Opinion
Food for Living: The Effect of Digital Age of Innovation
By Henry Ukazu
Greetings Friends!
I will like to begin this article by thanking the first founders and inventors of internet, Robert E. Kahn Internet who developed protocol suite (TCP/IP) in the 1950’s, and Vint Cerf in the 1970s. It’s also important to mention the Computer Scientist, Tim Berners-Lee, who invented the World Wide Web. This giant idea led to other great inventions and innovations from great minds such as Warren Buffet – the inventor of Microsoft Corporation and Mark Zuckerberg the founder of Facebook.
Before we proceed proper, let’s have an overview or background information on digital information. There are two main areas where the nature of innovation has been changed as a result of the direct impact of the digital revolution: 1. Research and Development which is mostly used by big corporations and government agencies. R&D is one of the most important units of any organization because it helps to bring new products to the company in order to make it contemporaneous with the demands of the world. 2. Product and process innovation which is used by mainly used manufacturing companies. Digital technology made it possible for new products and services to produce quality advantages and business model innovation. This is mainly used by entrepreneurs and business oriented companies. 3. Business Model innovation which allow businesses to entirely re-imagine traditional business models by leveraging a powerful mix of emerged digital tools, advanced machinery and adjusted workforce, giving price and quality of service advantages over incumbents. The modern innovation of business models is originated by the tech professionals’ community and is taken further by business professionals that have acknowledged new opportunities
This is not really a technological and digital article per se, rather it is an article that sheds light on the effects of digital innovation. Today’s article will be a little bit controversial, but I will encourage you to think out of the box in order to appreciate the message inherent in it. It’s undisputable fact that the internet has made the world a small village. A lot of transformation has taken place between 19th century and now. The 2Ist century can literally be called the jet age. This progressive view of life has made many companies to scot for exceptional beings with ideas who will add value to their company as opposed to the theoretical knowledge (formal education) that comes with fundamental trainings and procedure. It is on this note we shall be discussing about the formal education and the informal education which we have been exposed to in contemporary times.
I strongly believe it will be right to say ideas rule the world. With the invention of technology, the world has seen and felt ingenuity of ideas which has led major innovations. This digital age of innovation has caused some controversies in some quarters because of the ingenuity of ideas that has sprang up from it. Some of this ingenuity of ideas has made many people to believe that skills, talent and ideas are the ultimate in life. No doubt to a reasonable extent, that is true because many companies are always looking for ideas on how to take their business to the next level in addition to maximizing cost, but at the same time they also know that having a form of theoretical and formal knowledge and background in the industry is also necessary.
This is a topic of interest to me because I see a lot information making rounds in the world with respect to people who have achieved success without formal education. Some of this people achieved success with their skills, network, ideas and talent. Some of them also achieved success with little or formal education. And even people who have formal education figured out that true success lies in thinking out of the box in addition to developing themselves by thinking out of the box.
As an advocate of education, I strongly believe a good education is priceless. Even though you are talented it is also good for you to attain some level of formal education if you have the opportunity because there are certain information which you may not be exposed to on the street or talent. Even the Book of life stated in Proverbs 4: 13 “Your education is your life, guard it very well”. Even though education is not the yardstick for success, but it helps to prepare the way for success. I think it’s only percent of the world who have been extremely humbled to have attained amazing success without having formal education. Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gate attended one of the best schools in the world before dropping out when they discovered they had a lot to offer to the world. I recently gave a talk to the Urban Male Leadership Academy in Borough of Manhattan Community College in New York, and I remembered asking the students what does success mean to you? Most of the students gave various answers which sounded right and indeed were right based on the area their thought process. I explained to them success is indeed relative and true success is doing better than you did yesterday. I also enlightened them about skills acquisition and value creation which I call ideas for sustainable growth.
As mentioned earlier, the focus on this article is about making us to think out of the box by comparing and contrasting formal education and informal education. In as much I believe in informal education which I likened to skills, talent and ideas, I also believe formal education is the foundation of all information. Some schools of thought opine that life begins after High school and college. This is because it is what you do with the knowledge you have acquired that makes the difference and how you apply it to solve the problems in the world. In today’s labour market, employers also look for candidates who have really distinguished themselves with ideas because ideas truly rule the world. Yes, it is true, I however, think it also depends on the nature of the involved. Some jobs needed theoretical knowledge and expertise like medicine and law.
