Future Careers - World Future Society

global developments. Foreignlanguage fluency, particularlyin Chinese, Ukrainian, andSpanish, would help these individualsa great deal.Qualifications and preparation:Global work process coordinatorswill possess four-year degrees inliberal arts with concentrations ininternational studies.Chief Innovation OfficerThis worker will function at thehighest corporate levels and will reportdirectly to the chief executiveofficer, chief operating officer, orchief strategy officer. He or she willinteract with employees throughoutthe organization to research, discover,design, and apply creativeideas to improve business processes,products, and services for the companyor its customers. This professionalwill be particularly proficientin creative thinking, have an out-ofthe-boxattitude, and will feel comfortablechallenging the system.Qualifications and preparation: Thechief innovation officer will have afour-year degree in liberal arts froma nontraditional or liberal arts college.Additionally, he or she mayhave led a number of both successfuland unsuccessful entrepreneurialventures and may have a reputationfor being “wild.”Executive Chef, Space AirlineHO / KRTThis person will design menus ofbalanced, nutritious meals for thecrew and passengers of commercialspace airlines. Squeezing food fromtubes will not be enough; futurespace airlines, such as Richard Branson’sVirgin Galactic, will have tocater to a world-class clientele accustomedto high-quality fare. Thechef’s creations will be judged forvariety, attractiveness, and ease ofeating in both weightless and artificial-gravityenvironments.Qualifications and preparation: Theexecutive space airline chef will havegraduated from an accredited culinaryarts school and will have atleast five years of experience as anexecutive chef. He or she will understandthe dynamicsof foodconversion to spacefriendlyconfigurations and befamiliar with the peculiarities ofzero-gravity or low-gravity environments.Portable Benefits AdministratorThis information managementspecialist will serve as an intermediarybetween individuals and familieswho hold benefits contracts andthe companies that supply benefitsservices to them. The administratorwill preapprove claims and crosscheckpost-event records with confirmedapprovals for accuracy,accountability, and cost control.Additionally, this person will educateconsumers about their optionsand work with them to reduce insurancepremiums.Qualifications and preparation: Ahigh-school diploma will be requiredfor this position, though employerswill surely favor candidates with associateor bachelor’s degrees (liberalarts). Candidates for this job willneed to demonstrate knowledge ofthe use of computers to managerecords, processes, and communication.They will require the ability tolearn about special areas of insurancecoverage and financial planning,including dental, vision, pension,investment, legal services, petcare, etc.Vice President of ExperiencesThis imaginative individual willdesign and implement processes andsystems to create positive experiencesfor the organization’s internaland external customers. These experiencesmay include presentations atconferences and trade shows, mediaevents, or interactive Web sites. Successfulcandidates for this positionThe M400 Skycar is the result of 30 years and$100 million worth of research and development.Future skycar mechanics will have to be wellversed in both automotive and airplane repair.will use the precepts ofconsumer behavior andleading-edge research onsensory applications tocraft extraordinary experiencesthat add value tothe relationships thatconsumers and employeeshave with the organization.Qualifications and preparation: TheVP of experiences will need a fouryearcollege degree in liberal artswith a major in psychology, sociology,or anthropology. He or she willneed at least five years of marketingexperience within a consumer-orientedservice organization. A master’sdegree in consumer behaviorwould definitely come in handy inthis position.Skycar MechanicThese technicians will provideroutine and problem-responsive serviceto ground–air vehicles anywherein the world on scheduledand as-needed bases. These professionalswill apply their knowledgeand skills using satellite-based computerizeddiagnostics to assure safeand secure operations under aviationlaws and guidelines.Qualifications and preparation: Potentialskycar mechanics will requirean associate degree in jet engine mechanicsand a minimum of five yearsof experience repairing small jet aircraft.They will also need to befamiliar with troubleshooting forsatellite communications systemsand have a previous background inautomobile mechanics.General Manager,Underwater HotelThe general manager will lead ateam of carefully chosen departmentheads in the day-to-day operation ofa major hotel functioning in totallyself-contained and highly unusualenvironments—namely, under thesea. Patrons of this hotel will expectan extremely high level of service tojustify the large bill. The generalFuture Careers 13