Thomas Geuken is a futurist and Director at the Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies (CIFS). He is an expert at the intersection of human psychology and the societal challenges of the future. With a background as a licensed psychologist and many years of experience as a futurist, he brings deep expertise and combines knowledge of the future labor market, megatrends, and human adaptability.
His keynote presentations touch and open up new perspectives that both entertain and inspire: what does it mean internally—mentally—when the world around us accelerates and changes?
He has a unique ability to communicate complex topics in a way that truly resonates from the stage, combining expertise, presence, and humor. He demonstrates how a deeper understanding of both psychology and the future can provide greater calm, stronger agency, and confidence in humanity’s ability to navigate a world of constant change.
Thomas Geuken is a rare combination: a deeply engaged psychologist and futurist with a keen understanding of how people create the future. His scientific expertise and communication skills make him a powerful interpreter of the major forces shaping our lives. What do they mean for us as human beings, and how can we become co-creators of the future ourselves?
He is Director and Futurist at the Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies, where he works on developing strategic 10-year scenarios for some of the world’s largest organizations.
His work brings together two worlds:
The depth of psychology: Thomas Geuken is a licensed psychologist specializing in clinical and organizational psychology. He has worked extensively with leadership and organizational development and understands what happens within people when the world around them changes.
The perspective of futures studies: He has extensive experience translating megatrends, technological shifts, and societal developments into actionable scenarios and strategic insights.
As a bridge-builder between these two worlds, he believes that psychological insight can strengthen future visions, while futures thinking can add new dimensions to psychology.
His background in psychology enables him to understand the human mechanisms behind change—giving him authority when speaking about what adaptation, uncertainty, and transformation do to us internally.
Throughout his career, Thomas Geuken has worked with global organizations such as Google, Volvo, Novo Nordisk, Ørsted, and TV2, as well as numerous ministries, government agencies, and universities. He has also served as a Special Strategic Advisor to governments, advised more than 60 Danish municipalities, and regularly participates in public debate.
Before joining the Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies, he spent 15 years as CEO of a Copenhagen-based organizational psychology consultancy specializing in leadership and organizational development. Thomas Geuken continues to teach senior executives about how the demands of the future affect leadership and working life—and how to develop organizations that can both adapt and thrive in a constantly changing world.
At the heart of Thomas Geuken’s authorship and teaching is the concept of liberation. He speaks about lifting ourselves out of anxiety, the past, or the prison of rigid structures—and rediscovering faith in humanity’s ability to create and adapt. It is about freeing ourselves from dogma, embracing uncertainty, and building psychological courage so that we can make decisions in a world that never stands still.
Thomas Geuken is also the author of two acclaimed books published by Gyldendal: All Dressed Up – But Nowhere to Go (2017) and Rock and Roll Leadership – Give Your Company Nerve and Edge (2010), in which he explored the future of society and the role of businesses in creating positive change. In 2025, Children with Monsters was published, addressing how children—and adults—deal with their inner “monsters” (anxiety, conflict, fear) in a time of constant external upheaval.
He has written more than 30 articles at the intersection of futures studies, art, psychology, and business. He is also the author of the report Unlocking the Future of People & Organisations – 38 Trends to Unleash the Power of HR and Help Leaders Embrace the Future, a strategic report on the future that received significant attention within HR and leadership circles.
Gain an experience that combines deep human insight with a future-oriented perspective by booking Thomas Geuken. He offers a unique understanding of the interplay between people, society, and technology and highlights the choices we face.
He always tailors his presentations, making complex future scenarios relevant and tangible for your organization.
If you want to offer your participants new knowledge, motivating perspectives, and a compelling presentation grounded in futures studies, real-world experience, and a focus on people and empowerment, then Thomas Geuken is the right speaker for your event.
