John Sanei is an author, futurist, and motivational speaker who helps leaders and organizations navigate change. He is known for combining insights from human behavior, neuroscience, business strategy, and future studies. Sanei divides his time between South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, and the UK. 

Career highlights

• Futurist and strategist: Sanei advises leaders and organizations, including Google, NASA, and Mastercard, on future-proofing their businesses and preparing for an AI-disrupted world.
• The Adaptable Intelligence™ Framework: He developed this framework to help clients transition from a “control-based” mindset to one built for complexity.
• Bestselling author: Sanei has authored or co-authored several books, including:
  • When Secrets Become Stories
  • Who Do We Become?
  • Expansive (with Erik Kruger)
• Podcast host: He co-hosts the podcast The Expansive, which has won awards and been ranked among the top podcasts globally.
• Speaker: A four-time TEDx speaker, Sanei is known for his engaging and inspiring talks delivered on stages across five continents.
• Serial entrepreneur: As a young entrepreneur, he achieved financial success by bringing the Primi Piatti restaurant franchise to Cape Town and other South African cities. However, he later experienced bankruptcy after failing to adapt to shifting market conditions, an experience that informs his work on resilience and change. 

Awards and accolades

• Top Futurists: He was named one of the World’s Top 10 Futurist Professionals in 2024 and ranked among the Top 5 Futurists for 2025 by Global Gurus Research.
• Faculty member: He is a faculty member at Singularity University and Duke Corporate Education.