Using the grey elephant lens, they can see multipolarity happening in real time, alongside the changing face of warfare, and the wider geopolitical shifts that are reshaping trade, power, and supply chains.

Looking at the increasingly important signals we’re seeing on the grey elephant radar, hear what the decline of flying insects could mean for food systems, and the growing use of AI in medical research, where data analysis is opening up new possibilities in diagnosis, treatment, and long-term care of diseases including cancer.

Our interview this month is with Zavier Coyne, founder of Gen Z Coach, who explains to Graeme why the current generational conversation is about more than the usual “young versus old” dynamic.

Zavier argues that Gen Z are the first truly digitally native generation, and that this matters not only because of how fluent they are with technology, but because digital systems have shaped their communication, expectations, behaviour, and development from the start. The conversation looks at what this means for leaders trying to build multi-generational teams, how organisations can develop stronger generational intelligence, and why the real opportunity may be bigger than adapting to younger workers. It may be a chance to rehumanise work altogether.

Key takeaways -

🌍 Reading the world through instability

Volatility is no longer an exception to manage, but a context to operate within - demanding clearer thinking in the absence of certainty.

🧭 Multipolarity as operating reality

Global influence is increasingly distributed, with power expressed through shifting alliances, economic leverage, and regional dynamics rather than a single dominant force.

🐝 The decline of flying insects

A sharp drop in insect populations highlights as a growing risk to food production, pollination, and the systems that underpin global agriculture.

🧬 AI where it matters most

Beyond the noise, the most meaningful impact of AI may lie in its ability to unlock insight from complexity - particularly in areas like health and scientific discovery.

📱 The digital native shift

A generation shaped by immersive digital environments brings fundamentally different assumptions about communication, feedback, and engagement.

💬 Behaviour shaped by environment

Workplace expectations are increasingly influenced by the systems people grow up in, not just by individual attitudes or preferences.

🤝 Generational intelligence as a leadership skill

Effective leadership now requires the ability to understand, navigate, and connect across generational contexts - not simply manage them.

🚀 Growth, ownership, and accountability

Performance is strengthened when individuals feel both empowered in their work and connected to something larger than themselves.

🧑‍💼 Rehumanising work

As technology accelerates, the opportunity emerges to redesign work around distinctly human strengths - creativity, connection, and meaning.

About the guest

Zavier Coyne is a leading expert on digital natives in the workplace, and an internationally recognised thought leader on ‘Generational Intelligence’. His work helps businesses maximise the potential of the Gen Z workforce and the generations leading them.

Zavier is a TEDx Speaker, future of work advisor to FTSE 100 and Fortune 500 companies, BeVisioneers Mercedes-Benz entrepreneurial fellow, University of London guest lecturer, co-founder of Gen Z Coach and the world’s youngest Master Intuitive Psychology Coach. Most recently, he contributed his expertise at youth-impact sessions in Davos during the 2026 World Economic Forum.

Zavier is known as a trusted bridge between senior leadership and digitally native employees. He helps organisations boost retention, performance, and future-proof leadership by turning generational change into competitive advantage.

And crucially, he brings first-hand digitally native insight into the room - being Gen Z himself!

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Connect with Graeme and Dean:

1. Connect with Graeme on LinkedIn here
2. Email Dean at Dean@tomorrowtoday.consulting

If you're interested in learning more about the 7 Grey Elephants and how they're transforming the world you can download TomorrowToday's white paper here

www.tomorrowtodayglobal.com/greyelephants

TomorrowToday Consulting empowers forward-thinking organisations to not just anticipate the future, but to shape it. Staying ahead of the curve is critical, and we provide the visionary thinking and strategic execution you need to thrive.

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One such signal is the rise of prediction sites like Polymarket, where users can bet on real-world geopolitical outcomes. While novel on the surface, platforms like this reflect deeper shifts in how information, expectations, and risk are distributed and priced. Hear how Europe’s evolving role in a more multipolar world, is a sign that the region is moving beyond regulation, toward building greater strategic capability around critical materials, supply chains, and technology independence.

We are also joined by TomorrowToday Digital Director, Jude Foulston, to share how the team’s participation in 1% for the Planet is supporting a grassroots education initiative in South Africa - a reminder that businesses can translate purpose into practical action through targeted social investment.

