Silicon Valley futurist & tech forecaster advising global leaders. Stanford Adjunct Professor, Atlantic Council Fellow & Royal Swedish Academy Fellow. Harvard, Cambridge & Stanford alumnus shaping the future of technology strategy.
Paul Saffo is a Silicon Valley-based technology forecaster and futurist specializing in the dynamics of large-scale, long-term technological change, advising corporate, NGO, and governmental clients worldwide. An Adjunct Professor in Stanford University's School of Engineering, Paul brings academic rigor to his forward-looking insights, having also served as Chair of Future Studies at Singularity University. He is a non-resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council and a Fellow of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, underscoring his global influence in technology strategy and innovation. Paul served as the founding Chair of the Samsung Science Board and has contributed to the technology advisory boards of AT&T and Motorola, as well as the boards of numerous public and private companies. A distinguished scholar, Paul holds degrees from Harvard College, Cambridge University, and Stanford University, cementing his reputation as one of the foremost voices in technology forecasting and future studies.
Sessions
The secret lessons of Silicon Valley innovation
Why does Silicon Valley produce revolutionary innovation after another? Conventional wisdom credits big visions, great management, and a history of success. Conventional wisdom is wrong. Silicon Valley's unique edge is built on the rubble of failure, poor management, and a crucial third ingredient - myth. Myth is the hidden force behind the success of Silicon Valley and its creation myth is far older than you would ever guess. It is why startups often succeed where incumbents fail, and it is the secret to making audacious projects a success. It is a myth so powerful that it inspires innovators who can't even guess its origins - and in that fact lies the secret of how even the largest, most hidebound organizations can harness the power of myth to create effective change and innovation.