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Featured Futurist: Preparing for the Future, Carphone Warehouse
The rate of global change is accelerating and as the future unfurls in front of our eyes countries led by aspirational leaders are positioning themselves to lead it.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2020) 'Featured Futurist: Preparing for the Future, Carphone Warehouse', 311 Institute, 19 October. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/featured-futurist-preparing-for-the-future-carphone-warehouse/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
WHY THIS MATTER
The rate of global change is accelerating and as the future unfurls in front of our eyes countries led by aspirational leaders are positioning themselves to lead it.
Firstly I'd like to thank Adriana for asking me to contribute to Carphone Warehouse's Preparing for the Future report where we dug into the countries who are at the forefront of preparing themselves for the exponential future and building it... and the ones who aren't and who are likely to get steam rollered by it.
As the global rate of change continues to accelerate there has never been such an opportunity for insurgents to break the strangle hold of incumbents, whether those insurgents are disruptive startups working out of someone's bedroom, or sovereign governments like China, Singapore and the UAE, who now, more than ever see the opportunity to not just write the future but own it.
In this report we discussed the countries which are best positioned to lead the fast and furious future and the ones which are likely to be left behind, and as you'll see it makes interesting reading. Which then just leaves us with two questions: Is your country a leader or a laggard? And if they're the latter what policies and strategies do they have in place to climb the ladder?
You can read the final report below:
Source: Carphone Warehouse
What this means for your organisation
Insurgents can break incumbents.
Accelerating change gives startups and ambitious states a chance to overturn leaders. China, Singapore and the UAE see a chance to own the future. Incumbent firms and nations cannot rely on past advantage.
Location is a strategic bet.
Where you base people and operations ties you to that country's readiness. Leading nations move faster on policy and infrastructure. Factor national readiness into decisions on markets, hubs and partners.
Laggards need clear policies.
The report asks what laggard countries will do to climb the ladder. Firms in those markets face slower change and greater risk. Engage with policymakers and plan for both outcomes.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
- Are our key markets leaders or laggards in preparing for change?
- Which ambitious countries could host our next hub or partnership?
- How would a laggard home market hold back our growth?
The trends and technologies behind this story
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s article and 311 data. First published on Fanatical Futurist.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
The rate of global change is accelerating and as the future unfurls in front of our eyes countries led by aspirational leaders are positioning themselves to lead it.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
Read full bio
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 17-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder, President and Futurist of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity programme, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Sources and further reading
- Countries of the future carphonewarehouse.com
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 19 October 2020. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2020). Featured Futurist: Preparing for the Future, Carphone Warehouse. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/featured-futurist-preparing-for-the-future-carphone-warehouse/
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