The team at ASB Bank invited me to present on Futures Design—not just as a method for shaping strategy, but as a tool for securing stakeholder buy-in. While the session was primarily for Luke Pittar Design Group, we also had a great mix of strategy folk in the room.

I cast the net wide, drawing from prior projects with Nokia, SkyCity, Futureverse, and Sky Television—different industries, same challenge: how to get people aligned on where to go next. The through-line? How Futures Design can turn strategic complexity into actionable choices.

It was fun and sparked lots of chat—if your team is wrestling with getting buy-in on big decisions, let’s talk. Comment ‘FUTURES’ if you’d like the presentation, or DM me and we’ll arrange a chat.

A few ideas stood out:

Look back to look forward. Patterns of change tell a story. Understanding how markets and customer behaviour have evolved over time builds credibility. The best strategic narratives connect past patterns to future opportunities in a way that feels inevitable.

Step outside the bubble. Real progress comes from engaging skeptics and alternative viewpoints. Meet ALL stakeholders where they are, listen to their objections, and bring them into the journey.

 Leaders don’t need to design the future—they need to know what to do next. Strategy isn’t about predicting the future; it’s about making the right next move. Futures Design helps cut through complexity and turn long-term vision into immediate, tangible actions.

Exhibition-level engagement. Turn the volume up to 10. Engage external specialists. Use emotive, impactful storytelling to build internal champions. It’s not about stakeholder buy-in—it’s about creating a movement.

Customer-centricity. The toughest messages land better when customers deliver them. Default to a customer perspective. Craft highly edited videos of customers talking about the problem—nothing builds credibility faster than seeing and hearing the challenge firsthand.

Fuel momentum. Big businesses thrive on momentum. Don’t wait for a big bang. Trust is built by continuously delivering prototypes and design artefacts that signal forward progress. The rhythm of small wins builds confidence and keeps strategy moving.

Outcome-driven mindset. Leaders care about impact, not process. Focus on value creation. Show the commercial value of the work and the transformation this idea could bring about. Strategy needs to answer the fundamental question: Why does this matter?