the logic the generalist’s approach. Breadth, Vikram argues, is as important as depth. Generalists win by paying attention to more than their area of expertise. Vikram’s generalist framework for looking at the world differently is at the center of what he delivers in his speeches and can be focused on just about any subject.

“The future doesn’t have to surprise you.” So says Vikram Mansharamani, global trend-watcher, Harvard Lecturer, author, and investor. Mansharamani shows audiences how to look differently at their industry and business with the goal of helping them spot risk and capture opportunities others miss. The overwhelming flood of political, economic, technological, social, and market forces that bombard us every day is distracting. It prevents us from paying attention to what really matters. Our usual response to the noise is to focus narrowly or turn to specialists for help. But is that the right path? Have we been blinded by focus? Has the mantra of expertise and specialization misled us? Vikram thinks the pendulum has swung too far. He offers scores of compelling real-life examples that show how a narrow lens can lead us to miss the most important signals – the ones we’re least primed to see. The advice he offers is counter-intuitive. He advocates opening up to get a broader view; to zoom out. He calls the logic the generalist’s approach. Breadth, Vikram argues, is as important as depth. Generalists win by paying attention to more than their area of expertise. Vikram’s generalist framework for looking at the world differently is at the center of what he delivers in his speeches and can be focused on just about any subject. A few examples: 

• The Generalist Advantage
• The Future of Energy 
• The Future of Globalization 
• Navigating Economic Uncertainty by Bubble-Spotting 
• Global Consumption Boom 
• Food & Fuel Dynamics 
• The Economic, Social & Technological Disturbances Rocking Our Industry **This speech is tailored to the specific industry of the host organization.**

In a globally dynamic environment, boom and bust cycles are more frequent than in the past.  It seems there’s always something that has reached unsustainable levels.  The trick, of course, is recognizing it and taking action before the bubble bursts.   In direct contrast to the views espoused by most academics, Vikram Mansharamani makes a persuasive case that it is possible to identify financial (and other) bubbles before they burst.  He draws on entertaining and engaging examples from art markets, architecture, and popular culture – as well as economics and politics – and powerfully demonstrates that you do not need to be an expert to effectively anticipate the future.  Audiences walk away empowered to think independently and to connect obvious dots to generate not-so-obvious conclusions.