One of the major reasons some people agree that ideas are more valuable than formal education is because some of the disciples of this school of thought have been able to generate good money with their creativity. For example, the app and robot inventors. Without sounding immodest, I will like to state that formal education is still very important in today’s society. In fact, it is a plus for you if you have it and have other great ideas. Acquiring it will go a good a long way to create opportunities for you. I’m speaking from experience because I have seen and tasted it from various aspect.
I have a question of interest. Has the effects of digital age of innovation done more harm than good? I will say no because it has really made the world a better place. However, the only negative influence I can think of which is not really a negative influence per se is that it has influenced a lot of people to think formal education is not as important as it ought to be due to the ideas some creative minds have been able to conceive.
Further more, it is important to note a real education enables a rational mind to think out of the box. When you add your skills the value increases. I’m particularly interested in this article because contemporary youths are paying more attention to what the society is showing them, thereby making it hard for some students go to school or even concentrate while in school forgetting that rational and informed youths combine both academic knowledge and informal knowledge. As a matter of fact, if the only knowledge you have is what you have upstairs which is devoid of formal education, your chances of conquering new grounds might be limited. The world has truly grown and new business needs some form of knowledge and information which can come in form of formal education in order for it to properly executed.
Let me share a personal experience with you, I have a legal background, but that has not stopped me from exploring other options. During the course of writing my book, I shared valuable and resourceful information relating to my legal background, tax background and all my professional work experience and the message has really resonated with so many people when they read my book. Some of the opportunities I have received in recent times came from people who have interest in my professional and academic experience. All this experience add up to and make me a resourceful being when I write and speak. What people often see is the finish work (public speaking), but they don’t see the background work. To some people, I am a great public speaker and writer but I know for a fact a lot of factors and experience contributed to it. I didn’t allow my skills to overshadow my professional and academic accomplishment.
In conclusion, since we are all concerned about achieving success, the best way to do go about it is to know yourself just like Bill Gate, Mark Zuckerberg, Barack Obama, Richard Branson and Henry Ukazu did. By so doing, you’ll will be able to know the path to thread because each and everyone of us is different.
Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He works with New York City Department of Correction as the legal Coordinator. He’s the author of the acclaimed book Design Your Destiny – Actualizing Your Birthright To Success.
By Tolulope A. Adegoke PhD
…The Systemic Blueprint for Collective and Enduring Impact
“True impact scales through a virtuous cycle: the purposeful individual inspires the principled corporation, which advocates for the farsighted nation—each elevating the other to build a legacy that endures” – Tolulope A. Adegoke, PhD
The journey of legacy-building, as initiated in our previous discourse, begins in the quiet, deliberate space of self-examination. “Zero to Global Impact: Auditing Yourself for a Sustainable Legacy,” established the non-negotiable prerequisite of the personal audit—a rigorous introspection across the four pillars of Vision/Values, Skills/Knowledge, Influence/Networks, and Actions/Outputs. This process answers the fundamental questions of why we act and who we aspire to become as agents of change.
However, the transformation from introspection to transformation, from individual intent to systemic impact, represents the next critical phase. This evolution requires a shift in mindset: from being a solitary sculptor, carefully carving a personal monument, to becoming a master architect, designing resilient structures that others can inhabit, build upon, and thrive within for generations. The challenge, and the profound opportunity of our time, is to scale the principles of sustainable legacy-building beyond the individual to the monumental scales of corporate enterprise and national governance.
This comprehensive sequel, therefore, moves from the microscope of the self to the drafting table of the collective. We will meticulously unpack a detailed, actionable framework for constructing scalable legacies across three interdependent tiers of influence: the Individual (the Architect), the Corporation (the Institution), and theNation (the Ecosystem). By exploring the unique responsibilities, strategies, and possibilities at each tier, we provide a master blueprint for turning audited potential into orchestrated, global impact.
