Reflections on 55 Years of Change: From Moon Landing to a Regenerative Future

I was born on July 15, 1969—just a few days before we as humankind first set foot on the Moon. As Neil Armstrong took that historic first step on the surface of the Moon, a new era of possibility unfolded. It marked the dawn of a promising future, one in which science, innovation, and human cooperation could overcome the impossible.

Or as Armstrong put it: “That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.”

This moment still holds a deep symbolic meaning, at least to me.

It reminds me of what we are capable of when we come together around a shared purpose—and it serves as an interesting point of departure for reflecting on the remarkable 55 years that have since shaped the world.

Below, ChatGPT40 has helped me summarize some key milestones from each decade through a PESTLE lense.

The Arc of 55 Years: A PESTLE Perspective

Over the past five and a half decades, the world has undergone profound transformations—socially, politically, economically, technologically, legally, and environmentally. Seen through a PESTLE lens, the journey offers both a map of where we’ve been and a compass for where we might go next.

1970s: Awakening and Crisis

The 1970s saw the rise of environmentalism and human rights consciousness. Earth Day was born, and global treaties began to address pollution and biodiversity. But the decade was also marked by the oil crises and growing economic instability, laying bare our dependence on fossil fuels.

1980s: Globalization and Digital Beginnings

The 1980s deepened neoliberal economic reforms, spurred by Thatcher and Reagan, while early personal computers entered homes and offices. Political ideologies clashed, but the seeds of globalization and digital interconnectedness began to sprout. Yet, Chernobyl reminded us of the consequences of technological overreach.

1990s: Hope and Connectivity

With the fall of the Berlin Wall and the rise of the Internet, the 1990s felt like a turning point. The Cold War ended. Mandela walked free. The World Wide Web was born. Sustainability entered global conversations through the Earth Summit in Rio and the Kyoto Protocol. However economic growth remained tethered to unsustainable models.

2000s: Disruption and Acceleration

The early 2000s were shaped by 9/11, global terror, and war, but also by an explosion in digital technology. Social media platforms emerged, the smartphone was born, and biotech began transforming health. Yet, the global financial crisis of 2008 reminded us of systemic fragility.

2010s: Polarization and Possibility

This decade brought a new wave of activism—MeToo, Black Lives Matter, Fridays for Future—alongside political polarization and populist backlash. Technology became omnipresent. At the same time, the Paris Agreement sparked hope for unified climate action as environmental crises intensified.

2020s (so far): Polycrisis and Turning Point

The COVID-19 pandemic marked a collective rupture. War returned to Europe. Inflation, food insecurity, and climate disruption deepened. Generative AI entered the public sphere. Political polarization has spread and the US position as the leader of the free world is being both challenged and questioned. But these converging crises—sometimes called meta crises—have also sparked a wider search for meaning.

Looking Ahead: 2025–2035

As we enter the next decade, two possible futures seem to emerge – a life-affirming one, and a degenerative one.

Degenerative Future:

On this path, we cling to the status quo. Climate tipping points are crossed. Trust in institutions collapses. Technological power is misused. Economic inequality deepens. Nature becomes increasingly hostile. And our window for transformative change narrows or disappears.

Life-Affirming Future:

In this scenario, we choose long-term regeneration over extraction. Businesses become stewards of ecosystems. AI is governed ethically and used to uplift humanity. Education fosters inner development and collective wisdom. Legal systems expand to protect future generations. And climate action becomes a unifying force for global cooperation.

The choice, ultimately, is ours.

A Message of Hope

While it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by today’s complex challenges, I believe we live in extraordinary times.

As we navigate the complex frontiers of AI, climate change, biotechnology, and societal transformation, we are called not only to innovate, but to do so with wisdom, humility, and foresight. Just as we once looked to the Moon and made the impossible possible, we can now choose to look to Earth—our home.

If these 55 years have taught me something, it is that progress is never linear and that change is not only possible—it’s an inherent part of life. I’ve also come to understand that progress becomes especially impactful when it is guided by a higher purpose, good intentions for all of humanity, imagination, compassion, and courage.

My hope is that we awaken to the beauty of what’s still possible. That we dare to reinvent what business, leadership, and society can be. That we embrace not just sustainability, but regeneration—of our systems, our communities, and ourselves.

The Moon landing was a symbol of human potential. Our next great leap may not be outward, but inward—with purposeful inner development enabling meaningful outer change.

What might be the higher purpose that brings us together?

I’m guessing it will not be a future landing on Mars. Instead, it will most likely be the protection of life on Earth.

Let’s make sure we don’t wait too long, and that we make the coming decade count.

Elisabet Lagerstedt

Elisabet Lagerstedt is the founder and director of Future Navigators. As a trusted advisor, consultant, and Executive Coach, she helps business leaders navigate beyond business as usual to build Better Business and co-create a better future - through insight, strategy, innovation, and transformation. Elisabet is also the author of Better Business, Better Future (2022) and Navigera in i Framtiden (2018).