Aleksi Neuvonen is a Firm Futures Thinker and Compassionate Research Director who transforms complex theories to positive societal impacts through global collaborations and local civic activism.
PART I: Why do I want to help turning complex theories to positive societal impacts
Thinking. Reading. Writing. Observing. Communicating. Helping. Imagining. Future. Change. Impact. Collaboration. Hope.
Those twelve things have always been the base of my academic and professional character. They have also defined my entire existence as a human being. Even as a kid – and certainly now as an adult – I have been a loyal ally of everything related to conversations, education, knowledge, universities, sophistication, research and science communities. Yes. I like theories but I also understand the importance of practice. And the older I get more I lust, trust, need and – to be frank – adore life. You know. Feeling it. Sensing it. Hearing it. Living it. Going somewhere, anywhere, everywhere. Finding something or nothing. Getting lost, momentarily or for good. Discovering and analyzing the surroundings, both urban and nature. Talking to people, all kinds of people. Listening and hearing their arguments, stories, views and opinions. Simply being there, being present. Making memories, recording experiences. Witnessing hugely transformative events on a local and global scale.
Surely I have spent countless days and nights in archives and libraries around the world. Gotten a few degrees. Written a PhD. Founded Demos Helsinki, one of the leading think tanks in Europe. Collaborated with institutions, governments, NGO’s, organizations, presidents, prime ministers and professors. Of course, I believe that reading matters, writing matters, thinking matters and debating matters but so does acting. Taking a stand. Speaking up. Getting involved. Starting something. Finishing everything. Making a difference. Finding a solution. Offering expertise. Unifying and encouraging people. Having an impact. Remaining hopeful.
No. I have never been just a nerdy scholar but also an audacious activist and today I define myself as a Firm Futures Thinker and Compassionate Research Director who is transforming complex theories to positive societal impacts through urban planning, sustainability transitions, planetary thinking, civic activism and global collaborations. That is the next chapter – and role – of my professional working persona.
Now let me tell you why.
PART II: Why the future will ultimately be different and better than we may think
This much I know to be true.
We are living historically concerning crucial times for humanity. Democracy, civilization, equality, education, information, morale, truth, kindness, empathy and common sense are all under repetitive attacks by those representing different forms of ignorance, hate, disinformation, racism, illiterateness, misinformation and fascism. All this ongoing negative and dangerous disruption is also affecting how we as individuals see and perceive other people, towns, cities, countries, continents, time and even this specific era that we are living in. Obviously there are lots of difficult questions and I do not pretend to have all the immediate answers but what I can provide, however, is a clear vision that the future will ultimately be different than we think. And most likely – as improbable it may sometimes feel in times like these – better. In general, the future should be seen as something much more exciting, hopeful and potential than merely a dull and automatic mirroring image of history. It’s been my experience that people are more open towards exploring futuristic scenarios when they let go of the past. Or the present.
And why do I think that the future will presumably be different – and better – than most of us now fear? Because we as humans will finally acknowledge that we are not merely a species that can extract nature but genuinely be a vital part of it. Because we as humans will eventually realize that we have to manage our societies and organizations in democratic co-operation and not through command and control of any god, king, president or another type of alone appointed leader. Because we as humans will finally find out that it’s kindness and love rather than power and self-interest that make life sensible and meaningful. Because we as humans will eventually start choosing sufficiency on a par with efficiency and humane values over instrumental ones. Because we as humans will finally let go of the very 20th century idea that the only legitimate and sovereign political power must reside in nation states. Because eventually, and finally, we as humans will grasp our nature as planetary beings who are dependent on other humans, communities, ecosystems and Earth systems. With that progress we can start building well-functioning planetary institutions that will be based on citizen power, transparent science and moral progress.
Now let me tell you how.
PART III: Why the magic of collaboration is the most essential skill I have ever learnt
Team effort. Random conversations. Thoughtful presentations. Focused listening. The power of video calls. Gently challenged opinions. Solid arguments. Creative workshops. Respectful debates. All forms of attentive and active collaborations.
