Parag Khanna
Director of the Hybrid Reality Institute, leading global strategist, world traveler and best-selling author
Dr. Parag Khanna is a visionary strategic futurist and bestselling author. He is the founder and managing partner of FutureMap, a boutique advisory firm that marries rigorous data analysis, sophisticated scenarios, and cutting-edge mapping to generate foresight for confident decision-making.
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Parag Khanna's 2022 biography
About Parag Khanna
Parag Khanna is a leading global strategy advisor, world traveler, and best-selling author. He is Founder & CEO of Climate Alpha, an AI-powered analytics platform that forecasts asset values to future-proof global real estate, and Founder & Managing Partner of FutureMap, a data and scenario based strategic advisory firm. Parag’s latest book is MOVE: Where People Are Going for a Better Future (2021), which was preceded by The Future is Asian: Commerce, Conflict & Culture in the 21st Century (2019). He is author of a trilogy of books on the future of world order beginning with The Second World: Empires and Influence in the New Global Order (2008), followed by How to Run the World: Charting a Course to the Next Renaissance (2011), and concluding with Connectography: Mapping the Future of Global Civilization (2016). He is also author of Technocracy in America: Rise of the Info-State (2017) and co-author of Hybrid Reality: Thriving in the Emerging Human-Technology Civilization (2012). His books have been translated into more than twenty languages. Parag was named one of Esquire’s “75 Most Influential People of the 21st Century,” and featured in WIRED magazine’s “Smart List.”
Parag has been an adviser to the US National Intelligence Council’s Global Trends program. From 2013-2018 he was a Senior Research Fellow in the Centre on Asia and Globalisation at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore. From 2006-2015, he was a Senior Research Fellow at the New America Foundation. During 2007, he served in Iraq and Afghanistan as a senior geopolitical adviser to United States Special Operations Forces. From 2002-5, he was the Global Governance Fellow at the Brookings Institution; from 2000-2002, he worked at the World Economic Forum in Geneva; and from 1999-2000, he was a Research Associate at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.
A widely cited global intellectual, Dr. Khanna provides regular commentaries for international media. His 2008 cover essay for the New York Times Magazine titled “Waving Goodbye to Hegemony,” is one of the most globally debated and influential essays since the end of the Cold War. Khanna’s essays, reportage, and columns have appeared in major international publications such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Washington Post, Harvard Business Review, National Geographic, TIME, Foreign Affairs, Scientific American, Popular Science, Axios, Forbes, The Atlantic, Quartz, Foreign Policy, Noema, Harper’s, BusinessWeek, The Guardian, The National Interest, McKinsey Quarterly, The American Interest, Global Policy, Stratfor, Esquire, Slate.com, and Die Zeit.
Dr. Khanna also appears frequently in media around the world such as CNN, BBC, CNBC, Bloomberg, Al Jazeera and other broadcasters. In 2010, he became the first video-blogger for ForeignPolicy.com and from 2010-12, co-authored the Hybrid Reality blog on BigThink. From 2008-9, Parag was the host of “InnerView” on MTV. He was a consultant to the National Geographic series Origins. Khanna spoke at TED in 2016, TED Global 2009, was a guest host of TED Global 2012, and lead speaker at TEDxGateway in 2018. His TED talks have been viewed more than three million times. The maps customized for Dr. Khanna’s books have been displayed in numerous prestigious international art exhibitions.
Parag lectures frequently at international conferences and gives tailored briefings to government leaders and corporate executives on global trends and scenarios, systemic risks and technological disruptions, and market entry strategies and economic master planning. He has provided expertise to many governments including the US, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, UK, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Norway, Finland, Italy, Estonia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, Pakistan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Mongolia, Bhutan, Chile, Malta, and numerous others. In 2016, he served on the Singapore government’s Committee on the Future Economy and currently sits on the UAE Ministry of Economy’s International Advisory Council. He also currently serves as a senior advisor to Gulf Capital, sits on the board of directors of the Out of Eden Walk, and as a member of the advisory boards of GeoQuant, Graticule Asset Management Asia (GAMA), Datarama, and Henley & Partners, and previously on the Innovation Advisory Board of DBS Bank and Globality.
Dr. Khanna holds a PhD in international relations from the London School of Economics, and Bachelors and Masters degrees from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. In 2017, he was awarded a Richard von Weizsaecker fellowship of the Robert Bosch Academy. He has been a Senior Fellow of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, Visiting Fellow at LSE IDEAS, Senior Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, Distinguished Visitor at the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto, Distinguished Visitor at the American Academy in Berlin, Next Generation Fellow of the American Assembly, Visiting Fellow at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Non-Resident Associate of the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University, and a Visiting Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi. He has received grants from the United Nations Foundation, Smith Richardson Foundation, and Ford Foundation.
