Cecily Sommers

Cecily Sommers is a business futurist, keynote speaker, and strategic advisor focused on helping leaders anticipate disruption before it occurs. Sommers promotes Change Literacy, equipping executives and organizations with the skills to foresee and navigate change rather than simply respond to it.

As founder and president of The Push Institute, a research and strategy think tank, Sommers led collaborative projects examining the social, technological, and economic forces shaping the future. Her experience includes advising global organizations such as Google, Salesforce, JPMorgan Chase, Nestlé Purina, and American Express.

Sommers is the author of "Think Like a Futurist," a book that introduced her framework for understanding and managing change. The book outlines the Four Forces of Change and a scanning model for reading shifts in the business environment. "Think Like a Futurist" has been translated into multiple languages, recognized by Tribune Review as a top business read, and nominated for Most Significant Futures Work in Methods and Practice by the Association of Professional Futurists. It serves as a practical resource for leaders seeking tools to embed foresight and innovation into their organizations.

With more than 25 years of experience in foresight and strategy, Sommers identifies patterns in how change unfolds across industries and systems. Her consulting work spans leadership development for technology companies, innovation programs for consumer packaged goods firms, and M&A strategies for manufacturers transitioning to new markets. Through her "Lead Like a Futurist" program, Sommers trains leaders to think, see, and act with a futurist mindset, supporting organizational resilience and growth.

Sommers has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Houston and held advisory roles with organizations including the Minnesota World's Fair and Northrop Concerts and Lectures at the University of Minnesota. She is a frequent contributor to NPR's "All Things Considered" and other media outlets. Recognized by Forbes as one of the Top 50 Female Futurists, Sommers speaks and consults on the forces of change affecting business and society, offering strategies to leverage these forces for competitive advantage. She has also been honored as a Fast 50 Reader's Favorite by Fast Company and as a Woman to Watch by Business Journal.