Our guest this month is James Cockayne, New South Wales Anti-slavery Commissioner, to explain how modern slavery is a grey elephant embedded within global supply chains. Although widely acknowledged, it is still often treated as a compliance issue rather than a strategic leadership challenge. James explains why regulators are moving beyond disclosure toward stronger human-rights due diligence, and why organisations that genuinely understand their supply chains are better positioned to manage risk, strengthen resilience, and create long-term value.

Key takeaways -

🌍 Multipolarity and shifting power blocs

Evolving global order and regional power blocs are increasingly shaping trade, technology, and security dynamics.

🎲 Prediction markets and new information signals

Platforms that allow betting on geopolitical events point to changing dynamics in how expectations, intelligence, and information circulate globally.

🇪🇺 Europe’s strategic awakening

Europe is beginning to move beyond its traditional role as a regulatory power and is investing more deliberately in industrial capability, supply chain resilience, and technological sovereignty.

🏗️ The overlooked constraints of the next economy

Critical materials, water availability, and aging infrastructure are emerging as structural constraints that could shape the next phase of economic and technological growth.

🐘 Modern slavery as a grey elephant

Modern slavery remains widely visible but frequently underweighted in corporate risk management, often treated as a reporting exercise rather than a strategic issue.

🔗 Supply chains, governance, and ownership

Addressing modern slavery requires clearer executive ownership and a shift from compliance toward deeper supply chain visibility and collaborative risk management.

🤝 Stewardship and long-term value creation

Businesses that build stronger relationships across their supply chains are better positioned to manage disruption and protect long-term value.

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Connect with Graeme and Dean:

1. Connect with Graeme on LinkedIn here
2. Email Dean at Dean@tomorrowtoday.consulting

If you're interested in learning more about the 7 Grey Elephants and how they're transforming the world you can download TomorrowToday's white paper here

www.tomorrowtodayglobal.com/greyelephants

TomorrowToday Consulting empowers forward-thinking organisations to not just anticipate the future, but to shape it. Staying ahead of the curve is critical, and we provide the visionary thinking and strategic execution you need to thrive.

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Graeme turns to China to illustrate what Kairos readiness looks like in practice: long-term planning, disciplined execution, and the ability to move decisively when the world fractures. He explores China’s five-year planning model, the intent behind the 2035 and 2049 roadmaps, and why preparedness consistently beats reaction.

Later in the episode, Graeme is joined by Dr. Sarah Babb to examine neurodiversity as a leadership and performance issue-not an HR side topic. They unpack what neurodiversity really means, why “normal” is the wrong frame, and how organisations can move beyond individual accommodations toward system-level neuroinclusion that strengthens innovation, talent, and customer experience.

Whether you’re looking at global strategy or organisational design, the message is consistent: what you ignore today shapes your constraints tomorrow.

Key takeaways -

🧭 You can’t keep up - so change how you engage

1. The world has moved beyond “transition” into rupture: fast, non-linear change that breaks old assumptions.
2. Your edge comes from frameworks, not feeds.

🦅 Kairos vs Chronos: the moment you can grab

1. Chronos is chronological time; Kairos is the window of opportunity.
2. Leaders win by being ready to move when the moment arrives-before competitors even realise it’s here.

🇨🇳 China as a strategic planning case study

1. China’s rolling five-year plan model has delivered an unusually high proportion of targets over decades.
2. The release of the 2035 and 2049 plans is a signal: China is aligning short-, medium-, and long-term execution.
3. Key shifts to watch:
4. Incentives for Chinese firms to globalise and welcome partners
5. A changing stance on intellectual property and global standards
6. Rapid trade responsiveness as geopolitical relationships fracture

🧠 Neurodiversity: the “unseen diversity” organisations are missing

1. Dr. Babb frames neurodiversity as normal variation in brain functioning, not a neat binary of “typical vs divergent.”
2. The opportunity is both internal (talent, innovation, resilience) and external (customers, product design, accessibility).
3. The real question for leaders: Do you want diversity of thinking-and are you prepared to support it?

