Digital Pioneers: What will the future of sustainable business look like?

In the recent episode of an exclusive Interview series, presented by Telegraf and Digital Pioneers Network, that bring together the world’s leading AI, digitalization and business leaders to discuss the latest trends in the digital economy, digital pioneers focused on the sustainability driven digital economy as one of the widely spoken-about topics.

Co- hosted by AI expert and digital cognitive strategist Mark Minevich , Gen Z digitalization expert Angelica Sirotin, and strategic communications expert Andjelina Petrović, Digital pioneers had a dialogue with a sustainability leader Erik Rasmussen , who is the Founder of Copenhagen-based Sustainia & Monday Morning.

Erik has also been named as one of the world’s 100 most influential journalists by the World Economic Forum and has received Denmark’s most prestigious media award, “Den Store Publicistpris” (The Grand Publishing Award).

By leading the industry for decades, constantly challenging the conventional ways and pushing the boundaries of corporate approaches to sustainability, Erik provided valuable information on the world of sustainability and how it’s affecting businesses, countries and individuals, shaping our future and what we can do to lead our ways to positive environment changes.

The globe’s current trajectory is one that is headed towards an entirely digital future. Ideas are changing the world, while artificial intelligence is accelerating transformation and dictating our future. At the same time, it creates new opportunities. It is therefore important to take the best of human intelligence and shape the directions in which the artificial one would move.

Digital pioneers also reminded of climate changes that are happening, and affecting our everyday life and will consequently have the impact to the world of tomorrow. For that reason, one of the key topics of conversation was how to harmonize the digital world and provide solutions and technologies to solve the most complex problems we have concerning our planet.

Erik Rasmussen, an entrepreneur with rich experience in this field, spoke about it in detail.

- As the situation with coronavirus has shown, we really need ideas and solutions for many problems in the world. Also, we have to be ready for experiments. The decisions we make now will apply to generations to come. Every voice is important.

I can’t remember any time in history where the decision-makers as well as the decisions themselves had such a big impact. Therefore, I feel that we have a 50-50 chance to make the right decisions. Deciding if we’re headed to sustained of failed societies - said Erik.

According to him, digitization is precisely one of the tools that we must include into all segments.

He believes that this decade is perhaps one of the most challenging periods in the history of humankind. Furthermore, he explained that the changes that are happening now in our society will define the priorities.

Asked what the digital economy will look like in the future and where the topic of sustainability fits in there, Erik pointed out that it depends on the thinking and commitment from one generation to another.

He recalled the example of Greta Thunberg and the reactions she provoked with her activism, her courage and passion for saving the environment.

"Passionate pioneers, who will want to make a difference, I think they will be the leaders of change. It's also important what impact it will have on people," he said, citing the example of Denmark, which was one of the pioneers when it comes to sustainability.

Regarding what other countries can learn from good examples, how to adopt good practices, Erik said that partnerships play a big role.

-It's all about partnerships and I’ll give an example from Denmark, because this year the Danish government adopted a law on reducing CO2 levels by 70% before 2030. The business sector should build partnerships in the fields where it wants to develop further. Some kind of climate contract is also needed and this will really show how the government in some countries is introducing some binding partnerships with the rest of society that make up this joint venture. We should all be responsible in making it work. So I think it's all about partnership and trust, he pointed out.

Digital pioneers also tackled the topic of new emerging markets and their role in the sustainable development of the future.

As Erik explained, the leaders of digitization and sustainable business are mainly those in emerging markets. They can be the pioneers of sustainable transformation perhaps mostly because they have the greatest needs.

As he stated such countries need breakthrough solutions, rather than to be going around in circles, and relying on traditional solutions and other countries.

How will the younger generations accept government initiatives?

Digital Pioneers

As has been said during the discussion, the younger generation is of key importance, especially when it comes to implementing solutions. In addition, they are already very interested in how government decisions affect their development.

On the other hand, governments should start looking at where their energy is going.

When it comes to the future of the work and jobs that will address the issue of sustainable business, participants stressed that companies should adapt in order to adopt a global vision of sustainability.

Erik added that a shared vision will benefit everyone and should bring prosperity.

" We will see a very big and dramatic change in the whole business landscape. In the next 20 years, some big companies will not be there, while we will see new leaders emerging. We need to follow what I call real cost economics, as well as what environmental impact is.

As an example, he pointed out that the food and beverage industry left the biggest ecologic food print. He adds that this is actually about the fact that everyone should pay the costs and consequences of their production, or adjust it to be sustainable.

It was precisely remote work that taught us a lot, most of all it brought digitization to the forefront as well as the fact that we now must make an effort to find new solutions, which do not have to be revolutionary, but will help everyone.

Where to find those solutions and how to implement them in real world?

"I've analyzed thousands of solutions from around the world. I cannot not say exactly, but the fact is that the common feature is that they are mostly based on new technologies. Artificial intelligence plays a big role. And that will affect the development of a new type of company," adds Eric.

"So there is no simple answer. There is no magic wand here, but there is a way."

In the end, the participants agreed that the next few years will be of key importance for change.

"We are moving towards a very interesting future. We need something we have never seen before, and I think we are on that path, and a new class of society to which we will all strive to belong, is my perspective for the future," Erik concluded.

Have a look at the full Digital Pioneers dialogue in the video at the top of the article. 

(Telegraf.rs)