John Mahaffie

John Mahaffie is a prominent consulting futurist based in Washington, D.C., known for his extensive work in helping organizations navigate change and explore future possibilities. He has been active in the field since 1987 and is currently self-employed, focusing on consulting, writing, and speaking engagements. His professional background includes founding Leading Futurists LLC, where he served as a principal until 2022, and he is also a founding member and past chair of the Association of Professional Futurists.13

Professional Background

• Current Role: Self-employed consulting futurist since January 2022.
• Previous Experience:
  • Principal at Leading Futurists LLC (2002 - 2022), providing futures research and foresight consulting.
  • Vice President at Coates & Jarratt, Inc. (1987 - 2002), focusing on futures research.
  • Adjunct Professor at American University, teaching a course on futures studies.12

Education

• University of Pennsylvania: BA in Anthropology (1977 - 1981)
• University of Arizona: MA in Anthropology (1981 - 1983)
• The George Washington University: MA in International Affairs (1986 - 1988).1

Areas of Expertise

Mahaffie's work encompasses various aspects of futurism, including:

• Strategic foresight
• Workshops and training sessions
• Writing on futures topics through his blog, foresightculture.com.12

He frequently engages with organizations to help them understand emerging trends and prepare for the future, particularly in sectors like packaging and finance.13