FUTURE 2030 INCLUSIVITY IS AN ASSET, NOT A LIABILITY Businesses in 2030 are focused on “inclusive impact.” This major shift has come about through several factors, including the increased expectations from Millennials, Gen Z, and changing world demographics for what a corporation stands for, and a long-overdue recognition that traditionally marginalized communities matter. Secondly, CEOs have recognized that their legacy builds on what they’ve done for the world, not what they’ve done for their shareholders. At the Rutgers Institute for Corporate Social Innovation (RICSI), we are housed in one of the most diverse campuses in the United States. As such, our work is focused on the intersection of social innovation and diversity, equity, and inclusion — what we call inclusive impact. Throughout the 2020s, we worked with leading global corporations in media, technology, healthcare, and other sectors to drive impact at the intersection of social innovation on themes such as health equity, climate justice, and shared prosperity. Noa Gafni, executive director, Rutgers Institute for Corporate Social Innovation EMBRACING CHANGEWILL ENSURE YOU INHERIT THE FUTURE In 2030, technology has improved to the point that many traditional jobs have been lost to automation. As a result, more businesses have hired workers who can work in groups to leverage AI technology and execute jobs collaboratively. Small businesses now have chatbots and virtual assistants to deal with consumers and make shopping on the company’s website or mobile app more convenient. This has freed up today’s impact business leaders to focus on mission, vision, and innovative thinking. So, instead of worrying about how to expand our business and satisfy the demands of an everchanging market, we now let machines do it. This is because these bots are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, providing businesses with far more possibilities than with a traditional strategy. Those who were willing to embrace change sooner rather than later were the ones who inherited the future. Lauren Cook-McKay, director, Divorce Answers THERE IS NO ONE-SIZE-FITSALL APPROACH —TAILOR TO INDIVIDUAL NEEDS The 2020s were utterly unpredictable. The future of work was continuously disrupted. Tech and automation changed the nature of work; the pandemic highlighted equity issues, and simultaneously, the skills gap widened. By 2020, 69% of employers struggled to fill skilled positions, up from 14% in 2010. By 2021, there were 1.2 million unfilled software positions in the United States, growing 119% during the pandemic. Many programs left behind underrepresented communities — women, minorities, low-income communities, and especially women of color were unable to get the opportunities they deserved. I always wanted to make education more inclusive, and I believe that today, in 2030, I have accomplished that. From focusing on education as a solution, and more importantly, tailoring programs to individual community needs, we met our 2020 commitment to skill 30 million people by 2030, focusing on populations that are underrepresented in tech. With IBM SkillsBuild, we offered free online coursework that helped students envision real STEM careers. We created more affordable ways for students to earn credentials to show what they know. Additionally, mentoring and internships helped motivate students. It wasn’t always easy, but bringing together the public, private, and nonprofit sectors produced results we are proud of. Justina Nixon-Saintil, IBM vice president and global head, Corporate Social Responsibility
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