Malena Pinto is not only an alumna of IFTF’s Foresight Essentials (2021) and Design Futures (2024) programs — she is living proof that futures thinking can be a lifeline in the face of a polycrisis. As Coordinator of the Thinking Accelerator at Venezuela’s Instituto de Estudios Superiores de Administración (IESA), Malena has taken the tools she sharpened during her IFTF training and turned them into a catalyst for hope in a country where many citizens once felt “we had no future.” From guiding chambers of industry through “what-if” sessions that end with executives declaring, “there is a future,” to convening citizen foresight circles that re-ignite democratic imagination, she demonstrates how the strategic, human-centered methods she learned at IFTF can transform despair into agency.


What motivated you to learn futures thinking?

The most significant motivation for me was my personal experience living in a country facing a polycrisis, which led many people to believe that “we had no future.” Futures Thinking provided me with the framework, methods, and tools to inspire individuals in my context to expand their imaginations, envision alternative futures, and reclaim their sense of agency and responsibility for the future.

What's a memorable way you've applied foresight in your life?

A particularly revealing moment occurred during a challenging facilitation session with a chamber of industrialists severely affected by this ongoing crisis. The most critical and questioning member of the group expressed with conviction, "What I see is that there is a future”. I immediately knew I was on the right path; these tools can help countless individuals understand the changes, become more aware of how they co-create the future, and realize that we are not doomed to a particular future.

What's the greatest benefit foresight has provided you?

Professionally, it has prompted me to significantly shift my focus toward transformative processes. On a personal level, it has enhanced my listening skills, fostered greater empathy, stimulated my imagination and creativity, and cultivated increased flexibility and understanding.

What's something that surprised you about foresight?

Foresight goes far beyond anticipation and scenario crafting. It's great for challenging one's assumptions, promoting meaningful conversations and conflict transformation; it helps us make peace with uncertainty, develop resilience, and fosters a transformative mindset.

What drivers of change are most compelling for you right now?

Two stand out: accelerating climate change, and worsening disenfranchisement from traditional political representation. The former compels us to create more harmonious and respectful systems and processes that honor our planet. The latter, while concerning in many respects, presents an opportunity to develop new forms of participation and citizenship, where collective intelligence plays a more significant role, leading to enhanced equity and inclusion.

What are your goals?

I still have much to accomplish in promoting futures literacy and overcoming short-term thinking in my country, and this excites me. My future goals include fostering collective intelligence, promoting a culture of "participatory futures," and empowering individuals for the future.

Email Malena Pinto: [email protected]

Want to launch a foresight practice — or bring futures thinking to your own community? Master the same tools Malena used to spark new possibilities in Venezuela. Explore IFTF Foresight Essentials.