Shepherd Laughlin

About Shepherd Laughlin

I work with senior leaders to define how their organizations understand and act on the future.As a Principal in Kantar’s Futures Practice, I translate emerging cultural and technological signals into clear strategic direction — helping organizations align on what matters, make decisions under uncertainty, and move with conviction.My work sits at the intersection of human insight and advanced technology, with a particular focus on the societal and organizational implications of generative AI. At Kantar, I led Generative AI 2028: The Human View, an ethnographically grounded foresight framework now used by 30+ Fortune 500 companies to guide long-term strategy and investment.I have partnered with leaders at Google, Meta, Amazon, Spotify, Bank of America, Coca-Cola, Unilever, P&G, and others to shape strategy across technology, healthcare, finance, and consumer sectors.I advise clients across research, strategy, product, and marketing functions — aligning diverse stakeholders and translating insight into decisions that hold at the executive level. I also lead and develop high-performing teams.Beyond client work, I am a speaker and writer on change and the future — speaking at CES, SXSW, the MMA CEO/CMO Summit, and Brand Week Istanbul, and publishing in CNN, Monocle, China Economic Review, and Creative Review, among others.I hold an MBA from INSEAD, an MSc in Anthropology from the London School of Economics, and an AB in International Relations from Brown University. Originally from Oklahoma, I’ve lived and worked across China, France, Singapore, the UK, and the US — bringing a global perspective grounded in culture, context, and human behavior.

Experience

1. Principal

   Kantar

   Apr 2022 — Present · New York, NY, US

   Lead global foresight and consumer insight programs across technology, financial services, media, healthcare, and consumer goods, translating cultural and behavioral shifts into actionable strategies for the C-suite.• Trusted advisor to senior executives at the world’s most influential companies, helping shape long-term vision and growth strategies.• Passionate people manager, with a track record of mentoring and growing direct reports while building high-performing, future-facing teams.• Created Generative AI 2028: The Human View — an ethnographically informed foresight framework adopted by 30+ Fortune 500 companies to guide AI strategy.• Developed Metaverse 2027 — scenario planning on Web3/metaverse futures, convening clients and policy experts to define strategy and governance approaches.• Guided a global CPG leader in aligning on a future vision of gender, reshaping marketing, branding, and communications across its portfolio.• Winner of Kantar Client Impact Award for leading The Washington Post: “How Power Works” study.• Consistently exceed business development targets, driving growth of the Futures Practice.

Education

• Sciences Po

  International Program

  2006 — 2006

• The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

  MSc, Social Anthropology

  2011 — 2012

• Brown University

  AB with Honors, International Relations

  2003 — 2007

• INSEAD

  Master of Business Administration - MBA

  2018 — 2019

Skills

• Feature Articles
• Public Relations
• Proofreading
• Publications
• Interviews
• Editorial
• Copywriting
• Journalism
• Trend Forecasting
• Newsletters
• Web Editing
• Editing
• Freelance Writing
• Social Media
• Future Trends
• Writing
• Press Releases
• Books
• Translation
• Magazines
• International Relations
• Research
• Qualitative Research
• Copy Editing
• Publishing
• Radio