This year, The Tomorrow Show keynote will be delivered by acclaimed futurist and trend shaper Dr. Shawn DuBravac. Widely published on topics including technology, economy and finance, Dr. DuBravac’s hunger to explore how digital technologies permeate our lives today inspire interesting conversations – and before welcoming him to the stage this September, we wanted to catch up with Shawn and hear his thoughts on all things industry and leveling up for the future of work.
Check out the interview below for a preview of the topics we’ll cover at the event – from digital to data, why you should question everything and how shifting from linear to exponential thinking is key to transformation in industry.
The Tomorrow Show 2025 theme is #ELEVATE. What trend will have the biggest impact on industries – helping to level up speed, scale and efficiency – within the next five years?
One of the biggest trends I see shaping the next five years is the shift from digitisation to datafication. For the past few decades, we've focused on digitising the physical world, capturing information, automating systems and building digital infrastructure. But now we’re entering a new phase where that foundation becomes something much more powerful.
And this is where I often say: Data is destiny. Because data is quickly becoming the core driver of speed, scale and efficiency. It’s not just about technology, it’s about elevating your entire operating model. Across every industry, the organisations that harness this shift will be the ones that lead the next era of innovation.
Exciting times we live in, for sure! You mentioned data as a destiny – can you expand a bit on how data can be turned into a strategic advantage?
Absolutely. Data becomes a real strategic advantage when it’s not just used to report on the past, but to actually shape the future. Data is a key enabler for what organisations will do over the next decade, and it’s quickly becoming the biggest differentiator between those that lead and those that fall behind.
Data is becoming the core enabler of competitive advantage – fueling smarter operations, faster innovation and more resilient strategies. Combined with AI and other emerging technologies, data is not only speeding up processes but also reshaping how we simulate, forecast and respond. We're making the invisible visible. We're unlocking new capabilities across every layer of an organisation – from the boardroom to the field. You’re not just elevating your processes – you’re elevating your understanding.
I see a future where clients in industry will want information at a data level. Things need to be so integrated that anyone in the organisation can query and track down the supply chain of a single screw in a piece of equipment. And it’s not just a strategic advantage, it’s a strategic imperative.
We couldn’t agree more – and look forward to diving into these topics when you take the stage at The Tomorrow Show. What can attendees expect to take away from your keynote at the event?
Without giving away too much, here’s a sneak peek.
Has there been a moment in history where the energy industry has faced such a profound intersection of technology, innovation, complexity and global urgency – or is this truly an unprecedented turning point?
It really doesn’t, and that’s what makes industry gatherings like The Tomorrow Show so exciting – we have an arena to talk about how this transformation is impacting everyone from on-site workers to executives. Shawn, it’s been a pleasure. Can you leave us with one final piece of advice for companies facing the challenge of digital disruption?
To be an industry leader, you must proactively build adaptable, future-ready organisations by integrating people, technology and assets in new ways – preparing for uncertainty rather than trying to predict it. The time to plan for tomorrow is today.
Acclaimed futurist and trend caster, Shawn is author of the New York Times Best Seller Digital Destiny: How the New Age of Data Will Transform the Way We Work, Live, and Communicate. DuBravac writes extensively on disruptive technological shifts and how these mark the beginning of a new era for humanity in the realms of business, healthcare, finance, transportation, and culture. He has been widely published in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Financial Times, Washington Post and on-air with CNBC, Bloomberg and other media outlets.
