For over 20 years, behavioral scientist Ja-Naé Duane dedicated herself to one mission: Make life better for one billion people. This award-winning innovator and expert on global systems focuses on helping corporations, governments, and universities understand and develop systems of the future using emerging technology such as VR/AR, AI, and blockchain. Ja-Nae guides companies forward, helping them get out of their own way to create exponential innovation and future forecasting. She has had the pleasure of working with companies such as PWC, Samsonite, Constant Contact, Natixis, John Hancock, AIG, Deloitte. A top-rated speaker within the Singularity University community and the author of the bestseller, “The Startup Equation,” Ja-Nae at helping both startups and multinational firms identify new business models and pathways for global scale.
Over the years, her work has caught the attention of The Associated Press, NPR, The Boston Globe, and BusinessWeek. Ja-Nae holds degrees from Brown University, I.E. Business School, Northeastern University, Carnegie University, and Boston University. Currently, Ja-Nae is a Ph.D. candidate focusing her research on the future of information systems, is a member of the Loomis Council at the Stimson Center, and is a research fellow at the Center of Information Systems Research at MIT.
Sample Topics
Beyond Your Edge: Identifying Your Untapped Power to Navigate the Future
In this rapidly changing world, it is a leader’s job to anticipate threats, shape opportunities, and provide forward clarity. But how do you identify the skills you need to navigate the future? Leveraging her expertise as a research scientist and 4X entrepreneur, Ja-Nae draws on recent research and lessons learned to unlock the future. She also explores the critical importance that building trust within an ecosystem plays in long-term success when faced with the forces of converging exponential technology.
The Organization of the Future: Building Your DAO
Since Web 3.0 is here to stay, every organization should be thinking about what their organization would look like as a Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO). DAOs will completely transform what organizations look like, how decisions are made, the transparency of those decisions, and how organizations co-create with their customers. In this workshop, Ja-Nae examines the fundamental shift that is occurring in our organizational systems and guides participants through how to start thinking about becoming an DAO while identifying opportunities to not only create value and impact, but capture value through new opportunities.
To the Metaverse!
Virtual worlds? New economies? New investment opportunities? We are moving into an existence where the lines between the physical world and the digital world are blurring. Ja-Nae will guide you through what the metaverse is, the opportunities that organizations have to not only create value, but capture value through new opportunities, and understand the economics of doing business both in the physical world and within the metaverse.
Systems of the Future
It’s easy to think about the future as something in the far off distance. But technology and the systems that define our lives are rapidly changing what we consider “the future.” What are the systems of the future? By first exploring the past, Ja-Nae examines the fundamental shift that is occurring in our organizational systems and the implications they have on our business models, ecosystems and collaborations.
Web 3.0 and the Future of Your Business
For the past 20 years, the web has operated as a centralized model where large tech organizations maintained power and governance. Now, a new way of business has begun to transform how you will look at organizational structure, markets, economies, and the boundaries between the physical world and the digital one. Ja-Nae will walk you through the history of the web, what Web 3.0 is, how we got here, and how it is transforming every aspect of our lives and the implications for your organization.
The Future of Business
For over 200 years, we have been working in centralized models within organizations. With this shift to Web 3.0, all of our business models and their internal systems are drastically changing the business landscape. Leaders need to be thinking about completely transforming what organizations look like, how decisions are made, incentive structures, and how organizations co-create with their customers in the future. Ja-Nae will walk you through the shifts that are occurring, the implications on your business, and considerations as you identify ways to transform your organization for this new future.
Exponential Economics
Exponential technologies are changing how the global economy functions. Unfortunately, most organizations are built for linear growth not exponential. With the assistance of technology, we now have new behaviors, relationships and structures that are shaping our world. Ja-Nae will walk you through these changes and their implications on governments, organizations, and every individual. This session covers Web 3.0 trends, cryptocurrencies, tokenomics, business strategy, and risk management for organizations.
Beyond Blockchain: 5 Ways It Will Shift Your Industry
This talk examines blockchain and examines how blockchain is not just another Web 3 technology, but a catalyst for a radical shift for how business operates. In this talk, Ja-Nae will identify 5 ways in which your industry will change because of blockchain and provide some insight into how you can leverage this paradigm shift within your own business.
Economics in Our Exponential Age
Economies have changed and will continue to change in this exponential age. So, how will organizations, governments, and global citizens identify the themes associated with the effects of these economic changes and know how to navigate them effectively? Ja-Nae examines the economic concepts as these disrupt financial markets, risk management, and business as we know it.
Economic Nudges in Our Exponential World
Exponential technologies have enabled significant changes in how global citizens work with governments, buy from organizations, and work with them both towards an abundant future. Ja-Nae explains how those changes have implications for organizations and governments while providing ways to leverage these changes.
The Future of Innovation
Today’s organizations need a different mindset to survive. But what prevents organizations from identifying and responding to those changes? Companies must find a way to innovate with things changing so quickly. Ja-Nae examines the common threads driving innovation during historical periods of exponential growth and explains what’s different now and what your company needs to do today to innovate and thrive. She will also walk you through a framework to future-proof your organization.
The Future of Business Models
As we move away from industrial-era business models, research shows the shift happening, but it doesn’t pinpoint a specific model for the long-term. After examining over 900 businesses, there are common patterns that these companies share. Ja-Nae will explain what the research really means, the future of business models, how companies can prepare for the shift, and case studies from actual organizations who are thriving while creating an abundant future for all.
The Future of Corporate Venture Capital
Are you ready to future-proof your operations and stay ahead of the curve? Join us for an inspiring keynote with Ja-Nae Duane as we explore the future of corporate venture capital.
Investing in disruptive technologies and startups is key to planning for the future and staying competitive in an ever-changing market. As we look ahead, the rise of web3 and blockchain technology presents new opportunities for corporate venture capital to invest in innovative startups that are disrupting traditional industries and creating new business models.
With Ja-Nae Duane as our guide, we will delve into the evolving landscape of corporate venture capital and discover how investing in disruptive technologies can help our organization plan for the future. We will explore how these investments can future-proof our operations and keep us at the forefront of innovation.
Moreover, with an increasing focus on sustainable impact, it is more important than ever for organizations to align their investments with their values. Ja-Nae will share her insights on how to strike a balance between innovation and sustainability, and how to invest in startups that contribute to positive social and environmental outcomes.
Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights into the future of corporate venture capital from a renowned expert in the field. Join us for an inspiring and thought-provoking keynote with Ja-Nae Duane.
