There’s an African proverb that says, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Another says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
And both, I believe, capture the very heartbeat of innovation.
When I look at Sweden’s innovation scene, I see an example of these proverbs in action. Sweden is often celebrated for its global startups, unicorns, and tech giants – what is the real secret sauce? It isn’t just brilliant founders or breakthrough technologies. The secret is the village.
The village is the ecosystem which I refer to as the community, the policies that fuel bold ideas, the founding structures that enable next steps, the safety net that allows entrepreneurs to take risks, the small but open market that serves as a test bed before scaling globally. And most importantly the companies that have stood the test of time, showing the next generation what’s possible. Long term resilience!
As an African in the Nordics, I deeply resonate with the power of community. Villages are not just about proximity or geography, they are about shared responsibility. The same applies to innovation, it thrives when collaboration, trust, and inclusivity are at the core.
Photo Image: AI Generated.
The future of innovation will not be built in silos. It will be collaborative, cross-sector, and borderless.
As a leader, my personal contribution to this innovation village is advocacy for inclusive and responsible innovation that puts humanity at the center. I have the privilege to work at a global organization that was once a startup rooted in the belief that communication is a basic human need. Without connectivity, there is no digital transformation. Connectivity is the foundation that allows innovation to flow.
And as digitalization, electrification, automation and artificial intelligence accelerates, we must build with humanity in mind. Not chasing only unicorns, exits, or IPOs but relentlessly convicted by a deeper purpose, innovation that elevates humanity.
My call to action to leaders and innovators:
Let’s reimagine innovation not as a race, but as a collective journey. Let’s build villages of innovation where purpose fuels profit, and where innovation doesn’t just advance, but advances society for good.