🏢 What organisations should do now

1. Move beyond one-off programs and confidential “accommodations.”
2. Build strengths-based, skills-based teams and systems that let different profiles thrive.
3. Treat neuroinclusion as strategy: culture, policy, design, and leadership capability-not a side initiative.

💸 The market opportunity is real

1. Products, services, environments, and experiences designed for neurodiverse customers aren’t niche-done well, they create competitive advantage and loyalty.
2. Small design shifts (sensory load, clarity, choice, accessibility) can unlock demand without massive overhaul.

Elephants in the Boardroom is powered by Achilles.

Connect with Graeme and Dean:

1. Connect with Graeme on LinkedIn here
2. Email Dean at Dean@tomorrowtoday.consulting

If you're interested in learning more about the 7 Grey Elephants and how they're transforming the world you can download TomorrowToday's white paper here

www.tomorrowtodayglobal.com/greyelephants

TomorrowToday Consulting empowers forward-thinking organisations to not just anticipate the future, but to shape it. Staying ahead of the curve is critical, and we provide the visionary thinking and strategic execution you need to thrive.

Email hello@tomorrowtoday.consulting

In this special episode, Graeme Codrington and Dean Van Leeuwen examine the grey elephants already reshaping leadership, strategy, and society - highly probable, high-impact forces that are now moving from theory into reality.

From human enhancement to climate-driven insurance collapse, antimicrobial resistance and AI-driven deception to fragile tech investment models and an increasingly multipolar world, this episode challenges leaders to abandon passive optimism and adopt deliberate action.

The message is clear: 2026 won’t reward those who wait.

But it will reward those who recognise what’s already here - and respond decisively.

Key takeaways -

🐘 The Grey Elephant mindset

• Grey elephants aren’t surprises - they’re obvious forces we avoid discussing.
• 2026 will reward leaders who are conscious, decisive, and proactive, even if decisions aren’t perfect.

🏟️ Enhanced Games & human augmentation

• A proposed 2026 sporting event where performance enhancement is transparent and allowed.
• Less about sport, more about a shift from paternalism → autonomy and changing rules of competition.
• A signal for societal fractures and new definitions of “fairness”.

🌍 Climate change meets insurance reality

• Insurers quietly withdrawing from high-risk regions or pricing cover out of reach.
• Knock-on effects: housing markets, migration, supply chains, local government finances.
• Leaders should watch re-insurance markets closely.

🦠 Superbugs & antimicrobial resistance

• Already causing ~1M deaths per year-and rising.
• An “unsexy” crisis with huge implications for healthcare, productivity, and mortality.
• A massive blind spot for governments, investors, and businesses alike.

🤖 AI fakery & cybersecurity

• In 2026, trust collapses: voices, faces, video, and audio can all be faked.
• The question is no longer “Can we trust?” but “How do we operate when we can’t?”
• Opportunity lies in verification, design, and new trust infrastructures.

🧠 Human connection as a superpower

• As AI intelligence accelerates, human consciousness-empathy, judgement, ethics-becomes scarce and valuable.
• Leaders should ask two questions:

1. Where can AI drive efficiency?
2. Where does being human create competitive advantage?

📉 The AI investment bubble

• Not an AI collapse-but potential turbulence in the financial plumbing behind big tech.
• Circular financing, GPU economics, and concentrated risk could cause a market shock in 2026.

🌐 Multipolar geopolitics

• The post-WWII order is fragmenting faster than many expected.
• New alliances, broken assumptions, and uncomfortable moral trade-offs are emerging.
• Businesses must scenario-plan for worlds that once felt unthinkable.

💡 Reasons for optimism

• Amid disruption, medical breakthroughs are accelerating.
• Cancer vaccines and other major advances could define the upside of 2026.

Thanks to Lee, Philippa, Jude, Darren and Nasreen for their contributions to this episode.

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Connect with Graeme and Dean:

• Connect with Graeme on LinkedIn here 
• Email Dean at Dean@tomorrowtoday.consulting

If you're interested in learning more about the 7 Grey Elephants and how they're transforming the world you can download TomorrowToday's white paper here

www.tomorrowtodayglobal.com/greyelephants  

TomorrowToday Consulting empowers forward-thinking organisations to not just anticipate the future, but to shape it. Staying ahead of the curve is critical, and we provide the visionary thinking and strategic execution you need to thrive.

