Enter January 2020: A year that is set to host the Olympics in Japan, The UEFA Euro 2020 football tournament across Europe. The US elections are scheduled in November on the back of consistently strong economic performance of the country measured through major economic indicators. Expo 2020 in Dubai, UAE is on course to be “the greatest show in the world”.
Enter March 2020: A period of absolute chaos unprecedented in human history. The pandemic has wreaked havoc across 180+ countries within a matter of weeks forcing governments to close borders, shutter airports, and restrict movement of billions of people. The virus has showed to us how connected we are, and how fragile we are.
Enter March 2020: A period f absolute chaos unprecedented in human history. The pandemic has wreaked havoc across 180+ countries within a matter of weeks forcing governments to close borders, shutter airports, and restrict movement of billions of people. The virus has showed to us how connected we are, and how fragile we are.
But this pandemic has also created a plethora of opportunities for businesses and individuals alike. Individuals and companies continue to try to innovate to create ingenious solutions that align reduce inefficiencies and create more value. For instance, restaurants & F&B businesses have sprung into action to collaborate on how best to reach their customers directly rather than having to go through outsourced marketing and food delivery companies that would otherwise take up more than a third of their revenue. Businesses have had to scramble and adapt technology that ensures productivity and efficiency while their employees largely work remotely. Educational institutions have had to use innovative and creative ways to deliver content while trying to maintain rigorous academic standards. Hygiene has started to play a vital role across all industries. There is an oil glut with extremely low prices predicted at around $20-25/barrel in the short to medium term, yet even with fossil fuel being so cheap, there is a deafening silence with regards to demand at gas stations, airports, and in many other industries connected to entertainment and hospitality, among others.
So, how does one go about navigating the present and managing the unknowns of the future? Simply waiting or hoping for a better tomorrow is not enough. During times of uncertainty, adding value to your skillset to be able to organize the future, the future that belongs to you, and your community, becomes even more critical. Research from as early as the 2000s confirms that talented professionals aggressively pursue upskilling themselves through recession in order to be better positioned, and because less economic activity frees up more time to invest in oneself.
The only element that will remain constant will be change. As employers gear towards automating up to 25% of jobs by 2030, it is important to find out how you add substantial value to your professional profile that enables you not only to look towards the future, and to prepare for it, but also to ultimately secure it.
At the AUD EMBA, our aim is to enable you to do exactly that. Find out more by talking to our EMBA advisor at emba.aud.edu or attend one of our live events or webinars online by registering here