Future-proof your Company

The Third Growth Option with Benno Duenkelsbuehler and Guests

Maulik Parekh talks about three mega trends in this episode, which he described in his best-selling book “Futureproof Your Career and Company”, and how they will change your company in the near future: 1) AI, 2) a workforce of digital natives, and 3) the gig economy.

3:20 – “when I first came to the Philippines in 2001, there were only some 10,000 people working in the call center industry… today there are 1.3 million people working in call centers.”

4:12 – Maulik’s story about rising to CEO, after growing TeleTech from 6000 to 22000 people in three years, while trekking the Himalayas.

7:04 – about three “distinct and alarming trends: 1) AI infiltrating our jobs and processes… 2) digital natives storming the workplace…98% millennials and Gen Z… 3) the gig economy was changing how the work was done, by whom, and when.”

9:11 – about speed of AI coming at us: “by 2030, up to 375 million jobs around the world are at risk because of automation, AI.”

10:53 – “Google Health announced their AI algorithm did a better job reading mammograms than the trained professionals… because there is a lot historical data and…”

13:39 – “one of the things to do to futureproof yourself as a human being is be a human… we have to optimize the skills and talents that are inherently human… : creativity… look at things holistically… work with heart… and empathy.”

17:05 - … about digital natives: …1) they expect state of the art technology… 2) purpose-driven, passionate about making a difference… 3) they’re entrepreneurial.”

20:58 – on encouraging an entrepreneurial spirit even in larger companies: 1) it’s OK to make a mistake… fail fast… 2) ask simple questions about making customers’ life easier, employee experience better, change biz model to stay relevant…

24:11 – Definition of Innovation: “Innovation is executing new ideas to create value.” It doesn’t have to include technology.

26:39 – about inspiring people to learn for the world of tomorrow: “you have to have a heart-to-heart conversation with them about where the world is heading… so they will realize on their own ‘I better start developing new skills and new talents’.”