Ben Hammersley's biography
- Futurist advising organizations on technological innovation
- Coined the term "Podcast"
- Author and former executive editor of WIRED
Ben Hammersley is a futurist who helps organizations navigate the complexities of technological change. His expertise bridges journalism, technology, and strategic foresight to provide practical insights into tomorrow's digital landscape.
As founder of Hammersley Futures, Ben advises corporations and governments worldwide on how to prepare for the future. Previously Ben was the executive editor of WIRED and creator of the BBC series "Cybercrimes with Ben Hammersley". He also coined the term "Podcast" and has authored five books including Now For Then: How To Face The Digital Future Without Fear.
Ben translates complex technological trends into actionable strategies for businesses facing disruption. His approach cuts through hype to identify genuine opportunities in workplace transformation and emerging technological trends. Rather than focusing on doom scenarios, he offers practical frameworks for understanding how power structures and markets are evolving in our networked world.
Audiences leave Ben's presentations with clear insights into distinguishing meaningful innovations from passing fads, practical tools for developing future-ready leadership skills, and strategies to maintain clear thinking amid information overload and targeted confusion.
Book Ben when you need a speaker who combines deep technological understanding with the ability to make complex futures accessible and actionable.
Ben's showreel and videos
Topics, sessions and talks
Ben unpicks the noise surrounding the future, exposing the fads, jargon, and overhyped technologies that dominate public conversation. He uses sharp analysis and a wry, engaging style to separate genuine shifts from empty buzzwords. Ben shows how clarity begins with understanding what does not matter, allowing leaders to regain focus and make confident strategic choices. Audiences gain a grounded view of the world ahead and the judgement needed to navigate it.
Everything You Think About Innovation Is Wrong
Ben Hammersley challenges long-held myths about innovation, revealing how misplaced language, flawed stories, and misdirected priorities hold organizations back. He reframes innovation as a learnable, continuous practice rooted in culture rather than gadgets or heroic technologists. With wit and precision, Ben shows how genuine progress emerges from everyday behaviors across the whole organization. Audiences learn how to build environments that nurture practical creativity and produce meaningful, lasting improvement.
The Future Of Work, Workplace, And Place Of Work
Ben Hammersley examines why modern work still reflects industrial-age habits, even as technology transforms every surrounding system. He explores how workplace design, digital culture, and cognitive load shape performance, and why familiar norms often undermine collaboration and clear thinking. Ben offers a candid, informed perspective on the real shifts reshaping careers and organizations. Audiences gain practical insight into building workplaces that support smarter work, human capability, and sustainable productivity.
Skills For Future Leaders
Ben Hammersley reveals the cognitive tools leaders need to interpret rapid change and guide their organizations through uncertainty. Drawing on his multidisciplinary background, he highlights the habits of thought, mental models, and analytical frameworks that underpin resilient leadership in complex environments. Ben’s delivery blends clarity with curiosity, encouraging audiences to rethink how they learn and adapt. Participants develop a deeper understanding of the skills that enable confident decision-making in a shifting world.
The Shape Of The Post-Digital World
Ben Hammersley maps the connected, interdependent dynamics reshaping global culture, politics, and economics. He moves fluidly across regions and themes, revealing how unexpected forces combine to form the real structure of the 2020s. His approach brings vivid examples and striking connections that challenge outdated assumptions. Audiences gain a clearer view of how the modern world actually works and how this understanding can inform strategic planning for the years ahead.
Why we recommend booking Ben
Ben Hammersley translates complex technological futures into clear, actionable strategies, helping your organization navigate digital disruption with practical frameworks rather than fear-based scenarios. Book this renowned futurist and WIRED editor to equip your team with the insights and tools needed to identify genuine opportunities in our rapidly evolving digital landscape.
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