Email hello@tomorrowtoday.consulting 

Our January episode will be another special as we look forward to the year ahead and what we predict 2026 might hold. We’re also inviting listeners to get involved by submitting their 2026 predictions. Submit yours at https://www.tomorrowtodayglobal.com/2026predictions.

Elephants in the Boardroom is powered by Achilles.

Connect with Graeme and Dean:

• Connect with Graeme on LinkedIn here 
• Email Dean at Dean@tomorrowtoday.consulting

If you're interested in learning more about the 7 Grey Elephants and how they're transforming the world you can download TomorrowToday's white paper here

www.tomorrowtodayglobal.com/greyelephants  

TomorrowToday Consulting empowers forward-thinking organisations to not just anticipate the future, but to shape it. Staying ahead of the curve is critical, and we provide the visionary thinking and strategic execution you need to thrive.

Email hello@tomorrowtoday.consulting 

Key Topics Discussed

AI x Energy

• Data centres scaling to small-nation power loads; AI is both energy hog and grid optimizer.
• Two futures: grids buckle vs. AI catalyses smarter, cleaner, more resilient systems.
• Boardroom takeaway: align digital and energy strategies; efficiency is competitive advantage.

“Cloud” in Space

• Big idea doing the rounds: gigawatt-scale AI training clusters off-planet.
• Regardless of space hype, leaders must solve earthbound energy constraints first.

Sovereign AI

• Nations racing to control compute + energy + data to reduce dependency on rivals.
• Corporate echo: prove AI value, then move toward sovereign AI footprints (own models, data, infra).

Sand Scarcity

• Specific sands for cement, silicon chips, glass are finite and ecologically costly to extract.
• Expect supply shocks, regulation, and materials innovation opportunities.

Quiz Corner

• Sector with up to 60% electricity savings via AI optimization: Utilities.
• Companies leading in AI projected to widen revenue gap vs. peers by ~30% (near-term).
• Term for national AI stacks: Sovereign AI.

Interview - Tom Eaton

• No going back: after institutional damage, restoration is slow, contested, and incomplete.
• Beware “liberator euphoria”: the post-crisis leader gets too much leeway; stay critical.
• No adults in the building: don’t assume competent saviours or self-preservation will fix systems.
• Change can be sudden: systems can transform quickly—worse or better—so keep options ready.
• Personal advice: be less online; read history to gain perspective and pattern recognition.

Featured Guest

Tom Eaton — South African author, screenwriter, and columnist known for incisive commentary across politics and culture. His recent writing distils practical lessons from South Africa’s experience with corruption, state capture, and democratic resilience for a world facing similar trends.

Connect with Graeme and Dean

• Connect with Graeme Codrington on LinkedIn
• Email Dean Van Leeuwen: Dean@tomorrowtoday.consulting
• Explore the 7 Grey Elephants: www.tomorrowtodayglobal.com/greyelephants
• General enquiries: hello@tomorrowtoday.consulting

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Achilles helps the world’s biggest companies build ethical, sustainable, and transparent supply chains, reducing risk while unlocking opportunity.

Links and articles 

• Jeff Bezos: Are Data Centres in Space the Next AI Frontier?
• How China used more cement in 3 years than the U.S. did in the entire 20th Century
• World Economic Forum - The $3.3 trillion climate question: Can data centres take the heat?

Links from the Guest (Tom Eaton)

• Newsletter: Another Day in Paradise with Tom Eaton
• Article “South Africa: the world’s cheat sheet for what comes next”
• Newsletter (fiction/writing): A Note from Tom Eaton
• Book: An Act of Murder by Tom Eaton

Graeme Codrington (Johannesburg) and Dean Van Leeuwen (South of London) explore fresh “grey elephant” signals—from subterranean data centres and living with a >2°C world, to UN reform rumblings—then sit down with Øistein Jensen, Chief Sustainability Officer at Oddfjell, to unpack how a 110-year-old global chemical shipping company is tackling decarbonisation, supply-chain due diligence, and industry-wide collaboration.