The Scalable Legacy Framework: An Interdependent Model of Change
Sustainable impact is not a linear path but a dynamic, iterative process. It originates from a Purpose-Driven Core, is amplified and operationalized through Strategic Pillars, and achieves genuine, enduring scale via Multiplier Effects that reshape the entire environment. The following blueprint visualizes this powerful, reinforcing progression:
As illustrated, the individual’s clarity of purpose is the essential seed from which all else grows. This purpose is then championed within and through corporate structures, which provide the resources and reach to amplify impact. Nations, in turn, can create the fertile ground—the policies, education, and infrastructure—that enables corporations and individuals to flourish in their legacy-building endeavors. Crucially, the flow is reciprocal: progressive national policies influence corporate behavior, and purpose-driven corporations attract and develop conscious individuals, creating a virtuous cycle of escalating positive impact.
Tier 1: The Individual Architect – Engineering a Life of Intentional Impact
The individual remains the fundamental catalyst for all change. With the personal audit complete, the task shifts to architectural execution—designing a life where daily actions are consciously aligned with long-term significance.
Elaborated Blueprint for Action:
· From Vision to a Strategic Portfolio of Impact Projects: The modern professional must transcend the confines of a single job description. The legacy-conscious individual strategically manages their career as a “diversified portfolio of impact projects.” Your primary employment is one key asset in this portfolio. Other holdings might include a pro-bono mentorship role guiding young professionals, a leadership position in a community non-profit, a personal research initiative into a sustainable technology, or a creative pursuit that advocates for social change. This portfolio approach not only diversifies your impact channels but also builds resilience, ensuring that your legacy is not dependent on a single institution or role.
· From Skills to Curating Knowledge Ecosystems: The goal evolves from being a mere repository of skills to becoming a curator and distributor of knowledge. This involves the systematic codification of expertise—creating detailed whitepapers, recording instructional modules, developing standardized templates, or maintaining a thought-leadership blog. By creating this “open-source” repository for your network, you transition from a knowledge hoarder to a knowledge hub. This strategy ensures that your expertise compounds, creating a living, growing ecosystem that educates and empowers others long after your direct involvement has ceased.
· From Networks to Strategic Impact Coalitions: Move beyond passive networking to the active formation of focused, mission-driven “impact coalitions.” Identify a specific, tangible challenge aligned with your core vision—for instance, “reducing plastic waste in the local supply chain” or “improving digital literacy in underserved communities.” Then, intentionally gather a small, dedicated group of diverse stakeholders from your network to address it. This transforms your network from a static Rolodex into a dynamic engine for collaborative problem-solving, creating a powerful force multiplier for your individual efforts.
The Expanded Possibility: The individual architect becomes a living prototype of integrated success. By demonstrating that professional achievement and profound positive impact are not mutually exclusive but synergistic, they serve as a powerful beacon. This influence ripples outward, inspiring peers, shifting team dynamics, and gradually elevating the cultural expectations within their organizations and communities, thereby creating a grassroots foundation for widespread change.
Tier 2: The Corporate Institution – Weaving Legacy into Organizational DNA
Corporations represent the most powerful institutional force in the global landscape. Their capacity for impact—through technological innovation, global supply chains, capital allocation, and cultural influence—is unprecedented. A legacy audit for a corporation must therefore transcend peripheral Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives and even the more integrated Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting. The ultimate goal is to evolve into a fully Purpose-Driven Enterprise, where legacy is the core operating system, not a sidelined application.
Elaborated Blueprint for Action:
· Audit and Realign the Corporate Soul: This begins with a courageous, enterprise-wide audit mirroring the personal one. Leadership must ask:
o Vision/Values: Is our stated purpose the definitive litmus test for all major strategic decisions, including mergers and acquisitions, market entry, and capital expenditure? Does it guide us in times of ethical crisis?
o Skills/Knowledge: Are we investing sufficiently in Research & Development dedicated to sustainable and circular solutions? Are we proactively up-skilling our workforce for the green economy, future-proofing both our employees and our business model?
o Influence/Networks: Are we leveraging our industry influence to advocate for higher ethical standards and progressive public policies? Are we engaging in pre-competitive collaborations with rivals to solve systemic issues like supply chain transparency or carbon neutrality?
o Actions/Outputs: Have we moved beyond short-term shareholder primacy to adopt a integrated triple-bottom-line framework that rigorously measures our performance against social equity, environmental stewardship, and financial prosperity?
