04/05/2025

ON SUNDAY MAY 4, 2025 X theSunday Special

Why talent matters more than money

Access to knowledge is becoming a greater asset VJCP ƓPCPEKCN ECRKVCN #TG YG TGCF[ HQT VJKU UJKHV!

BY BOBBY VARANASI

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Why talent is the new currency The value of knowledge is not just about having access to information, it is about the ability to apply it effectively. Businesses no longer just need money to succeed; they need people who can think critically, solve complex problems and drive innovation.

Consider the following trends:

The decline of asset-based domi nance: In today’s digital economy, physical assets matter far less than they once did. Many of the most valuable companies do not own vast factories or massive inventories – they own intel lectual property, data and software. For instance, Airbnb, the world’s largest accommodation platform, owns no hotels. Uber, the largest transportation network, owns no vehicles. Their value lies in their technology, algorithms and ability to leverage data effectively.

The demand for skilled talent: As automation and artificial intelligence take over routine transactional jobs, companies are searching for employees who can adapt, innovate and create. The highest-paid professionals today are not factory workers or machine opera tors but engineers, software developers, designers and problem-solvers. This trend will only accelerate as industries shift towards knowledge-driven models.

Many of the most valuable

companies do not own vast factories or massive inventories – they own intellectual property, data and software.”

Education as an investment, not an expense: In a knowledge economy, education is not just a means to get a job but an essential economic driver. Coun tries that prioritise science, technology, engineering and mathematics education, research funding and digital literacy are seeing significant economic advantages. Meanwhile, nations that fail to invest in knowledge risk being left behind.