Born in India, Parag grew up in the United Arab Emirates, New York, and Germany. He is an accomplished adventurer who has traveled to more than 150 countries on all continents. Some of his lengthy journeys include driving from the Baltic Sea through the Balkans and across Turkey and the Caucasus to the Caspian Sea, across the rugged terrain of Tibet and Xinjiang provinces in western China, and ten thousand kilometers from London to Ulaanbaatar in the Mongolia Charity Rally. He has climbed numerous 20,000-foot plus peaks, and trekked in the Alps, Himalayas, and Tien Shan mountain ranges. Parag is also a competitive tennis player.
Parag has been honored as a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum and has served on the WEF’s Global Future Council on Mobility, Global Agenda Council on Geoeconomics, and advisory board of its Future of Urban Development Initiative. He also serves on the board of trustees of the New Cities Foundation, Council of the American Geographical Society, advisory board of Independent Diplomat. He is a former term member of the Council on Foreign Relations, International Institute for Strategic Studies, and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. In 2002, he was awarded the OECD Future Leaders Prize. He speaks German, Hindi, French, Spanish and basic Arabic.
Parag Khanna's 2022 talks & topics
Global Scenarios for the Post-Pandemic World
The two words that best capture the post-pandemic world are “continental drift.” The global economy is rapidly becoming more regional. Globalization continues in many areas such as commodities, capital flows, and digital services, but from energy to electronics, North America, Europe, and Asia are becoming more self-sufficient through trade agreements and industrial policy aimed at controlling the supply chains. At the same time, a new era of competitive connectivity has begun as the tug-of-war heats up between China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the West’s “Build Back Better World” (B3W) agenda. Drawing on the copious research presented in his acclaimed book Connectography, Parag Khanna provides cutting-edge insights into the geopolitical, geoeconomic, and geotechnological shape of the future, with specific recommendations on how and where to invest in a volatile world.
The Global War for Young Talent
The lasting impact of the pandemic will be both demographic and geographic. We are reaching “peak humanity,” a global population not likely to cross nine billion people, but most of the world’s people are still young — and as they vote with their feet, they determine the winners and losers of the 21st century. Countries are now vigorously competing in a global war for youth to attract the taxpayers, workers, homeowners, and entrepreneurs of the future. Companies must do the same — but in a remote working world, millennials and Gen-Z are a moving target. How can corporations attract young employees to headquarters while also building a decentralized workplace culture? Drawing upon the insightful research from his latest book MOVE, Parag Khanna presents the world from the standpoint of the youth who will define it, guiding your talent acquisition and retention strategies for the years ahead.
Climate Adaptation: This Century’s Highest Priority
Deadly disasters are intensifying, with ever greater costs to societies everywhere. Rising sea levels and floods, droughts and heatwaves, cyclones and forest fires, cause upwards of $200 billion in damage annually. Climate refugees now outnumber political and economic migrants. The world will not only be hotter but also more violent, with conflicts over food and water, and uncontrolled mass migrations. That is why climate adaptation must be every nation and company’s foremost priority. This includes fortifying and redesigning our homes and buildings, investing in renewable energy and resilient food production, and relocating our businesses, citizens, and workers to more stable habitats. The climate will not adapt to us; we will have to adapt to it. Drawing up FutureMap’s proprietary Climate Alpha software, Parag Khanna provides tailored analysis of the locations across the globe best suited to your business requirements and guides you in creating a tailored strateg for climate resilience.
The Future is Asian: Billions of People, Trillions of Dollars
Asia remains the world’s growth engine, representing more than half the world’s population and fifty percent of global GDP. China is neck-and-neck with the US as the top destination for foreign investment, and has accelerated its quest for technological autonomy and expanded use of its currency. Meanwhile, the world’s largest trade agreement — Asia’s Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) — has come into effect. The next chapter of Asia’s economic story is also being written by the “fourth wave” regions of South and Southeast Asia, with countries such as India and Vietnam delivering the world’s fastest growth and taking the lead in new unicorn companies. As the author of the landmark book The Future is Asian, there is no better guide than Parag Khanna to the geography that drives the world economy.
Global Financial Services
Dr. Khanna has a long track record of advising the financial services industry across institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds, private equity and hedge funds, wealth Management, (re-)insurance, and other verticals. His briefings to financial institutions often cover the shifting trajectories of the world’s three economic megaregions — North America, Europe, and Asia — based on the latest monetary, fiscal, trade, and other policy decisions. He also specializes in how demographics, Technology, and climate change intersect to shape the global economy, which geographies and asset classes to combine for a high-yield portfolio, and how and where the next generation of investors and entrepreneurs should plan to allocate capital.
Transportation and Mobility: Automotive and Aviation
Dr. Khanna’s mapping of the future of demographics and infrastructure is highly sought after in the transportation sector. He brings to life the cities, nations, and regions that will drive demand for mobility services, and flows of goods and people between them. He also answers big questions such as how sustainable and multimodal transport can cater to the next generation of workers and travelers, and what transportation will look like in the cities and habitats of the future.