No. It’s no secret that I believe in the process of transcending an individual’s knowledge, capabilities, potential and perspective into something bigger, wider and less limited through effective partnerships. That is an ideology that I have learnt through co-founding several NGOs, organizing a number of events as part of a volunteer group and – of course – starting Demos Helsinki, a smoothly operating think tank often embraced for its unique culture of unifying solidarity, considerate co-operation and freely democratic spirit. It’s no overstatement to say that promoting, improving and valuing collaboration has been the most essential single skill that I have tried to master throughout my 30-year career. A life defining key method that has helped me guiding groups in co-creating visions, strategies, social innovations and novel policies with university deans, small town citizen groups, utility company leadership teams, grass root environmental activists and high-ranking civil servants. The magic of collaboration includes strengthening people’s opinions, thought processes, argumentation tactics and presentation styles. The best feedback I can get is someone leaving an event or co-creation workshop that I have hosted with a feeling that “OK, I finally got it, I got to see a bit of a future, now I know what to do next, what do I have to do to make it happen”.
In my advising role as a Firm Futures Thinker and Compassionate Research Director I continue helping my clients make sense of complex issues which makes it easier for them not only see but also alter the future.
But why does it matter so much, the future?
PART IV: Why do I think that imagining the future is so essential to humanity
Disruption. Planetary beings. Cognitive autonomy. Earth systems. Interaction. Kindness. Biodiversity. Metaphysics. Philosophy. Dignity. Planetary boundaries. More-than-human thinking.
Those twelve things are all essentially important in imagining what the future might look like. To me, there’s something very special in that particular process. Developing positive imaginaries. Feeling the shared joy and excitement of creating previously nonexistent unconventional concepts that stretch the boundaries that are presently considered feasible or socially acceptable while simultaneously making sure that those ideas are still sensible, logical and coherent enough to resonate with people. In fact, softly astonishing, or rather even shocking, your colleagues, partners, clients and audiences is a pivotal part of the services that I provide. Personally, my main focus has always been on positive narratives. Surprising yet slightly controversial futuristic scenarios that entail, suggest and demand drastic changes in people’s thinking and behavior both privately and professionally. Ultimately, it all comes down to human values – goals, motives, morale, ethics, words and actions – and revaluating those values can understandably be a frightening experience. But it’s also worth it.
I believe in realistic yet happy endings. That does not make me naive but hopeful. I understand – of course – that our current lives are largely guided by all kinds of laws, rules, norms, market prices, routines, politics, habits, devices, busses, cars, energy plants, concretes, steels, roads, buildings, metro tunnels, power grids and other similar frameworks that determine and enforce our behavior and manners. I realize that these structures are hard to change but I am also more confident now than ever that how we us human beings perceive ourselves, others and the future, is enormously important for the faith of this planet. Collecting scientific data and understanding big narratives matters but so do random little details, finding odd inspiration and staying forever curious. Personally my superpower has always been an ability to live and observe life and actively participate in initiatives, cases and projects that statistics and theories only talk about. In other words, I have tried to find, imagine, experience and animate the futuristic trends before they have become mainstream.
And how do I do all this and that and everything in my role as a Firm Futures Thinker and Compassionate Research Director? By helping people by imaging and altering the future life through hopeful yet realistic scenarios. By helping organizations taking positive social action and initiatives locally and globally. By helping academic institutions and the private sector form active, transparent and effective collaborations. By helping companies achieving sustainability transitions through advanced planetary thinking. By helping countries and governments realizing the undeniable power of modern civic activism. By helping city officials appreciating the importance of environment and human friendly urban planning. By helping startups, firms and corporations understanding the indisputable potential of a sufficiency economy. And by helping the science community by adding hope, compassion and societal impact expertise into academic debate.
This much I also know to be true.
I promise to continuously imagine and implement initiatives on radical futures and a better world without sacrificing dignity and wellbeing of fellow living beings. That is my purpose. I promise to actively participate in global intellectual collaborations that help discover positive futures that promote planetary and more-than-human thinking methods. That is my mission. And I promise to endlessly contribute towards a more sophisticated kinder world that will eventually understand that life within planetary boundaries is the only way to survive. That is my vision.