{"id":5328,"date":"2019-07-25T12:00:05","date_gmt":"2019-07-25T16:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adsknews.autodesk.com\/?post_type=stories&p=5328"},"modified":"2024-07-02T17:19:50","modified_gmt":"2024-07-02T21:19:50","slug":"designing-the-near-future-where-ideas-solutions-and-actions-come-together","status":"publish","type":"stories","link":"https:\/\/adsknews.autodesk.com\/en\/stories\/designing-the-near-future-where-ideas-solutions-and-actions-come-together\/","title":{"rendered":"Designing the Near Future: Where Ideas, Solutions, and Actions Come Together"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A WholeTrees Structures area at the Near Future Summit provides a place for a break and networking.<\/p><\/div> When I first learned about the Near Future Summit<\/a>, it sounded like an unusual gathering in an otherwise crowded conference circuit. Taking place in La Jolla, California, the event was billed as “A<\/em>\u00a0carefully curated community of brilliant and concerned ass-kickers tackling serious challenges without taking ourselves too<\/em> seriously.”\u00a0<\/em>It sounded great,but my main reason for attending was to see what solutions, and action, would come from the event. In the end, changemakers like me want to help expedite a positive future. And with issues like inequality and climate change at the fore \u2013 we can\u2019t wait to act. While I wasn\u2019t quite sure what to expect, I knew their mission aligned with my work at the Autodesk Foundation<\/a>, where we focus on supporting creative solutions to the world\u2019s most pressing challenges. This includes supporting the entrepreneurs and innovators working to address the impacts of automation on the workforce. You may have already seen some of the other ways<\/a> that we\u2019re committed to helping people adapt to the future of work. So, I was eager to join like-minded \u201cnear futurists\u201d including those taking action to create a future where workers can excel. Our goal was to inspire this audience of more than 200 curated entrepreneurs, activists, leaders, inventors, and investors. That included people like the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, Beyond Meat<\/a> CEO Ethan Brown, and American inventor Dean Kamen<\/a>. We wanted to share Autodesk\u2019s unique point of view and deep dedication to social and environmental impact. For us, the discussion about the future of work was front and center.

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Autodesk Foundation CEO Lynelle Cameron moderates a panel with Career Karma CEO Ruben Harris and Tony Hsiesh, CEO of Zappos.<\/p><\/div> Our very own Lynelle Cameron\u2014CEO of the Autodesk Foundation and VP of Sustainability\u2014 moderated the session about \u201cWorkforce Multipliers\u201d alongside Zappos<\/a> CEO Tony Hsiesh, and Career Karma<\/a> CEO Ruben Harris. The conversation focused on ways to revive and retool an increasingly squeezed workforce. Lynelle shared specifics on how Autodesk and the Foundation are addressing inequality and the skills gap. We learned how Zappos is decentralizing teams and encouraging new skill-building to add additional customer value. Harris explained how Career Karma is matching learners of all ages and backgrounds with coding skills to increase wages. It was great to observe how the summit\u2019s focus on the role of technology and a prosperous future for all aligned so clearly with our values. In addition to the curated conversation, we hosted an activation throughout the event with Autodesk Revit<\/a> customer\u00a0WholeTrees Structures<\/a>. Their 10-year-old business uses 3D scanning and insights to design and construct whole timber structures from sustainably-managed forests.\u00a0The Wisconsin-based company incentivizes healthy forest management by transforming forest waste into highly-valued construction material. They were another proof point that the use of automation tools is critical for designing sustainable infrastructure.

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A Near Future Summit attendee enjoys the WholeTrees Structures swing.<\/p><\/div> Beyond our own specific engagements, several themes resonated with me throughout those three days: <\/p>\n