Meet Erica
Curious about what's next. Focused on what makes us human.
I'm Erica Orange, a futurist, author, and keynote speaker. My work isn't about predicting the future; it's about helping leaders navigate it with confidence, curiosity, and humanity intact.
- Rochester, NYWhere the “what if” started
- University of RochesterPsychology and the study of human behavior
- Washington, DCPublic policy
- The futurist pathTwo decades decoding tomorrow
- Today400+ keynotes, six continents, and author of AI + The New Human Frontier
My story
How a futurist is made
As a kid in Rochester, NY, my tricycle was a space shuttle. My imagination took me to the moon, and it never really brought me back.
That early fascination with "what if" led me to study psychology at the University of Rochester, where human behavior became my lifelong focus: the patterns we fall into, the blind spots we develop, and the stories we tell ourselves that shape the lives we lead.
After working in public policy in Washington, DC, an unexpected opportunity arrived through Edie Weiner, my future mother-in-law and one of the world's foremost futurists: become one yourself.
“A what now? A futurist?”
It clicked. My ability to spot patterns, connect disparate ideas, and imagine how futures might unfold suddenly had a name, and a purpose. I immersed myself in science fiction and trend analysis, honing a craft of decoding complexity into actionable insight for leaders.
Today, I've delivered over 400 keynotes across six continents, authored AI + The New Human Frontier, and been featured in Wired, Bloomberg, and The Wall Street Journal. Yes, we face unprecedented challenges. But I'm rooted in optimism: the belief that through imagination and deliberate action, we can shape futures worth living in, not just for ourselves, but for the generations to come.
- 400+Global keynotes
- 20 yearsDecoding tomorrow
- 1,000+Trend white papers
Ideas I named first
Naming the shift before it has a name
- 2010Big SysterTechnology watching all of us, often without oversight or our knowledge.
- 2017The NeoHUMANIC WorkforceHumans and AI working side by side, sometimes managed by algorithms.
- 2018Algorithmic FeudalismAlgorithms deciding who works, how they're rated and what they're paid.
- 2021The Human Stock ExchangeInfluence, reputation and personality, traded like stock.
- 2022The Evolving Trust StaircaseTrust as a staircase with no top: something you keep climbing.
Why I do this work
It's personal
When I'm not on stage or exploring what's next, you'll usually find me on hiking trails, watching my son at Little League, or planning our next family adventure.
Being a mom to an elementary schooler makes this work deeply personal. Every keynote I deliver, every trend I track, is connected to the world he will inherit. That keeps me grounded, hopeful, and genuinely committed to what I do.
Here's what I believe: the most powerful frontier isn't technological. It's human. It's the internal shift that happens when people stop reacting to the world and start shaping it, when they reclaim their Agency, their Identity, and their capacity to decide who they want to become.
It's also why Jared and I co-founded Wake the Future: to help organizations build the human capabilities that matter most as change accelerates, through joint keynotes, workshops and our Futurist in Residence program.
Visit Wake the FutureThe future isn't something we simply predict. It's something we help shape.
Whether you're planning a conference, leading a team through change, or curious about what's next, let's talk.
My book
AI + The New Human Frontier
Reimagining the Future of Time, Trust + Truth
Why our curiosity, critical thinking, and empathy will become more valuable, not less, as AI evolves, and how to put trust and human judgment at the center of what comes next.
“Erica offers astute observations, practical actions and imaginative ways to consider a future of working with AI, not for it.”
Beth Comstock, author of Imagine It Forward
Q+A
Getting to know Erica
Quick answers to the questions people ask most, from what a futurist actually does to how to bring Erica to your event.
Book EricaWho is Erica Orange?
Erica Orange is a futurist, keynote speaker, and author of AI + The New Human Frontier (Wiley). Named one of the top 50 female futurists in the world, she has delivered more than 400 keynotes on six continents and has spent more than two decades helping Fortune 500 companies, leadership teams, and audiences understand the forces shaping tomorrow, and what to do about them today.
What is The A+I Advantage?
The A+I Advantage is Erica's framework for the human capabilities that matter most as change accelerates. A+I stands for Agency + Identity: the ability to think independently and act with intention, and the clarity of knowing who you are and what guides your decisions. Judgment and Curiosity build on that foundation.
Is Erica an AI speaker?
Not exactly. Erica speaks about the pace of change and what it means for people and organizations. As she puts it, we're not in a time of change; we're in a change of time. Technology, including AI, is part of that story, but her focus is on how people think, decide, and lead through it.
What does Erica speak about?
Her signature keynote is AI + The New Human Frontier, on building the human capabilities technology can't replace. She also delivers Think Like a Futurist, on unlearning and adapting in uncertain times, and The Trust Paradox, on building credibility when seeing is no longer believing. Every talk is customized. See all talks
What is AI + The New Human Frontier about?
Published by Wiley, the book explores why uniquely human qualities like curiosity, critical thinking, empathy, and judgment become more valuable, not less, as technology advances. It looks at the future of time, trust, and truth. Explore the book
What is Wake the Future?
Wake the Future is the company Erica co-founded with her husband and fellow futurist, Jared Weiner. Together they offer joint keynotes, workshops, the Futurist in Residence advisory program, and a weekly YouTube show. Visit Wake the Future
Who has Erica worked with?
Erica has worked with organizations across nearly every sector, including Microsoft, Google, PepsiCo, Deloitte, PwC, Mastercard, AARP, and LinkedIn, as well as associations, government bodies, and universities. Her work has been featured in Forbes, TIME, Bloomberg, WIRED, and on CBS and SiriusXM.
How do I book Erica?
Get in touch through the contact page, or reach her speaking manager, Blair Nichols of BBN Creative. Erica speaks in person anywhere in the world and virtually, and every session starts with a call about your audience. Planning an event? The event planners page has bios, photos, and everything else you'll need.