A Year of Wonders: How Business Leaders Have Embraced the Pandemic to Re-imagine the Future of Work

It’s now January 2021, which means we’re just months away from the 1-year anniversary of the initial March lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic. Admittedly, it’s hard to contemplate the gravity of the past year – not only with regard to the sheer number of the lives lost, but also considering the pandemic’s lasting impact on society, culture and business. Now, as the virus continues to surge, and the vaccine rollout is (unfortunately) occurring slower than expected, it’s seeming that the throes of pandemic fatigue are likely here to stay – at least for the time being.

As I took some time over the holidays to ponder the road ahead, I – like so many – found comfort in the daily rituals that bring me a sense of calm. Most notably, I cleaned. I cleaned my house, re-organized my closets and moved unwanted clutter into the basement. While rummaging through old boxes, I recently happened upon a book called “Year of Wonders,” which tells the harrowing story of a female protagonist and her struggles with the bubonic plague. Almost immediately, the title caught my attention. Why would a book about global pandemics have such an optimistic title? How could a year filled with such uncertainty and despair possibly be described as “wonderous?”

What I’ve come to realize is that throughout history, we as a society have constantly found new and innovative ways to overcome adversity. Of course, this past year has been unbelievably trying in so many ways. However, it has also served as the catalyst for incredibly exciting and profound transformations in the way we live and work. Accordingly, I wanted to provide a few optimistic insights about how business leaders have survived in the pandemic – outlining how this “Year of Wonders” may bring about a renaissance in traditional business practice.

Fostering a culture of curiosity

I’ve been thinking a lot about the concept of time during the pandemic. Indeed, over the past year, I’m sure we can all point to a moment or two when our perception of time has shifted as a result of our new daily schedules. Without commuting or traveling; without day-to-day plans to motivate or excite us, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the monotony of daily life. I’ve often found myself wondering: How can I take advantage of my time while stuck in the house?

Starting back in March, I vowed to spend this period fostering a culture of curiosity. I vowed to better understand genetics and AI – two subjects that really excited me – and worked to instill this same spirit for learning in those around me. Pretty quickly, I realized I wasn’t alone. In fact, according to a recent survey, 92% of respondents stated that they are currently learning or have learned new skills during the pandemic – 57% of whom did so simply for personal fulfilment. What do these statistics tell us? While this period of solitude and confinement has, no doubt, been difficult, it’s also provided us with a unique opportunity to expand our personal and professional development – encouraging us all to keep learning, keep growing and keep moving forward.

Re-igniting the American spirit

On a number of occasions throughout the pandemic, I’ve encountered a few minor issues around the house that – in any other normal year – would have caused me to pick up the phone and call a plumber or handyperson. However, this year, out of an abundance of caution for social distancing, I’ve had to take a hard look in the mirror and ask myself: Can I do this on my own?

In order to answer this all-important question, I did what I’m sure we’ve all done at one point or another: I consulted YouTube. And, as it turned out, I was more resourceful than I had given myself credit for in the past! In many ways, this past year has encouraged us all to push the limits of our own independence. In the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles, it’s been so incredibly gratifying to see how people have risen to the occasion – employing resilience and a “can-do” attitude to give an entirely new meaning to the American dream.

When we apply these ideals to American businesses today, it should come as no surprise that new business formations have been up 82% this past October from the previous year. Additionally, more than three-quarters of executives agree that the pandemic will create significant new opportunities for growth in the months ahead. Economist Joseph Schumpeter may have said it best when he coined the term “creative destruction” to describe how, despite popular belief, successful businesses often emerge in times of disruption. Looking ahead, I believe we’re truly on the precipice of a new era of business practice – one that prioritizes creative solutions to existing problems and catalyzes a decade’s worth of transformation in a matter of months.

A new era for healthcare innovation

In discussing the year’s most significant transformations, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the countless barriers that’ve been broken in the pursuit of healthcare innovation. Faced with unbelievable scrutiny and an unending pressure to succeed, scientists and researchers alike have remained committed to not only stopping the spread of COVID-19, but also to pioneering scientific advancements across a variety of key areas.

In 2020, for example, mRNA innovation took the spotlight as a focal point of the COVID-19 vaccine, speeding up both vaccine development and administration in record time. While traditional vaccines have historically taken upwards of a decade to discover, the Moderna vaccine went from gene sequencing to the first human injection in 63 days. Of course, outside of the pandemic, we’ve also witnessed tremendous momentum in the potential of gene therapies – and that’s showing no signs of slowing down in the future. In fact, I believe that this cutting-edge new therapeutic, which replaces genetic defects in a patient’s DNA, will soon become a key tool in the healthcare industry’s toolbelt – showing great promise for not just treating, but curing disease.

Final thoughts

As we prepare to kick-off 2021 – and embrace the many opportunities and challenges that will likely come with a new administration – I’ve set myself an important resolution: To enter the new year with an unyielding spirit of optimism, not only for the incredible achievements that we as a society have made thus far, but also for the incredible achievements that are surely yet to come. Granted, the road ahead of us may be long, challenging and uncertain; however, now more than ever before, I believe in our ability to create a “Year of Wonders" along the way.