more they stay the same by
JENNIFER WAH with ALLAN JENKINS
photos by
PAUL JOSEPH
It is said the future is built on the past. So as we consider the 100 years since UBC was founded, UBC Sauder alumni and students look toward the future of business with an inspired and diverse foundation.
LOOKING BACK, DESPITE TWO
Who could have predicted
careers numerous times in their
successes stem from timeless
horrific wars and a resource-
these strange statements 10
work life, while others warned
values. That’s partially a matter
draining Cold War, the 20th
years ago, much less 100?
of career “ADD.” As first year
of how a company is perceived
century brought unprecedented
Astute business leaders in 1916
BCom student Jagriti Sharma
by people, but it’s also very
improvements in productivity
understood that concepts such
said: “I will decide if I want to
much about how it treats them.
even while rearranging social
as immigration, world unrest
work for you.”)
It’s about remembering the
structures with accelerating
and increasing mechanization
speed. Agrarian labour has
would profoundly affect their
dwindled by 95 per cent in
business and society.
the developed world, even
Interestingly, those themes
as it produces more food.
are still poignant in 2016 for
Rapid improvements in
business leaders, though they
manufacturing after both world
must also consider an array
wars prompted the rapid rise,
of others: the redefinition of
and even faster decline, of the
what work “is’” must take
middle-class blue-collar worker.
into account climate change;
And in the past 35 years,
automation; globalization of
computing power has given
goods, services, labour and
us the knowledge worker, the
cash; the shift of economic
“information class.”
power to developing countries;
For right now, the speed
and an aging population.
To gain a better perspective, Viewpoints spoke to alumni and students about how they view the future of business. They—like many of us—speak of the future in time frames ranging from next month to the next decade. In a turbulent world, it is about as far as most of us can imagine.
little things as you race towards your grander goals.” Building on their management consulting experience and sources, McKinsey recently identified four disruptive forces that they see upsetting the status quo and reshaping global society in the years ahead. Technology, the rapidly aging population (and shifting priorities along with that), our highly interconnected world, and emerging economics—
of change is accelerating, and
Moreover, we should assume
A recurring theme of
its impact startles our way of
change will be faster and more
conversation was about what
which we formed our think tank
thinking. In 2016, Uber, the
disruptive than ever before.
they can control and make
dialogue.
world’s largest taxi company,
So when we peer into the
constant—their own values
these are the themes around
While no one of us can
owns no vehicles. Facebook,
“future of business,” we often
and, as entrepreneurs, the
answer the question, “What
the world’s most popular media
peer into an unfamiliar place.
values of their businesses.
is the future of business?”
owner, creates no content.
Their sentiments echoed
panelists were clear: In the face
Alibaba, the most valuable
our businesses and careers
those expressed recently in
of all this uncertainty, armed
retailer, has no inventory.
will be buffeted by events and
Fast Company: “Ours is a time
with our best selves and rooted
Airbnb, the world’s largest
trends we cannot foresee or
that celebrates the new, right
accommodation provider,
control. (And some intend
now. But in our enthusiasm
in values, the future is in our hands now. >>
owns no real estate. And ISIL,
to take advantage of them—
for the latest innovations and
the world’s largest terrorist
several students and new grads
start-ups, we often forget that
organization, has no country.
noted their intent to change
many very modern businesses
Of course, we realize that
VIEWPOINTS SPRING/SUMMER 2016
19