As a geopolitical strategist, Dr. Pippa Malmgren helps leaders decode uncertainty and anticipate shifts at the intersection of markets, technology, and global security. At Oslo Business Forum, she took the audience on a sweeping journey—from the Arctic to outer space, from subatomic science to spiritual growth—to show that while the world is volatile, the future holds unprecedented promise for those ready to lead with imagination.
A New Map of Global Frontiers
Pippa described our current era as one where “hot wars are happening in cold places”—in space, the Arctic, and the high north—while “cold wars are happening in hot places” across Africa, the Middle East, and the Pacific. This tension defines the moment we’re in: a world choosing between conflict and cooperation.
"I believe we are going to war with problems."
Pippa Malmgren: Former White House adviser and sought-after lecturer on geopolitics and innovation.
Pippa identified four frontiers expanding at record speed, creating massive potential for profit, jobs, and progress:
1. Going up—into space.
Space represents the next great energy revolution. With the discovery of Helium-3 on the moon—a potential fuel for nuclear fusion—nations and companies are racing to harness off-planet resources. Mining asteroids, building space-based solar power, and developing orbital manufacturing will unlock new energy abundance and supply chains.
"Imagine a world where we might have virtually unlimited energy or resources."
2. Going down—into the subatomic structure of reality.
Advances in nanotechnology and quantum science are transforming medicine and materials. From prosthetics that extend human perception to bio-ink printing that regenerates organs, innovation is moving from repairing bodies to reimagining them. In many ways, we are now able to operate on life itself.
3. Moving out—expanding digital and artificial intelligence.
The rise of AI and space-based connectivity is creating first-class internet access everywhere, redefining how humans and machines collaborate. The question is not whether AI will be powerful, Pippa said. “But how do we get our algorithms to optimize not just for efficiency or dopamine hits, but for love, joy, beauty, and meaning?”
4. Moving in—mastering the medical and spiritual frontier.
Longevity science, biotechnology, and neuroscience are not only extending human life but also human potential. As technology grows more powerful, Pippa argued, our “heartware”—empathy, morality, and meaning—must evolve alongside it.
What Does It All Mean?
It’s clear that we’re experiencing an unprecedented revolution, one that has equipped us with the capacity to solve problems that were previously unsolvable and paint new narratives into life.
As these frontiers expand, so does our potential. The same breakthroughs that once seemed unimaginable may now lie within reach, but possibility alone isn’t progress. To realize the promise of this new era, we must evolve just as quickly as the technologies we create, constantly learning, questioning, and reimagining how we lead.
“In the future, we won’t be building brick by brick,” Pippa said. “We’ll be building atom by atom, molecule by molecule.”
The Skills for the Future
In a world moving this fast, analytical ability is no longer enough. Malmgren urged leaders to develop what she calls imaginative capacity: the ability to envision possibilities beyond data and logic.
- Rational → Imaginal
- Scientific → Creative
- Quantitative → Qualitative
- Analytical → Emotional
Computing power, she noted, is becoming almost free, while breakthroughs like DNA-based data storage and “biological chips” made from human cells are revolutionizing intelligence itself. The future will favor leaders who can combine reason with wonder.
The Economics of Transformation
Malmgren warned that global debt—currently three times global GDP—poses a fundamental challenge to stability. Historically, when debt outpaces economic growth, societies have reinvented their systems of value and exchange. “It happened before,” she said, citing Britain’s 1830s transition from tally sticks to paper money, which ignited the Industrial Revolution.
A similar inflection may be coming as blockchain and stablecoins introduce new models of trust, transparency, and community-based finance. She described this as part of a larger trend she called Techplexity—the accelerating and intertwined convergence of multiple technologies that will redefine what growth looks like.
A Shift in Human Trajectory
Despite global uncertainty, Malmgren remains optimistic. “I know everyone is afraid,” she said, but she reminded us that every great technological revolution in history has created more jobs, not fewer. AI, automation, and 3D printing won’t erase human work; they’ll transform it, moving labor from heavy lifting to creative, relational, and purpose-driven roles.
She believes geopolitics, economics, and technology are converging into a trinity of transformation:
The Golden Dome: Breakthroughs in energy and science.
ReFi meets DeFi: Finance reinvented for inclusion and sustainability.
New Physics: Discoveries that blur the line between matter and meaning.
And in the end? “This story ends in a hug,” she said. “We are moving from scarcity to abundance, from conflict to cooperation, from unsolved problems to record problem solving. We talk a lot about hardware and software. But what about heartware?”
Key Points
- We are entering four new frontiers. Exploring possibilities up, down, out, and in (space, subatomic science, artificial intelligence, and medicine) will redefine what’s possible.
- Preparedness is power. Leaders must be ready for multiple futures and act with imagination, not just analysis.
- Economic reinvention is inevitable. Debt, energy, and digital currencies will reshape the global system.
- Technology demands humanity. Beyond hardware and software, our “heartware” must evolve for this transformation.
- Optimism is justified. We are poised to move from a state of scarcity and fear toward one of abundance and collaboration.
Questions to Consider
- Are you leading with imagination as well as information?
- Which frontiers—physical or digital—could redefine your industry?
- How can your organization invest in “heartware” alongside hardware and software?
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