Top 5 Leadership Lessons I Learned While the World was on Fire ???? ??

Imagine standing in the center of the United Nations headquarters in the heart of New York City with a team of innovators ready to take on the world. As you look up, you see a blue United Nations flag waving with the wind symbolizing a peaceful environment. The question you ask yourself is, how can I make a difference?

The truth is, the world, as we once knew it is gone because of the COVID-19 pandemic along with the series of racial injustices plaguing our society. While everything seems like it's in turmoil, I remain optimistic because I am witnessing the rise of a new class of global problem solvers, rallying in solidarity to solve the world's most pressing challenges. We are ready to take a stand.

The purpose of my blog is to highlight my experience in the inaugural United Nations Global Compact Young Sustainable Development Goals Innovator (YSIP) program as part of the USA Network. In addition, I will share my top five leadership lessons learned that can apply to any innovator, risk-taker, or global problem solver across any industry driving meaningful change in their organization.

According to Lise Kingo, former CEO & Executive Director, United Nations Global Compact,

"71% of CEOs believe that with increased commitment and action, business can play a critical role in contributing to the Global Goals."

The UN Global Compact in partnership with Arizona State University's Thunderbird School of Global Management developed the UN Global Compact Young Innovators Program.

Companies including Brenntag, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cisco, Colgate-Palmolive, E-Ink, GE, Hatch, and SAP selected three young innovators from each company. Each team of young innovators was tasked with advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a 10-month accelerator aimed at driving innovations and delivering tangible solutions with market value specific to their industry.

According to Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General,

"SDGs could open up US $12 trillion of market opportunities and create 380 million new jobs, and...climate change...savings of about US $26 trillion by 2030."

My cohort and I have graduated from the (YSIP) program in June 2020. As a result, our companies established solutions to address the digital divide, develop new renewable energies, create mental health and wellness programs, increase workforce diversity, and bridge the fourth industrial revolution skill gap. We quickly learned that it is far more important to love the problem rather than the solution.

In the process of innovating, here are my top five leadership lessons learned:

• Create Shared Value - Stock price, shareholder value, and meeting board of directors' expectations remain imperative to achieving business success. However, there is an expectation that companies now play an even greater role in using their profits to meet society's most pressing needs. Leaders of the future will not only ensure their company's financial success, but will also have a foundational understanding of how they, too, can create societal benefits with their resources. Capture your competitive edge by creating shared value. As stated by Michael E. Porter, Harvard Business School Professor,

"Shared value focuses companies on the right kind of profits—profits that create societal benefits rather than diminish them."

• Embody a 10x Thinking Mindset - At the start of the (YSIP) program, each team was challenged to think of the greatest opportunities our companies were uniquely positioned to solve. Whenever each team came up with an idea, we were emboldened to think 10x bigger. No idea was too crazy. If we could dream it, we could achieve it. This is how true breakthrough innovation is born. Don't be afraid to dream big and bring others along the journey with you. According to Meg Parker Young, UN Global Compact SDG Pioneer,

"We are in inheriting the strength of international vision making and vision holding...daring to hold dreams big enough for all humankind."

• Embrace Uncertainty - As with all things in life, no crystal ball shows us what will happen tomorrow. This became apparent when the COVID-19 pandemic hit nearly halfway through our accelerator program. Nearly all innovator teams including ours embraced a new reality and pivoted our solutions to what was happening in the respective communities we desired to serve. We decided to embrace uncertainty rather than give up. We also transitioned to a completely new virtual environment for the remainder of our program. We learned that when disaster strikes, leaders are expected to adapt and provide clarity for our teams, organizations, and communities. Even if it means doing it virtually.

• Build Global Villages, Together - One of the most important Sustainable Development Goals that was inculcated into my mind was SDG 17, "Partnership for the Goals". With my team's ambitious goal of connecting the next billion internet users by 2030, it was evident that we could not do it alone. It would take the strength of partnerships among public and private sectors, non-profits, governments, and many more to join forces in effort to drive meaningful change. Nothing great is ever done alone. At the United Nations General Assembly in 2019, Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen proclaimed,

"Future generations rely on us and we must rely on each other."

• The World is Our Stakeholder - The final leadership lesson I learned was that there must be global citizens looking out for the best interest of our planet and most vulnerable populations. This could mean reducing our CO2 emissions, reducing our water consumption, ending poverty, or eliminating hunger. We only get one planet and we have to take care of it for the next generation. We owe it to them by making it better than how we left it.

Final Remarks

I remain hopeful that the world will rise and take a stand in a time when global citizens are seeking visionaries, innovators, and problem-solvers to look up to.  It’s our duty to become comfortable with being uncomfortable. Change is coming.

Special Thanks

I would like to recognize my fellow Cisco Young Innovators, Cayla Yang and Emilio Alvarez-Flores, for embarking on this journey to close the digital divide with me by 2030. You are my inspiration. I would also like to thank Tae Yoo, our executive sponsor at Cisco, for believing in our wildest dreams. #WeAreCisco

I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge my fellow USA Network young innovators for daring to change the world with us. #YSIPWatermelonsUnite

Thank you to the United Nations Global Compact and Arizona State University's Thunderbird School of Management for having the vision of gathering some of our countries brightest innovators. The YSIP program has further shaped me into a more conscious leader with new skills and a new family ready to solve the world's hardest problems.