Step into a world of action futures thinking.
At Rethink Next, we believe the future isn’t handed to us — we shape it, question it, and co-create it together.
Join a community exploring bold questions, playful experiments, and meaningful change.
Our Story and Vision
Rethink Next was born from a simple but urgent idea: in an AI-cluttered, fast-changing world, people and organizations need more than predictions — they need tools for imagination, agency, and meaningful action.
Founded by Dr. Gigi Louisa Johnson, a longtime educator, innovator, and systems thinker, Rethink Next combines foresight, narrative design, and creative exploration to help people rethink work, culture, learning, and life.
We design immersive programs, tools, and story-rich experiences to help individuals and organizations reimagine decisions, work, and discovery in an AI-saturated world. We blend futures thinking, creative practice, and emerging technologies to build engaging, actionable programs for those seeking clarity in chaotic times.
Our Founder & Collaborators
Founder and Majority Owner: Dr. Gigi Louisa Johnson, Managing Partner, Rethink Next and Maremel Studio; UCLA Emerita faculty (Music Industry, Anderson MBA). She is a longtime educator, innovator, and systems thinker. She has led creative strategy, media innovation, and future-of-work programs for over two decades. Formerly Executive Director at UCLA’s Center for Music Innovation and Executive Director for the Center for Media, Entertainment, and Sports at UCLA Anderson, she has created over 20 courses on music, media, and digital transformation. Her past work includes launching the World Ready program at UNL’s Carson Center, designing foresight tools for career changers, and developing new learning models for retirees and creatives alike. She also was an SVP at Bank of America, financing M&A in changing media and entertainment industry sectors for more than a decade.
Collaborators include experts in creative industries, AI ethics, cultural foresight, design research, and community innovation.