Government and Public Institutions
Dr. Khanna is a trusted advisor at the highest levels of many governments around the world. His firm FutureMap has conducted detailed research on economic strategy, investment promotion, and government reform for some of the forward-looking countries. His briefings to cabinet ministers and government agencies often cover how fiscal policy and Technology platforms can prepare society for disruptions ranging from labor automation to climate change, how to structure public-private partnerships to finance new infrastructure, the strategic master-planning of cities and special economic zones, how to reform immigration policy to recruit top talent across sectors, and how to enhance sustainability in critical habitats while maintaining economic growth.
The Environment: Energy, Agriculture, Water, and Health
Dr. Khanna is a leading expert on the governance of our natural commons, and the new global division of labor emerging as we adapt to climate change. He dissects the geography and composition of energy, food, water, and other resources and the new technologies and trade patterns shaping these markets. He also covers how our social policies and safety nets should evolve to cope with accelerating climate disruptions while improving social safety nets. Drawing upon the innovative Climate Alpha toolkit, which analyzes hundreds of variables to make real estate price predictions, he also reveals the emerging “climate oasis” geographies best suited for large-scale population resettlement and how their resources can be sustainably cultivated.
Advertising and Marketing, Retail and Entertainment
Dr. Khanna is the leading next-gen global public intellectual with his finger on the pulse of consumer preferences around the world. His work on youth demographics reshapes our understanding of the mass market of young, single, urban professionals, capturing their needs and hopes. His presentations capture how the values of connectivity, mobility, and sustainability impact societal behavior and spending priorities. He explains how brands should position themselves to appeal to millennials, Gen-Z, and Gen-Alpha in major markets around the world. And he also reveals what you need to know about the countries and cities that are the most desirable locations for the next generation.
Management Consulting, Professional Services, and Human Resources
Dr. Khanna’s expert synthesis of megatrends has long made him a go-to resource for the world’s leading consulting and professional services firms. His presentation of inter-disciplinary scenarios broadens the knowledge and foresight capabilities of corporate leaders as they confront a complex future. Additionally, his specific strategic guidance is tailored to client’s needs and informs management as they navigate and respond to geopolitical tensions, economic fragmentation, and the competition over global rules and standards. And his insights into which countries are the most attractive to next-gen talent helps you better build global teams with remote workers.
Academia and Higher Education, Civil Society Social Organizations
Dr. Khanna is an acclaimed scholar who has lectured at dozens of major universities around the world and whose books are taught across numerous departments from colleges to high schools. His interdisciplinary blend of geography, politics, economics, demographics, environment, philosophy, and social analysis provides the holistic foundation students and youth at all levels need to prepare for a complex future. He is often consulted by academic institutions, foundations, and charities on how they can strengthen their impact in addressing key societal challenges, both domestically and internationally. Some of the major themes civic groups seek his insight on include the key areas to promote skill-building programs, how youth should navigate professional and geographic opportunities across the public and private sectors, and how they can use their skills to engage in constructive activism.
Travel, Tourism, and Hospitality
Dr. Khanna has traveled to more than 150 countries and is widely consulted by travel and tourism companies seeking to understand future demographic, migration, and cultural trends. He has also advised many governments seeking to promote their nations as tourist and remote work destinations. As cries of “toxic tourism” give way to a “war for tourists”, he explains what measures are most essential to ensuring safe and sustainable experiences. He also provides cutting-edge guidance on how the global travel sector can promote new modes of digital identification–from immunity certificates to blockchain passports–to make post-pandemic travel more seamless. And as digital nomads scatter in search of locations offering the best work-life balance, he advises on how cities and nations can brand themselves as destinations for long-term residency.
Real Estate, Construction, Infrastructure, and Logistics
Dr. Khanna has long been one of the most sought after experts for the residential and commercial real estate industries due to the forecasting of high-growth cities and emerging infrastructures contained in his visionary book Connectography. Today global real estate is being shaken up by demographic deflation, supply chain disruptions, climate change, corporate relocations, and remote work, all forces he details in his new geographic tour de force MOVE. As real estate firms grapple with these new realities, Dr. Khanna provides sharp analysis on the next thriving residential markets and business hubs. He also delivers guidance on how construction and logistics firms should incorporate the latest technologies to deploy energy self-sufficient and even “mobile real estate” and infrastructure. Importantly, drawing up his firm FutureMap’s proprietary Climate Alpha software, he helps clients seize first mover advantage in the most valuable geographies of the future.
Technology, Media, and Telecom
Dr. Khanna coined the term “geotechnology” to capture how the balance of Innovation has superseded the traditional balance of power in global affairs. He has advised the world’s leading technology companies from Silicon Valley and Europe to India, China, and Japan on how the Internet of Things, AI, crypto-currencies and other frontier technologies will reshape societies, economies, and politics. His latest book MOVE captures how the “mobility of everything,” physical and digital, will result in a new hierarchy of countries, cities, and companies across the world.
Parag Khanna's 2022 speaking fees
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