The future of work will be defined not by specialists, but by key-shaped people. When I was young, my father would tell me to focus on learning one skill and to become very good at it. This was the pathway to success in his generation, to become a specialist. However, he didn’t set me up for that. Growing up in Silicon Valley, speaking French at home, studying economics and literature, I found that I developed a more eccentric skillset, with some things that I could claim to be somewhat specialised, and some more general skills. And what I found since then—from technology research in the US and management consulting in Africa to founding a startup in Southeast Asia—is that the modern world is increasingly set up to reward such eccentricity.
Future of Learning & Learning Sprints
Future of Learning & Learning Sprints
Future of Learning & Learning Sprints
The future of work will be defined not by specialists, but by key-shaped people. When I was young, my father would tell me to focus on learning one skill and to become very good at it. This was the pathway to success in his generation, to become a specialist. However, he didn’t set me up for that. Growing up in Silicon Valley, speaking French at home, studying economics and literature, I found that I developed a more eccentric skillset, with some things that I could claim to be somewhat specialised, and some more general skills. And what I found since then—from technology research in the US and management consulting in Africa to founding a startup in Southeast Asia—is that the modern world is increasingly set up to reward such eccentricity.