Tracey Follows is a futurist, author and researcher whose work examines the changing relationship between systems and selves — the systems shaping the future, and the forms of selfhood becoming possible within them.

Her work sits at the intersection of philosophy, technology and futurology, a combination that also reflects her academic background: a First Class degree in Philosophy, an MSc in Technological Change and Industrial Strategy, and formal study in Futures and Strategic Foresight.

Her career spans more than 30 years across industry, strategy and foresight, including board-level leadership. Today, her work centres on two connected territories: Selfhood in the Synthetic Age, exploring who we are and who we can become as machines increasingly participate in human life; and The New World Re-Order, examining how power, technology and infrastructure are reorganising the systems around us.

We have always become ourselves through relationships — with families, communities, cultures and institutions. Now machines are becoming part of those relationships too.

Tracey’s work includes The Future of You, System & Self™ and Me:chine®. Taken together, they explore how technological systems are reshaping identity, judgement and agency — and how individuals and organisations can make more deliberate choices about the futures they create and inhabit.

You can read The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?, her original book on identity and emerging technology, and The Future of You: Five Years On — From Machine-Readable to Me:chine.

System & Self™ is Tracey’s proprietary methodology for perceiving and authoring futures that put the self back into the future picture.

AAA — Adapt. Anticipate. Author. is her leadership curriculum for developing adaptability, foresight and greater authorship of the future.

Me:chine® is her ongoing body of research into what happens when machines begin to participate in the making of the self.

Ranked among the Global Gurus Top 30 Futurists in 2025 and 2026, Tracey is recognised internationally for her work on technology, identity, commerce, culture and human agency.

She holds a First Class BA (Hons) in Philosophy and an MSc in Technological Change and Industrial Strategy from the University of Manchester, and has studied Futures and Strategic Foresight at the University of Houston.

Her philosophy is simple: every future is written between the system and the self.

Tracey advises, teaches and delivers selected keynote talks for organisations including Google, the United Nations, the US State Department, FT Global Boardroom, Virgin, Coca-Cola, Farfetch, Aviva, Tesco, BAE Systems and Fortune.

Why work with Tracey?

• Thirteen years as a professional futurist, ranked among the Top 30 worldwide.

• Twenty preceding years in industry, including board-level leadership.

• Published author with original intellectual property and proprietary methodologies.

• Creator of System & Self™ and Me:chine®.

• BBC broadcasting experience, including as resident futurist on R4’s Dough.

• Visiting Professorship and London Business School teaching.

• Major international platforms and strong client ratings.

• Glowing testimonials across keynote and advisory projects.