· Incentivize Legacy-Driven Leadership and Innovation: To operationalize purpose, incentive structures must be fundamentally redesigned. A significant portion of executive compensation and bonus pools should be tied to the achievement of ambitious, measurable legacy metrics—such as net-zero carbon milestones, employee well-being and diversity indices, and supply chain ethical compliance scores. Furthermore, corporations must foster intra-preneurship by creating internal incubators and innovation grants specifically earmarked for employee-led projects that tackle social and environmental challenges aligned with the company’s core mission.
· Embed Transparency and Stakeholder Capitalism: A true legacy is built on trust. This requires radical transparency through detailed, audited annual impact reports that openly discuss both successes and failures. It also means formally embracing a stakeholder capitalism model, where the interests of employees, customers, suppliers, communities, and the environment are given serious weight in corporate governance, alongside those of shareholders.
The Expanded Possibility: The corporation transforms from a perceived extractive entity into a regenerative and integral part of society. It builds unshakeable brand loyalty, attracts and retains the most talented and purpose-seeking employees, mitigates long-term regulatory and reputational risks, and unlocks new markets through sustainable innovation. In doing so, it generates superior, durable shareholder value by actively contributing to the health and stability of the world upon which its business depends.
Tier 3: The National Ecosystem – Governing for Intergenerational Equity
Nations are the ultimate stewards of the rules, infrastructure, and cultural context that shape all other activities. The legacy of a nation is not measured by the GDP of a single quarter but by the long-term health, security, and opportunity it provides for generations of its citizens. The national audit demands a shift in perspective from governing for the next election cycle to governing for the next generation.
Elaborated Blueprint for Action:
· Audit Beyond GDP: Implementing a Legacy Dashboard: Nations must pioneer a new scorecard for progress. This involves supplementing or replacing Gross Domestic Product (GDP) with a comprehensive “legacy dashboard” based on frameworks like the Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) or Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness (GNH). This dashboard would provide a holistic view of national well-being, tracking metrics such as environmental asset depletion, income inequality, educational attainment, public health outcomes, work-life balance, and the resilience of critical infrastructure.
· Create Legislative and Policy Frameworks for Long-Termism: To combat short-term political pressures, nations can establish independent, non-partisan institutions like “Future Generations Commissions” or “Office for Intergenerational Responsibility.” These bodies would be empowered to review proposed legislation and policy for its long-term consequences, providing impact assessments that extend 25, 50, or even 100 years into the future. Furthermore, governments can issue “Legacy Bonds” or establish sovereign wealth funds specifically dedicated to funding century-scale projects, such as national climate adaptation networks, transformative public transportation systems, or foundational scientific research.
· Foster Synergistic Public-Private-Academic Impact Alliances: The government’s role as a strategic convener is paramount. It can launch national “Moonshot” missions—ambitious, focused goals like achieving energy independence through renewables or eradicating a specific disease. These missions are then powered by synergistic alliances, combining public funding and policy support with corporate innovation, manufacturing scale, and academic research excellence.
· Reform Education for Legacy Citizenship: The education system is the cornerstone of a nation’s long-term legacy. Curricula must be reformed to move beyond rote memorization and vocational training to cultivate the values, critical thinking, and systemic understanding required for “legacy citizenship.” This includes emphasis on ecological literacy, ethical reasoning, media literacy, civic engagement, and the skills for collaborative problem-solving.
The Expanded Possibility: The nation establishes itself as a global leader in sustainable and equitable development. It attracts responsible long-term investment, fosters a vibrant culture of innovation and civic trust, and ensures the well-being and resilience of its citizens against future shocks. This creates a legacy of stability, prosperity, and global respect that secures the nation’s position and influence for the 21st century and beyond.
The Convergence: The Virtuous Cycle of Escalating Impact
The true power of this architectural approach lies in the powerful, synergistic convergence between the tiers. This is not a top-down hierarchy but an interactive, reinforcing network:
· Informed and empowered individuals act as change agents within corporations, demanding higher ethical standards and more purposeful work, while also acting as conscious consumers, rewarding responsible brands.
· Purpose-driven corporations, in turn, become powerful advocates for smarter, more stable, and forward-thinking national policies, creating a level playing field that rewards high standards and long-term thinking.