Key Topics Discussed

Grey Elephants Radar

• Converging, high-impact forces post-COVID; a once-in-a-century transformation.
• Strategy lens: identify weak signals early; turn risk into opportunity.

Subterranean Data Centres

• Old mines/bunkers reimagined as “underground data fortresses.”
• Strategic logic: protect critical data; manage cooling, power, and resilience.
• Side bet: cooling technology becomes a shovel-in-the-gold-rush play.

Living with >2°C

• Move beyond “prevention only” to adaptation + resilience at scale.
• Practical mindset shift (as with COVID): learn to operate in new conditions.

UN & Multipolarity Weak Signals

• Calls for African representation; scrutiny of Security Council veto power.
• Diplomatic flashpoints as indicators of a shifting geopolitical order.
• Boardroom takeaway: model tariff shocks, sanctions, supply-route rewiring.

BANI World & Grey Elephants

• Today’s reality: Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, Incomprehensible.
• Build antifragile strategies before the stampede starts.

The Quiz

• First military “drone” use: Austrian incendiary balloons over Venice (1849).

Interview — Øistein Jensen, CSO, Oddfjell

• Decarbonisation now: efficiency first; multiple fuels/tech—no single silver bullet.
• Regulation & level playing field: strong IMO rules to avoid “go-bankrupt green.”
• Holistic value chain: avoid offloading emissions upstream; measure Scope 3.
• Data & transparency: rising customer expectations across the full chain.
• Partnerships: industry bodies, local forums on human rights, technology co-dev.
• Supplier due diligence: shared platforms (e.g., Achilles) cut duplication and lift standards.
• Embedding sustainability: company-wide incentives tied to climate trajectories.

Featured Guest

Øistein Jensen — Chief Sustainability Officer, Oddfjell (global leader in chemical shipping). Oversees sustainability, compliance and strategic safety. Former submarine commander in the Royal Norwegian Navy; prior experience at PwC.

Connect with Graeme and Dean

• Connect with Graeme Codrington on LinkedIn
• Email Dean Van Leeuwen: Dean@tomorrowtoday.consulting
• Explore the 7 Grey Elephants: www.tomorrowtodayglobal.com/greyelephants
• General enquiries: hello@tomorrowtoday.consulting

Elephants in the Boardroom is powered by Achilles.

Achilles helps the world’s biggest companies build ethical, sustainable, and transparent supply chains—reducing risk while unlocking opportunity.

Keywords

grey elephants, BANI, multipolarity, UN reform, underground data centres, mines to data fortresses, climate adaptation, >2°C world, shipping decarbonisation, Oddfjell, Øistein Jensen, IMO regulation, Scope 3, supplier due diligence, Achilles, human rights, transparency, energy efficiency, antifragility, strategic resilience

This episode also features a compelling interview with Mar Bernal Conde, Head of Sustainable Supply Chain at LightSource BP, who shares her journey from operations to sustainability leadership and explains how resilient, transparent supply chains can become a competitive advantage in turbulent times.

Key Topics Discussed

Immortality & Aging

• Putin and Xi joke about living beyond 150.
• Science shows aging may one day be reversible.

Multipolarity Rising

• New alliances reshaping global power (Russia, China, India, BRICS+).
• U.S. tariffs accelerate the shift away from Western dominance.

Global Risks

• Tariffs, sanctions, and conflicts (Ukraine, Taiwan, Venezuela, Middle East).
• Businesses must plan for shocks and instability.

Grey Elephants & BANI World

• Forces of change that are ignored until too late.
• Today’s reality: Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, Incomprehensible.

Mara Vernal-Konda Interview

• From operations to sustainability leadership.
• Why transparency, trust, and ESG due diligence matter.
• Building resilient supply chains in uncertain times.

Featured Guest

Mar Bernal Conde – Head of Sustainable Supply Chain at LightSource BP. With over 25 years of international experience in energy and manufacturing, Mara has led strategic transformations rooted in sustainability. She also teaches sustainability leadership at Cambridge and serves on multiple industry boards.

Putin Confirms Rise Of New World Order

👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKhTbMrqUdM

Connect with Graeme and Dean

Elephants in the Boardroom is powered by Achilles.

