What it takes to rebuild America’s competitive edge
Inclusive and profitable economic ecosystems can be built, invested in, and scaled. That was my core message at the recent Fast Company Impact Council Annual Meeting, where I joined innovative business leaders to discuss what it will take to rebuild America’s competitive edge. I sat on the mainstage alongside Jean-Claude Brizard, president and CEO of Digital Promise, and Deirdre White, CEO of Pyxera Global. Prompted by Brendan Vaughan, editor-in-chief of Fast Company, we each addressed the limit of investing in binary thinking. Jean-Claude highlighted the pitfall of adopting sweeping prohibitions on technology use in schools without engaging educators skilled in tailoring the use of education-enriching technology. Deirdre discussed the profitability of recapturing rare earth minerals from our nation’s mountains of discarded technology tools and toys. I challenged the false economic choice between profitability paired with inclusive growth and development. Economies can become more resilient, dynamic, and competitive. But only when more people, communities, and local institutions can participate in growth. We need to ensure that investment capital access broadens economic participation by America’s most talented and innovative people. This will help us to rediscover our competitive edge and reset generational expectations about national prosperity. EXPAND THE PARTICIPATION BASE In our 35 years, we at Living Cities have learned that cities thrive when civic leaders and investment capital—private and public—are aligned around the decisions and opportunities needed for residents and regions to thrive. When aligned leaders consider opportunities that grow economic participation, capital’s aggregate value predictably exceeds investment levels constrained by patterns of exclusion. Limiting who gets to build, grow, and own companies hobbles our competitiveness. Expanding the base of participation and investment incentivizes greater economic participation, creates new market