A Vision for the Future: Telling the Story of Change

Introduction

As I sit down for lunch in Norway, I reflect on the impact of yesterday's workshop on tornado leadership, which aimed to drive change across industries and the world. I am reminded of a recent post by Nada Ahmed about authenticity on social media and her upcoming book \"Determined to Lead.\" These thoughts lead me to contemplate the power of change and vision, particularly in the context of my project on the human-centered ocean industry. I am excited about this project's potential impact and how we can work together to build a better future.

Envisioning the Future

We discussed the importance of describing and feeling the future in the first-person vernacular at the workshop. To further explore this concept, I want to share a small story of what the future could look like:

Let's imagine 30 years in the future:

Aitae woke up to a notification on her phone that the fleet of vessels in her aquaculture and energy production facility was running smoothly. She could manage the facility's operations from afar with a remote monitoring system.

After going through the logistics, Aitae checked that everything was under control and headed to the facility in her self-driving car. It was just a short automated ferry ride out.

Although the facility was typically without people, she made regular trips to ensure everything was functioning as intended.

Upon arrival, Aitae saw drones flying overhead, conducting routine equipment inspections and checking the fish population. The robots worked tirelessly, maintaining the infrastructure and ensuring the vessels' systems functioned correctly.

Onboard the vessels, Aitae saw that the vessels were using clean fuels produced from waste material and that the aquaculture operations were carried out sustainably with minimal environmental impact. She checked the sensor systems and saw that the fish were healthy and the energy production met customers' demands.

With the help of her co-workers, who monitored and maintained the facility remotely via robot analogs, drone inspections, and sensor systems, Aitae created a state-of-the-art facility operating efficiently and sustainably.

The aquaculture and energy production facility managed by Aitae was essential for the industry and the local community. The facility had created jobs for people in the region, and its sustainable practices had minimal impact on the environment, preserving the area's natural resources.

The fish produced in the facility were being sold locally, providing a fresh and sustainable food source for the people in the region. Clean energy production and materials science have removed the dependence on fossil fuels, making the area more self-sufficient and environmentally friendly.

In addition, Aitae had set up programs to educate the local community about sustainable aquaculture practices and the importance of protecting the oceans. The facility worked closely with local schools and universities, providing hands-on experience for the students and creating a new generation of environmentally conscious leaders.

The facility had become an integral part of the local community, providing economic opportunities and promoting sustainability and environmental awareness. The sustainable practices employed by Aitae and her team had set an example for others in the industry, and they had become a model for sustainable aquaculture and energy production.

As she left the facility, Aitae felt proud of the work that they were doing and the progress they had made in the industry. With remote monitoring, they had created a facility that could run almost entirely without people, reducing their impact on the environment and making operations more cost-effective.

Aitae knew they were on the right track toward a more sustainable and prosperous future for the ocean industry. With the help of technology and innovation, they could continue to make strides toward a better tomorrow.

Impacts of Change

This small story paints a picture of a future where sustainable practices are ingrained in everyday operations, and the impacts of these changes are tangible. This vision of the future inspires me to consider the potential of my project and how it can contribute to creating positive change in the ocean industry.

Motivating Change

At the workshop, we also discussed the importance of motivation and insight in driving change. This small story of the future serves as a motivating force by illustrating a positive vision of what is possible when sustainable practices are embraced. It shows that change is achievable and can lead to tangible benefits. As I reflect on this story, I am encouraged to continue my efforts to promote human-centered practices in the ocean industry and to work towards a future where sustainability is at the forefront of our actions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the workshop on tornado leadership and Nada Ahmed's insights on authenticity and leadership have inspired me to reflect on the power of change and vision. By envisioning a future where sustainable practices are the norm, we can motivate and inspire others to embrace positive change. As I continue my project on the human-centered ocean industry, I am motivated to work towards building a better future together. Let us strive to tell the story of change and inspire others to join us in creating a more sustainable world.

From the article, I gathered my takeaways and notes from a workshop hosted by the Ocean Opportunity Lab, where Peggy Liu, the "Green Goddess of China," shared her Tornado Leadership methodology and Qigong for leading in the space between the present and future. It highlighted the importance of creating a positive mood for the future we want to build and telling stories of that future to create energy, focus, and momentum for collective action. The focus should be on envisioning what the lives of ocean stakeholders might look like in the future and making it inclusive, safe, smooth, and sustainable. 

By fulfilling the human need to focus on the goalposts, what might the lives of each of our ocean stakeholders be in the future? What will their days look like? How will they feel about their work? What will their work day feel like? How will it flow? Who will they work alongside? What cultural bridges will they make to work together? How will this affect their safety?

How can we find and grow constantly toward an inclusive, safe, smooth, and sustainable future? What can support the transformational growth and implementation of our multi-faceted future? How can we all grow it together? What seeds of the future do we have already:

What is possible for us, and how might we get there?

What would world-class transformation look like?

What would the future collaborative development leadership be?