Connect with Graeme and Dean:

• Connect with Graeme on LinkedIn here 
• Email Dean at Dean@tomorrowtoday.consulting

If you're interested in learning more about the 7 Grey Elephants and how they're transforming the world you can download TomorrowToday's white paper here

www.tomorrowtodayglobal.com/greyelephants  

TomorrowToday Consulting empowers forward-thinking organisations to not just anticipate the future, but to shape it. Staying ahead of the curve is critical, and we provide the visionary thinking and strategic execution you need to thrive.

Email hello@tomorrowtoday.consulting

In a world where transformation is happening at an unprecedented pace - the fastest since 100 years ago - Tony's story offers valuable insights for anyone navigating career transitions and organizational leadership. His philosophy on how treating people, suppliers, and stakeholders with genuine care becomes a competitive advantage provides actionable wisdom for today's business leaders.

Key Topics Discussed

Career Reinvention & Transformation

• Tony's journey of reinventing himself three times beyond professional rugby
• Navigating the transition from professional sports to business leadership
• The shelf life of careers and making strategic life decisions
• Self-awareness as a foundation for successful transformation

Fierce Care as Business Strategy

• The concept of "fierce care" as a strategic imperative in business
• How genuine care for people, suppliers, and stakeholders drives performance
• The difference between exceptional and average organizational performance
• Micro-behaviors that create competitive advantages

Leadership in Times of Change

• Operating in an era of enormous sharp transformation
• Why everyone needs to learn how to reinvent themselves
• The importance of treating people well during periods of change
• Building high-performing organizations through authentic leadership

Featured Guest

Tony - Former professional rugby player who has successfully navigated multiple career reinventions, now focused on business leadership and the application of "fierce care" principles in organizational settings.

Elephants in the Boardroom is powered by Achilles.

Connect with Graeme and Dean:

• Connect with Graeme on LinkedIn here 
• Email Dean at Dean@tomorrowtoday.consulting

If you're interested in learning more about the 7 Grey Elephants and how they're transforming the world you can download TomorrowToday's white paper here

www.tomorrowtodayglobal.com/greyelephants  

TomorrowToday Consulting empowers forward-thinking organisations to not just anticipate the future, but to shape it. Staying ahead of the curve is critical, and we provide the visionary thinking and strategic execution you need to thrive.

Email hello@tomorrowtoday.consulting

Imagine AI that doesn't just follow orders but autonomously improves customer experiences and tackles major challenges.

Discover the phenomenon of agentic AI - an autonomous force poised to redefine business operations, yet shrouded in both promise and skepticism. A shift from task-based automation to mission-driven autonomy, by leveraging agentic AI, companies can not only boost efficiency but also reimagine their strategies, breaking free from conventional constraints.

Do you think businesses should stay neutral in the face of global changes?

Using frameworks like BANI, we highlight the necessity for enterprises to anticipate and capitalise on disruptions. In a world where 70% of the population lives under right-leaning governments, global businesses are navigating a complex political landscape where neutrality may no longer be an option. 

Resources -

https://www.businessinsider.com/ginni-rometty-on-ibm-watson-and-ai-2015-5

https://resources.tomorrowtoday.consulting/collections/686bcb8dfec9dd0bd964f680?utm_source=Paperflite%20Link

Elephants in the Boardroom is powered by Achilles.

Connect with Graeme and Dean:

• Connect with Graeme on LinkedIn here 
• Email Dean at Dean@tomorrowtoday.consulting

If you're interested in learning more about the 7 Grey Elephants and how they're transforming the world you can download TomorrowToday's white paper here

www.tomorrowtodayglobal.com/greyelephants  

TomorrowToday Consulting empowers forward-thinking organisations to not just anticipate the future, but to shape it. Staying ahead of the curve is critical, and we provide the visionary thinking and strategic execution you need to thrive.

Email hello@tomorrowtoday.consulting 

A Senior Advisor to Teneo, Achilles, Eurazeo and Non Executive Director at organisations including Bupa, Pia advises how to develop and operationalise sustainability strategies and the implications for reputation strategies.

As former Chief Sustainability Officer for IKEA, she led the development and implementation of the IKEA People and Planet Positive strategy. In this episode, Pia explains the importance of recognising shifts in consumer behaviour, the challenges of navigating a warming world, and the role of social media in fostering collaboration.

