Moving beyond Substack
A new home for critical futures perspectives
Hello again,
It's been a while since my last edition of “The Futures Lens” in August, and I have some updates to share about its future.
After careful consideration, I've decided to consolidate all my content on my website (johanneskleske.com). This move allows me to create a more integrated, multilingual experience and maintain greater independence from third-party platforms.
What does this mean for you?
Going forward, I'll be publishing all my articles directly on my blog – in both English and German. To stay updated, you can subscribe to my new newsletter. It's a straightforward way to receive my latest articles and insights directly in your inbox, in your preferred language.
➔ Subscribe to the English newsletter
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What you've been missing:
Since my last Substack edition, I've published several articles that explore critical perspectives on current developments and other thoughts about futures:
How to talk about the future: Transcript of a short talk I gave, that opens with “The “Car-free City” is a negative future!” …
Angela Merkel’s Mindset – What her Biography reveals about Germany today: Angela Merkel’s autobiography is much more than the memoirs of a former chancellor. It is a fascinating contemporary document that offers deep insights into a state of mind that has shaped Germany and its institutions over the past twenty years – and continues to do so today. It is a state of mind that is reaching its limits in the face of today’s global challenges.
Future Orientation: Understanding Hidden Narratives in Your Organization: Every organization has an implicit way of using the future that profoundly shapes its culture, decision-making, and behavior. The future acts as a powerful force in organizational life, influencing everything from daily operations to long-term investment decisions. Yet most organizations remain unaware of how they invoke and employ future narratives, leaving this influential force largely unexamined and unmanaged.
Brand resilience through future narratives: True brand resilience does not come from faster response times or better crisis communications alone. It needs a foundation – a clear idea of what the brand stands for and what future it wants to actively shape.
Navigating Uncertainty, Shaping Futures: I recently had the pleasure of joining Matt Ballantine and Julia Bellis on the WB-40 podcast to explore some of the most pressing questions facing organizations today: How do we make sense of an uncertain future? What role do our shared narratives play in shaping the paths ahead? And how can we proactively design strategies to thrive in complexity?
While this Substack chapter is coming to an end, I'm excited about the possibilities this change brings. Having full control over the platform allows me to better serve you with critical perspectives on futures that matter.
On a personal note: Since August, I've taken the step into self-employment as a critical futures researcher and strategic advisor. If you're looking for keynotes, workshops, or strategic guidance in navigating complex futures, you can now book me directly through my website.
Thank you for being part of this journey. I hope you'll continue to explore critical futures with me on my website.
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➔ Subscribe to the German newsletter
Best regards,
Johannes
P.S.: This will be the final edition of “The Futures Lens” on Substack. The archive will remain accessible, but for new content, please visit johanneskleske.com and subscribe to my new newsletter.