Strategic Foresight Expert Marc Palatucci Announced as Keynote Speaker for the NextGenBaker Leadership Forum

The American Bakers Association (ABA) is pleased to announce Marc Palatucci, Director of Growth and Engagement at Future Today Strategy Group (FTSG), as the keynote speaker for the NextGenBaker Leadership Forum, September 15-17 in Washington, D.C.

As the premier leadership development program for the commercial baking industry, NextGenBaker equips rising executives with the skills and perspectives needed to navigate an increasingly complex business environment. Palatucci’s keynote will challenge participants to identify emerging trends, develop future scenarios, and examine how today’s decisions can shape tomorrow’s outcomes.

During his interactive keynote, “Leading for the Future,” Palatucci will guide attendees through two immersive workshops designed to strengthen strategic thinking and decision-making while building leadership skills and stronger teams.

• Unit One: Leading for the Future: Scenarios and Rehearsing the Future — Effective leaders don’t predict the future; they prepare for it. In this interactive session, participants will be introduced to the principles of strategic foresight and learn how to use scenario planning and the “Time Cone framework” to explore multiple possible futures.
• Unit Two: Leading for the Future: Axes of Uncertainty and Thinking the Unthinkable — Today’s leaders must make decisions in an environment defined by rapid change, competing priorities, and increasing uncertainty. In Part 2, participants will practice an advanced scenario planning framework that challenges assumptions, uncovers hidden biases, and explores a range of plausible future outcomes.

Palatucci is Director of Growth and Engagement for Future Today Strategy Group, a global advisory firm specializing in strategic foresight, emerging technology, and long-term planning. Alongside FTSG founder and CEO Amy Webb, he teaches strategic foresight in the master’s program at NYU’s Stern School of Business, where he recently joined the Alumni Council.

His insights have been featured in publications ranging from Vogue to National Geographic’s Ultimate Book of the Future, and he has spoken for audiences ranging from the World Health Organization to the Metropolitan Club in San Francisco.

“One of NextGenBaker’s greatest strengths is exposing participants to ideas and perspectives they may not encounter in their day-to-day roles. Marc’s session will challenge emerging leaders to think beyond the immediate horizon and develop the strategic mindset needed to lead the commercial baking industry into the future,” said Pippa O’Shea, Senior Manager of Events and Programming of the American Bakers Association.

The NextGenBaker Leadership Forum brings together high-potential professionals from commercial baker and supplier companies to strengthen leadership capabilities, expand industry knowledge, build lasting professional relationships, and better understand the policy and business forces shaping the future of commercial baking.

Designed for professionals with leadership potential, not defined by age or title, the program brings together managers, directors, vice presidents, senior leaders, and other high-performing employees from across every business function.

Co-located with the Bakers Fly-In and Policy Summit, attendees will also experience the importance of public policy firsthand through exclusive policy sessions and opportunities to directly engage with policymakers on Capitol Hill. This unique perspective helps future leaders better understand the broader business environment and the role they play in shaping the industry’s future.

To learn more about NextGenBaker, visit the American Bakers Association website.

Learn more about the agenda and register for the NextGenBaker Leadership Forum at the Bakers Fly-In and Policy Summit.

About the American Bakers Association

The American Bakers Association (ABA) is the largest and most established trade association for the commercial baking industry in the United States. ABA’s community includes more than 350 baker and allied member companies, representing thousands of commercial baking manufacturing locations across the nation.

Since 1897, ABA has served as the voice of the baking industry, offering compelling advocacy, insightful thought leadership, and comprehensive research on industry trends.

ABA members also benefit from extensive business services, including premier networking events, impactful knowledge sharing, and effective workforce development programs and training resources.

ABA is committed to enhancing its mission by growing the category and promoting the industry as the destination workplace. In 2025, ABA earned the prestigious Great Place To Work® Certification, underscoring its commitment to delivering on the Higher Level Impact strategic objective by fostering a strong internal culture that drives excellence for the commercial baking industry.