Pia also emphasises the need for organisations to embed sustainability into their culture and inspire the next generation of leaders to act boldly for a sustainable future.

As ever, hosts Graeme Codrington and Dean Van Leeuwen from TomorrowToday Consulting bring analysis of grey elephant activity they have seen over the past month. In this episode, the focus is on immigration. Hear about the demographic shifts driving immigration, the political implications, and the potential for businesses to view immigration as a strategic opportunity. With Graeme and Dean highlighting the need for a mindset shift to recognise the value of diversity and the importance of proactive immigration policies in addressing workforce shortages and economic challenges.

Access further insights into how immigration is reshaping the world, receive strategic alerts about the 7 grey elephants and a host of other valuable resources by signing up here.

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Connect with Graeme and Dean:

• Connect with Graeme on LinkedIn here 
• Email Dean at Dean@tomorrowtoday.consulting

If you're interested in learning more about the 7 Grey Elephants and how they're transforming the world you can download TomorrowToday's white paper here.  

TomorrowToday Consulting empowers forward-thinking organisations to not just anticipate the future, but to shape it. Staying ahead of the curve is critical, and we provide the visionary thinking and strategic execution you need to thrive.

Email hello@tomorrowtoday.consulting 

Neal shares insights into the technologies and processes Sibanye Stillwater is investing in to minimise its environmental impact, and the role they are playing in developing clean air initiatives and production of green metals, essential for a sustainable future. Neal highlights the challenges and opportunities faced by the mining industry, and shares the strategies Sibanye Stillwater has adopted to enhance resilience and competitiveness in the face of shifting global trends.

Neal is retiring in September 2025 after a career spanning nearly 40 years. His legacy of driving strategic change and fostering a culture of innovation and sustainability within the mining industry will live on.

As usual, we open the episode by unpacking stories from around the globe which are impacting the 7 Grey Elephants with the question - can crises actually serve as catalysts for opportunity?

Hear how businesses and young adults are navigating the shifting landscape as economic pressures reshape societal norms. We explore the growing trend of young adults living at home longer, driven by cultural influences and the rising cost of housing, and how these changes are intricately tied to broader issues like an aging population and inequality. This phenomenon affects over half of 18 to 28 year olds globally, and it's reshaping how businesses approach the workforce and consumer bases.

We also highlight how regulatory and political factors impact housing availability and the evolving societal perceptions of life stages. As tensions rise, we draw parallels between modern climate activism challenges and historical movements, highlighting the necessity for significant shifts in climate policies and the treatment of immigrants and refugees.

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Connect with Graeme and Dean:

• Connect with Graeme on LinkedIn here 
• Email Dean at Dean@tomorrowtoday.consulting

If you're interested in learning more about the 7 Grey Elephants and how they're transforming the world you can download TomorrowToday's white paper here

www.tomorrowtodayglobal.com/greyelephants  

TomorrowToday Consulting empowers forward-thinking organisations to not just anticipate the future, but to shape it. Staying ahead of the curve is critical, and we provide the visionary thinking and strategic execution you need to thrive.

Email hello@tomorrowtoday.consulting 

We open the episode by unpacking stories from around the globe which are impacting the 7 Grey Elephants. This month we explore the subject of genetic data privacy, amid news of the recent bankruptcy of 23andMe. We reflect on the impact such data can have on personal health decisions and the foresight needed to protect this sensitive information from future risks. Highlighting the importance of pseudonyms in genetic testing to safeguard against potential misuse by government and insurance entities.

Next, we spotlight the global water scarcity crisis, particularly the vital role of Himalayan glaciers in sustaining 40% of the world's population. We explore the alarming consequences of climate change on these glaciers, which could lead to devastating floods, landslides, and reduced river flows. The looming threat of "day zero" serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for solutions to enhance water security, with the far-reaching impacts of water shortages on agriculture, manufacturing, and political stability, demanding immediate attention and action from global leaders.