· Forward-thinking nations create the enabling environment—through education, infrastructure, and policy—that empowers individuals to thrive and enables corporations to innovate responsibly.
This creates a virtuous cycle where progress at any level catalyzes and accelerates progress at all others, leading to a compound effect on the scale and sustainability of global impact.
The Call to Action: Laying Your Stone in the Cathedral of the Future
The construction of a sustainable legacy is the most critical project of our personal and collective lives. It is not a solitary act of grandeur but a collective, intergenerational endeavor—akin to the building of a great cathedral. You may not see the spire completed in your lifetime, nor will you lay every stone. But your solemn responsibility is to ensure that the stones you do lay are true, that the foundation you build upon is solid, and that the blueprint you follow is one of integrity, compassion, and foresight.
Facts to Uphold:
1. Your legacy is not a monument to be admired, but a foundation to be built upon. Stop sculpting a statue for yourself; start architecting a future where others can thrive
2. A sustainable legacy begins not with a grand gesture, but with a ruthless audit of the self. The blueprint for global impact is drawn from the honest alignment of your actions with your values.
3. Stop building a career. Start architecting a legacy. Audit your values, align your actions, and build systems that outlive you.
Therefore, we must all—as individuals, as leaders of institutions, as citizens of nations—continually ask ourselves the defining question:
“Does the system I am building today have the integrity and resilience to endure, thrive, and provide sanctuary for those who come long after I am gone?”
Begin with your audit. Clarify your purpose. Then, pick up your tools—your skills, your influence, your actions—and begin your work as a master architect of a future we can all be proud to inherit. The blueprint is here. The time to build is now.
Dr. Tolulope A. Adegoke, AMBP-UN is a Recipient of the Nigerian Role Models Award (2024), and a Distinguished Ambassador For World Peace (AMBP-UN).
By Tolulope A. Adegoke, PhD
“Global legacy is engineered from the inside out: a deliberate process of aligning your native capabilities with the world’s unmet challenges, executed through systems of deliberate iteration, and refined by treating every setback as data to calibrate your contribution to a greater whole” – Tolulope A. Adegoke, PhD
In an era defined by hyper-connectivity and rapid change, the potential for an individual to create a global impact has never been greater. Yet, the path from obscurity to meaningful influence is rarely a straight line. It is a deliberate journey of self-discovery, strategic positioning, and relentless execution.
The critical first step on this path is not building a website or networking with influencers. It is turning the lens inward. To change the world, you must first master the most complex system you will ever manage: yourself.
This guide provides a professional framework for conducting a rigorous self-audit—a strategic review of your assets, positioning, and systems—to build a foundation for authentic and scalable global impact.
Introduction: Why Self-Audit?
A self-audit is a structured, honest assessment of your current state. For professionals and aspiring change-makers, it serves as a strategic baseline. It moves you from vague ambition (“I want to make a difference”) to targeted strategy (“Here is the specific problem I am equipped to solve, for this specific audience, using these specific skills”).
Without this audit, efforts are scattered, messaging is unclear, and burnout is inevitable. With it, you gain clarity, focus, and a powerful roadmap for growth.
The Pillars of the Global Impact Self-Audit
Conduct your audit by evaluating these four core pillars. Approach each with radical honesty, documenting your findings.
Pillar 1: Core Competencies & Value Inventory
What tangible and intangible assets do you possess? This is an inventory of your raw materials.
· Technical Skills (The “What”): List your hard skills. Coding, data analysis, writing, public speaking, financial modeling, surgical precision, graphic design. Be specific. Rate your proficiency (Novice, Competent, Proficient, Expert).
· Human Skills (The “How”): These are your superpowers in a globalized world. How do you operate?
o Communication: Can you explain complex ideas simply? Across cultures?
o Empathy: Can you understand and feel the needs of others?
o Leadership: Do you inspire, manage, or coordinate effectively?
o Adaptability: How do you handle ambiguity and change?
· Knowledge Capital: What unique information or perspectives do you hold? This could be deep expertise in a niche industry, unconventional life experiences, or a novel synthesis of existing ideas.
· Passion & Curiosity: What problems ignite your energy? What questions keep you up at night? Impact without passion is unsustainable.
