Dr. Frederik G. Pferdt
The future
starts within.
Google's First and Former Chief Innovation Evangelist. Stanford Adjunct Professor. NYU Visiting Fellow. Award-winning author.
Start the practiceFeatured In
kōkishin · curiosity
In Japanese, curiosity is made of three parts: mother and child, surprise, and love. Take any one away, and curiosity ceases to exist.
I believe your future begins the moment you get curious about it. Not by predicting what comes next, but by practicing how you see, create, and connect. I call it a future-ready mindstate. It's built on six perspectives, and I invite you to explore them below.
Calligraphy by Gerow
The Practice
Six Perspectives
A future-ready mindstate is built on six perspectives. Drag the cube to explore, tap a face to go deeper.
Drag to spin · Tap a face to explore
Click a face
How You See
Optimism. Perspective. Moving before certainty.
What if certainty is not a requirement for action?
Explore this perspective→About
This Is Frederik
Innovation
1/3Google's First and Former Chief Innovation Evangelist
For over a decade at Google, he asked one question in every room: 'What if we tried it?' That question changed how 180,000 people approached uncertainty. Not by giving answers, but by changing the questions.
Education
2/3Stanford & NYU
As Adjunct Professor at Stanford and Visiting Fellow at NYU, he teaches that creativity is not a gift but a practice. One you can begin today, wherever you are.
Mission
3/3Award-winning Author of What's Next Is Now
His book is a practice guide for anyone who believes the future is not something you wait for, but something you write.
Trusted By
Offerings
Practice with Frederik
Build Your Future-Ready Mindstate
Online Courses
Develop a future-ready mindstate with Google's First and Former Chief Innovation Evangelist. Self-paced courses built around daily practices, not passive content.
Personal Guidance
1:1 Coaching
Practice directly with Frederik. Tailored sessions that help you develop the inner clarity and creativity to shape what comes next.
A Shared Practice
Live Experiences
Interactive experiences designed to shift how you and your team see what comes next. Keynotes, Masterclasses, and Leadership Me-Treats on stages worldwide.
The Ecosystem
Three ways to stay inside what comes next
Podcast
The Future Is How
Conversations with remarkable thinkers. Not just what the future holds, but how to create it.
Listen →Newsletter
The NEXTletter
One question, two perspectives, one experiment. A practice for shaping what comes next, every other Friday.
Subscribe →Community
What's Next Is...
A free space for practitioners creating what comes next, together. Questions, experiments, and honest conversations.
Join the Community →THE BOOKS
What's Next Is Now
A practical guide to developing the creativity, optimism, and courage to shape your future. Drawing on two decades at Google and Stanford, Frederik shares the practices that help anyone move from reacting to creating.
Order the Book
Radikal Besser
German edition of What's Next Is Now
The German translation of What's Next Is Now, adapted for the German-speaking world. The same six perspectives, the same daily practices, now in your language.
Order in German“Frederik stands as a visionary pillar within the Stanford University community. His teachings have invigorated students, fostering a culture of continuous innovation and critical thought. His contributions have enriched our community immeasurably.”
David Kelley
Founder and Partner Emeritus, IDEO
Awareness Test
How Future-Ready Are You?
Awareness Test
Discover your strengths across six dimensions of future readiness. A 5-minute reflection that shows you where you are, what you do well, and where to begin.