Elephants in the Boardroom is powered by Achilles

Connect with Graeme and Dean:

• Connect with Graeme on LinkedIn here 
• Email Dean at Dean@tomorrowtoday.consulting

If you're interested in learning more about the 7 Grey Elephants and how they're transforming the world you can download TomorrowToday's white paper here

www.tomorrowtodayglobal.com/greyelephants  

TomorrowToday Consulting empowers forward-thinking organisations to not just anticipate the future, but to shape it. Staying ahead of the curve is critical, and we provide the visionary thinking and strategic execution you need to thrive.

Email hello@tomorrowtoday.consulting 

2025 is already seeing the geopolitical landscape undertake a seismic shift, with transformative events reshaping global dynamics. As Ukraine seeks pivotal mineral exchanges to secure U.S. support, Trump's non-committal stance underscores the unpredictable nature of international relations. This episode unpacks the strategic complexities of Trump's interactions with Russia and China, pondering their implications for Europe and the global political arena. We also explore the Primakov Doctrine and its potential to upend U.S.-Russia relations, urging business leaders to prepare for these changes using the Grey Elephant Model to build resilience and adaptability.

With Quantum computing poised to revolutionise industries, much like the historic leap from horses to automobiles, we explore the potential breakthroughs on the horizon, alongside recent geopolitical tensions ignited by JD Vance's controversial speech at the Munich Security Conference. Multipolarity and societal divisions are becoming increasingly pronounced, with figures like Trump and Musk at the forefront of the conversation. Introducing Project 2025, hear how this initiative might shape future policies and global dynamics, amid shifting societal values and international relations.

Demographic trends are changing the global landscape as we experience an unprecedented aging population. With more individuals over 65 than children under five, the implications for retirement, family dynamics, and economic growth are profound. Immigration emerges as a potential solution to workforce challenges, particularly in Europe and China, but raises questions about labour market impacts. We conclude by highlighting the opportunities an aging workforce presents, advocating for flexible work environments that unite the desires of different generations and create shared value for businesses and society.

**Back in July 2016, by inputting data into our Quest Leadership and Grey Elephant Model, we predicted that Trump would win the US presidential election. We even wrote a letter to Hillary Clinton warning her. She never got the memo and when the grey elephants stampeded, she was unprepared - https://medium.com/@deanvanleeuwen/hillary-clinton-what-is-your-quest-af2308cd38fb#.6w6ndsl2h**

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Connect with Graeme and Dean:

Connect with Graeme on LinkedIn here 

Email Dean at Dean@tomorrowtoday.consulting

If you're interested in learning more about the 7 Grey Elephants and how they're transforming the world you can download TomorrowToday's white paper here 

TomorrowToday Consulting empowers forward-thinking organisations to not just anticipate the future, but to shape it. Staying ahead of the curve is critical, and we provide the visionary thinking and strategic execution you need to thrive.

Email hello@tomorrowtoday.consulting

Dean and Graeme explore the geopolitical landscape shaped by Russia’s strategies and the rise of BRICS nations. They discuss the implications of a multipolar world, the impact of misinformation, and the ‘Kairos moment’ - the critical window of opportunity where leaders must act decisively. Rather than reacting too late, those who recognise these shifts early can turn uncertainty into competitive advantage.

Connect with Graeme and Dean:

• Connect with Graeme on Linkedin
• Email Dean at dean@tomorrowtoday.consulting

If you're interested in learning more about the 7 Grey Elephants and how they're transforming the world you can download TomorrowToday's latest white paper here.https://academy.tomorrowtodayglobal.com/greyelephants

TomorrowToday Consulting empowers forward-thinking organisations to not just anticipate the future, but to shape it. Staying ahead of the curve is critical, and we provide the visionary thinking and strategic execution you need to thrive.

Email hello@tomorrowtoday.consulting

Elephants in the Boardroom is powered by Achilles, 

• Grey elephants represent significant, often overlooked opportunities and challenges.
• Kairos moments are unique opportunities that leaders must seize when they arise.
• Multipolarity is changing the global power dynamics.
• Organisations should develop proactive strategies to navigate geopolitical changes.
• Economic parity between BRICS and G7 nations is growing.
• The BRICS nations are emerging as a significant global economic force.
• Globalisation is facing challenges, leading to a need for adaptation.
• Aging populations will reshape industries and retirement concepts.