Episode 1

Written By Dr. Mikah Sellers

The Rise of the Renaissance Thinker

Guests: Mike Bechtel

Air Date: 12/01/2025 8 am ET

In the inaugural episode of Forces of Change, hosts Dr. Mikah Sellers and Annie Graziani sit down with Mike Bechtel, an inventor-turned-investor, futurist, and professor who works to make sense of what’s new and next in tech. Mike, a former Chief Futurist at Deloitte and Global Innovation Director at Accenture who holds 12 U.S. patents, translates "the art of the possible into the art of the profitable," helping today's leaders "arrive at their preferred tomorrows" ahead of schedule.

This conversation explores the essential role of a modern Futurist and dives into the challenges of incrementalism and the dangerous imagination deficit in boardrooms. Mike discusses what it means to be a leader willing to move beyond orthodoxy to drive transformation and shares insights on how machine intelligence and cognitive automation are leading to the continued ascendance of purpose in the future of work. Don't miss this essential guide to navigating disruption and preparing for a future where technology is a partner in thinking.

  • Why the "steward" mentality is stifling growth and how a "proper leader" must dare to move beyond orthodoxy.

  • The role of a Chief Futurist in predicting the "new normal" for clients in the next 5 to 10 years.

  • How the rise of machine intelligences and cognitive automation is leading to the continued ascendance of purpose in the future of work.

 
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Dr. Mikah Sellers

Dr. Mikah Sellers is a best-selling author, workforce futurist, and enterprise transformation leader with over 20 years of experience at the intersection of leadership, learning, and innovation. His work explores how emotionally intelligent leadership—and the systems that support it—can unlock human potential in an era shaped by artificial intelligence and automation.

He earned his doctorate in Organizational Leadership and Learning from the University of Pennsylvania, with research focused on immersive, experiential executive education and emotional intelligence. A former Chief Innovation Officer and Chief Digital Officer, Mikah has led global teams and advised Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and high-growth startups through digital and cultural transformation.

For over a decade, he taught at Georgetown University's School of Continuing Studies, where he was recognized as an award-winning faculty member for his impact on adult learners and leadership education.

https://www.mikahsellers.com/