Kendra Bracken-Ferguson Reflects On Marian Salzman’s Trends for the Future

Globally recognized trendspotter Marian Salzman recently returned to the BlogHer stage to share her highly anticipated predictions for 2022. As part of our supporting editorial, we asked thought leaders from the BlogHer Community to share their perspectives on what’s in store for us in the coming year.

Kendra Bracken-Ferguson is a transformative brand builder, connector and launcher. With an entrepreneurial career that spans brand development, strategic planning, operations, investing, board membership and C-suite leadership, she has helped create, build and monetize over 200 influencer-driven brands that have generated more than $100 million in revenue.

Marian Salzman joined us live on December 14th for an insightful conversation about the 22 for 2022. Watch the replay live above.

Last week, I had the honor of joining Award-Winning Communications Executive, Author & SVP Global Communications at PMI, Marian Salzman for the release of her highly anticipated 2022 Trend Report hosted by BlogHer as part of their Visionaries series. It was my second time joining the Blogher stage with Marian and I continue to feel inspired, smarter, and more engaged with our society at large after diving into her 22 trends. The panel; 22 for 2022: Measuring Up What We Thought We Knew, Marian shared her latest insight through an in-depth conversation with host Pilar Guzman. The session prompted me to dig deeper into understanding my own role in defining and living out these trends and the phenomenal impact we all have in determining the future of our communities, relationships, and professional working environments.   

Marian took us on a journey with a fresh perspective post lockdown and pandemic, expanding and further exploring trend-based realities —- The Missing Middle, Hybrid Everything, The Skill Squad, Virtual Value, Geekspeak in the Metaverse, and more that will continue to impact how we adjust to a new normal. 

I was intrigued by the trend Mental Health Moves Out in the Open and this notion of inequity in mental health and mental wellness. We continue to learn and have more patience, tolerance, and kindness when it comes to mental wellness. Mental health has touched all areas of society from athletes to business executives to our youth and we are seeing this trend come to light more than it ever has before. I have personally started to look more deeply at the impact of mental health as well as overall health inequities that continue to be exposed. 

Marian mentioned that she underwent brain surgery this year, something that she pushed off during the COVID, which was also a trending medical topic of people delaying surgeries, treatments, and visits to the doctor. Within this trend, she also unpacked mental health and the inconsistencies of support, therapy, and access to resources that we continue to see as we look at not just racism but classism. Marian said, “our mental health is suffering and we don’t know how to turn the switch off.” 

Even more, engaged around mental health suffering, I asked Marian, “you mention mental health suffering and this notion of a healthy life. It’s fortunate to elect to push off procedures but there are so many that due to inequities in our healthcare system in America, people simply don’t have access to the support they need that for many is lifesaving; what is the long effect of that? Are we now looking at further reduced life expectancies or a radical change in the system?” She dove into this topic further with so much insight, wisdom, and personal experience and talked about stretching our lives longer through health and wellness practices. 

Marian also went deep into the divide that was exacerbated between the rich and the poor…“the world’s wealthiest got wealthier” proclaims Marian.   

A few other key trends that stuck with me especially after Marian’s 2021 Zoomsday Predictions were Making the Unsexy Sexy; We’re Working It; Front Lines and Change Agents and Meet Cohesion Cultivators. 

I encourage you to review the trends, make your own notes and determine your role in the manifestation of each trend’s impact in your life.  

One last fun fact from Marian, “In numerology 22 is considered a ‘master number.’ Some even regard it as the most important number of all. It is thought to be highly powerful and to have high potential, but not necessarily lucky.”  So with that, I’m intrigued to see each trend manifest itself in 2022 and beyond as well as join Marian next year for what’s on the horizon in 2023.