SKILLS FOR A NEW WORLD We are witnessing a real change in the future of work, says Vinciane Servantie , meaning that universities and business schools must ensure they help their students develop the requisite soft skills of critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity
T he emerging generation expects to be able to speak up and try to make a difference, according to the findings of the Future Forward Workforce report from the Global Alliance in Management Education (CEMS). Based on its survey of 200 recent graduates of the CEMS international management master’s degree, the report found that those who are now entering the workplace yearn to be valued not as mere cogs in a machine but as architects of change. Feeling valued means having a voice, being acknowledged and contributing to something greater than themselves. These young people are the trailblazers of a post-Covid workforce and it is the pandemic that has made us see that we cannot revert to the old ways of doing things. We have to adapt to what the planet is telling us, to move forward and address one of our biggest challenges: climate change. While we acknowledge that there are more immediate issues, such as war and inflation, these must be tackled in the context of the climate. We cannot take a reactive approach to everything that is happening. Instead, we must have a strong vision about what we can do to create change in the long term. Using the force of the
environmental issues tend to be run by leaders who have a clear vision and the ability to mobilise both their employees and the wider community to move in the same direction. These leaders lead by example. They listen, look and encourage stakeholders to co-create and try new things using a growth mindset. In addition, they consult with stakeholders continually to find better
ways of doing things, valuing the benefits that come from considering different perspectives. Young people who speak up will be valued in these organisations because every new idea counts. I think we’re also seeing a move towards investors who prefer firms that have a theory of change and understand that they must continue to move forward and try new things. Equally, we’re seeing the rise of conscious consumers, people who are looking to consume locally, for example, or who support firms that are producing products using ethical practices and are interested in the circular economy. All these factors combined serve as evidence that we are witnessing real change in the future of work.
market and business to change the world will be key. In Colombia, there are now more than 100 firms (out of around 4,000 worldwide) that are B Corporation triple‑bottom line of people, planet and profit. Whenever I hear young people saying that they would like to feel part of a family at work, that they want to work for an organisation where they can contribute and to work for a bigger purpose, then I am convinced that these kinds of firms are the future. certified. These businesses are committed to working towards a SOLUTIONS FOR SOCIETY AND THE ENVIRONMENT Organisations in the private sector that strive for solutions to social and
34 Business Impact • ISSUE 3 • 2024
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