Profile
Michael McQueen understands what it takes to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.
Recently ranked #12 among the world’s top futurists, Michael is widely recognized for having his finger on the pulse of change, helping clients ranging from Google to Toyota and Mastercard navigate uncertainty and stay ahead of the curve.
A bestselling author of 10 books, Michael’s latest release was named by Malcolm Gladwell and Adam Grant as one of the top five must-read new leadership books. He is a sought-after media commentator, with his insights regularly featured in Forbes, The Guardian, and CNN.
Having presented to over 500,000 people across five continents since 2004, Michael is a familiar face on the international conference circuit, sharing the stage with Bill Gates, Mel Robbins, and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.
Formerly named Australia’s Keynote Speaker of the Year, Michael has also been inducted into the Professional Speakers Hall of Fame.
A timeline
Coming from a background in marketing and research, in 2004 Michael found a consultancy specialising in demographic shifts and social trends called The Nexgen Group.
Michael’s first book The ‘New’ Rules of Engagement was the culmination of a 3-year study of the key drivers of youth culture around the world. With an emphasis on the values and attitudes of Millennials, this 2007 release focussed on helping business leaders, educators and parents better engage a younger generation.
In 2009-2010, Michael released a range of gift books called Memento and Wisdom which were designed to bridge the generation gap in families by helping parents pass on their stories and life lessons to the next generation.
Building on the international success of Memento and Wisdom, Michael created an online memoir-writing app for parents called Histography.com.
Winning the Battle for Relevance, Michael’s 4th bestseller, was a landmark title that explored why even the greatest businesses and institutions become obsolete and how others could avoid their fate.
Drawing on research tracking 500 of the world’s most iconic brands over 5 years, Michael outlined a range of strategies for organisations and businesses committed to re-inventing themselves before disruption forced them to do so.
In 2016 Michael’s research focus shifted to the key habits and mindsets that enable organisations and individuals to stay at the cutting edge.
He released his 5th bestseller Momentum: How to Build it, Keep it, or Get it Back receiving worldwide acclaim. It outlined a simple yet powerful formula for staying on a growth trajectory and ensuring that a success groove doesn’t become a rut.
Michael’s 2018 bestseller How to Prepare Now for What’s Next was a revealing glimpse at the key trends that will shape the coming years including Artificial Intelligence, robotics, and nanotechnology. It explored the technological shifts and social changes that no organisation or individual can afford to ignore and offered a practical game plan for thriving in an age of disruption.
In 2019, Michael released his 7th and 8th books in quick succession.
Teaching for Tomorrow focused on the education sector and explored the key paradigm shifts that policy makers and classroom educators will need to make in order to equip today’s students for tomorrow.
The Case for Character, Michael’s 8th book, examined the latest consumer trends data and highlighted why transparency, trust and clarity of purpose are increasingly essential for any business or institution.
This book offers a blueprint for becoming an individual, brand or organisation that stands for something – and reaps the rewards of doing so.
In April 2021, Michael released a digital book called The New Now which examined the 10 trends that would dominate a post-COVID world and how leaders and organisations could gear up for them.
In later 2023, Michael released another landmark bestseller, Mindstuck: Mastering the Art of Changing Minds. Exploring the latest discoveries in neuroscience and behavioural psychology, Mindstuck offers a blueprint for persuading even the most stubborn people in your world.
