Ella Howard, Associate Professor, History, Wentworth
The FutureLab is kicked off with Ella Howard [Wentworth], who has deep expertise in urban renewal, suburban growth, gentrification, and the roles these played in public health in the past, and how they may reshape the future. She brings the power of historical thinking and exploration of past public health disasters to the present, what lessons were learned, which forgotten and how they can inform our current COVID-19 crisis.
Dave Mareira, Executive-in-Residence, Business Management, Wentworth + Partner, Roadrunner
Ella Howard, Associate Professor, History, Wentworth
In the FutureLab Talk #2 Ella Howard [Wentworth] explores with Dave Mareira [Wentworth/Roadrunner] how COVID-19 has impacted communities and neighborhoods in Boston. Dave Mareira is a community and political activist and shares how the State and local governments have responded to the crisis, and what communities themselves are doing to support their neighbors and create systems to combat inequalities and care for each other.
Inez von Weitershausen, Research Associate, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Monique Fuchs, Associate Vice President, Innovation + Entrepreneurship, Wentworth
In the FutureLab Talk #3 Inez von Weitershausen [MIT] shares with Monique Fuchs [Wentworth] what the Work of the Future may look like and what key aspects are at play to consider interactions between humans and machines, humans and work, and humans and humans during COVID-19 and beyond. Inez von Weitershausen has researched at Sloan School of Business for the Good Jobs, Good Companies initiative and focuses on cross-national differences around training, education and re-skilling. She encourages younger generations entering the workforce to innovate, remove inequalities highlighted during the crisis, and invest in social impact.
Greg Friedman, Vice President, Leadership/ Organization Development + Analytics, Paraxel
Monique Fuchs, Associate Vice President, Innovation + Entrepreneurship, Wentworth
In the FutureLab Talk #4 Monique Fuchs [Wentworth] discusses with Greg Friedman [Paraxel] how COVID-19 impacted effective collaboration and communication across organizations and what new work models have been created – and may be here to stay – as a result of this crisis. Greg Friedman is a thought leader when it comes to organization design and uncarving talent. He shares, which competencies the workforce is relying on now and which will continue to be needed after-COVID and what organizational innovations may be plausible in the future.
Larry Chan, Principal, Chan Architecture + Urban Planning
Anne-Catrin Schultz, Associate Professor, Architecture, Wentworth
In FutureLab Talk #5 Larry Chan, from Chan Architecture & Urban Planning, took us through a discussion on urban design and planning. The discussion focused on the effects of social distancing and increasing space as well as defining the limits of urban design in order to keep cities accessible to those from lower incomes, age and those who have immigrated into the United States. Larry’s keys to re- entering and designing cities require will, creativity, and funding. Larry has a wealth of interdisciplinary insights and philosophical underpinnings when approaching cities and urban planning and he provided thought-provoking concepts.