Audit Question: If you had to teach a master-class on one thing, what would it be?
Pillar 2: Market & Impact Alignment
Your skills only matter if they meet a world in need. This pillar connects your internal inventory to external realities.
· Problem Identification: What global or local problems are you uniquely agitated by? Is it educational inequality, plastic pollution, financial illiteracy, or access to healthcare? Define the problem with precision.
· Target Audience: Who are you serving? “Everyone” is not an audience. Be specific: “Young women in Southeast Asia seeking STEM education,” or “Small-scale farmers in sub-Saharan Africa needing climate-resilient techniques.”
· Competitive Landscape: Who else is solving this problem? Analyze their solutions. Don’t see them merely as competitors; see them as validation that the problem exists. What can you offer that is different, better, or more targeted? This is your unique value proposition (UVP).
· Cultural Context: For global impact, cultural intelligence is non-negotiable. Do you understand the cultural nuances, communicatio3n styles, and unspoken rules of the audience you wish to serve?
Audit Question: What is the one problem you are uniquely positioned to solve, for whom, and why is your approach needed now?
Pillar 3: Systems & Infrastructure Audit
Ideas are ephemeral; impact requires execution. This audit assesses your operational capacity.
· Personal Productivity: How do you manage your time, energy, and focus? Are your systems robust or do you rely on willpower? Do you have deep work blocks or are you constantly distracted?
· Learning Engine: The world changes fast. What is your system for continuous learning? This includes reading, taking courses, attending conferences, and seeking mentors.
· Network & Relationships: Map your network. Who are your mentors, peers, and mentees? Is your network diverse, spanning industries, cultures, and ideologies? Strong networks amplify impact.
· Digital Presence: Your digital footprint is your global storefront. Does your LinkedIn profile accurately reflect your aspirations? Does your portfolio showcase your best work? Is your communication professional and consistent across platforms?
Audit Question: If you were hired to be the CEO of “You, Inc.”, what is the first operational system you would overhaul to improve output?
Pillar 4: Mindset & Metacognition
This is the foundational pillar. Your mindset dictates how you interpret challenges and opportunities.
· Fixed vs. Growth Mindset: Do you believe your abilities are static (fixed) or can be developed (growth)? A growth mindset is essential for the inevitable setbacks on the path to impact.
· Resilience & Grit: How do you handle failure? Do you see it as a verdict or as data?
· Bias Awareness: What are your unconscious biases? How might they blind you to better solutions or more inclusive approaches? Global impact requires humility and self-awareness.
· Vision & Purpose: Can you articulate your “why” in a single, compelling sentence? This is your North Star, guiding every decision.
Audit Question: What is the one story you tell yourself that holds you back from a greater impact? How can you reframe it?
From Audit to Action: Building Your Impact Roadmap
An audit is useless without action. Synthesize your findings into a strategic plan.
1. Synthesize: Look for patterns across the four pillars. Where does your passion (Pillar 1) intersect with a pressing world problem (Pillar 2)? What skills do you need to build (Pillar 1) and what systems must you create (Pillar 3) to bridge the gap?
2. Prioritize: You cannot do everything at once. Based on your audit, identify:
· One skill to develop or enhance.
· One system to implement (e.g., a new time-blocking method).
· One small project to test your hypothesis and deliver value to a tiny segment of your target audience.
3. Execute & Iterate: Launch your micro-project. Gather feedback. Measure results. Learn. This agile approach prevents paralysis and provides real-world data to refine your strategy. Re-audit yourself quarterly.
Conclusion: The Journey is the Impact
The goal of this self-audit is not to arrive at a final destination called “Global Impact.” The process of continuous self-assessment, learning, and adaptation is itself the work of creating impact.
By knowing yourself with clarity, aligning your unique value with the world’s deep needs, and building systems for execution, you transform from a passive participant in the global economy to an active architect of a better future. Start your audit today. The world is waiting for the value that only you can provide.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for professional and personal development purposes. The framework provided is a guideline and should be adapted to individual circumstances and goals.
Dr. Tolulope A. Adegoke, AMBP-UN is a Recipient of the Nigerian Role Models Award (2024), and a Distinguished Ambassador For World Peace (AMBP-UN).
