Daniel Burrus

Daniel Burrus was born in Portland, Oregon, and grew up in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh in 1971 with a bachelor’s degree. During his senior year, he and fellow student Bill Gray received a research grant from the United States Department of Education, enabling them to establish a student training assistance program. This program was the first federally funded initiative of its kind in the nation, providing free tutoring, test files, class notes, and course selection assistance to college students. Following his graduation, Burrus ventured into teaching, serving as a science teacher from 1971 to 1978. During this period, he was nominated for an Educator of the Year Award, laying the groundwork for his future entrepreneurial and advisory career.

Building on his early experiences, Daniel Burrus founded Burrus Research Associates, Inc. in 1983, a research and consulting firm dedicated to monitoring global advancements in technology and their impact on businesses. He identified twenty exponential technologies, including AI, genetic engineering, and the internet, anticipating their long-term influence on economic growth. Over the subsequent decades, he expanded his expertise as a technology futurist and strategist, advising major organizations such as Microsoft, Toyota, Deloitte, and the Department of Defense. He also authored several books, including the New York Times bestseller “Flash Foresight: How to See the Invisible and Do the Impossible” in 2011, and “The Anticipatory Organization.” His methodology for distinguishing between “hard trends” (predictable facts) and “soft trends” (potential changes) has been a core element of his advisory work, guiding organizations in low-risk strategic planning.

Burrus’s career milestones include the founding of six businesses, with three becoming national leaders within their first year of operation. He has delivered over 3,000 keynote speeches across six continents, sharing his insights on disruptive innovation and future-focused strategies. Recognized by the National Speakers Association for his speaking excellence and professionalism, he was inducted into the CPAE Professional Speakers Hall of Fame. His contributions to understanding future trends and their strategic implications have also been featured in publications such as Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Wired magazine, solidifying his reputation as a prominent authority in technology forecasting and strategic foresight.