So far in this series, we have talked about the critical roles of creativity to advancing medicine, addressing environmental challenges, and solving issues facing our communities. With the incredible strides in technology that have happened over the last 30 years, during the Technology Age, the world has become increasingly small. From telegrams to telephones to email to text, our ability to reach people on the other side of the world nearly instantaneously has exploded. The impact is not just personal; nearly every sector has capitalized on this ability to reach far beyond the local to expand their areas of influence, creating a truly globalized economy.

Globalization has impacted every part of our lives, from our politics, to our businesses and economy, our culture and our education. While breaking down these geographic barriers opens us to new opportunities for economic and social interaction, it also drives a need for cultivating the ability to work across cultures, languages and societal norms. It expands markets, making product or service distinction even more critical to success. Constantine Passaris, professor of economics at the University of New Brunswick, sums it up nicely: “The new economy is built on a culture of innovation, with an emphasis on creativity. … Indeed, the signature mark of the new global economy is new ideas, new technologies, new products and new directions and initiatives.”

This global economy requires thinking in new ways, and that, as I have said so many times, is creativity. Creativity is about innovation, problem-solving, holistic thinking. According to the National Education Association’s (NEA) Preparing 21st-Century Students for a Global Society, creativity and innovation, previously perceived as secondary skills to develop in our national curriculum, are now recognized as key drivers in the global economy. The report states that “In today’s world of global competition and task automation, innovative capacity and a creative spirit are fast becoming requirements for personal and professional success.” Author Daniel Pink summed it up nicely when he asserted that, “In a world enriched by abundance, but disrupted by automation and the outsourcing of white-collar work, everyone must cultivate an artistic sensibility. We may not all be Dali or Degas. But today, we must all be designers.”

In 2018, Phil McKinney stated during his talk at TEDx Boulder that “Being creative keeps businesses flexible and able to produce innovative solutions to a wide range of problems. Whether this involves changing a business strategy, inventing new technology, or changing business practices in order to stay relevant, creativity can keep companies afloat in an uncertain economic climate. … Let’s never lose sight that today’s creativity creates tomorrow’s industry.”

Higher education has also become increasingly global. At Ringling College of Art and Design, for example, nearly 20% of students hail from more than 60 countries. Our students live, dine, learn, and socialize with peers from around the world with life experiences and world views that often differ from their own. Through their Ringling experience, our students live in a microcosm of today’s global economy, learning to respect and value differing perspectives and viewpoints. The result is a broad world view that equips them to be creative and to work successfully and meaningfully with colleagues from across the globe. A Ringling College education teaches them to collaborate, to have respect for novel ideas, to be open to diverse cultures and backgrounds, and to see joy in partnership. And these are the factors needed for creative thinking. 

As Anna Powers states in Forbes, “Since technology is only going to advance, the question is what will be the most coveted skill of the future? In my opinion, it is creativity. Ultimately a computer lacks the imagination or creativity to dream up a vision for the future. We must embrace and develop our creativity, and then use technology creatively to solve the problems of the world.”

So, whether running a multinational corporation, launching a start-up with colleagues on four continents, or looking to find your niche in today’s global economy, one thing is clear: Creativity will be a critical corporate asset for success in our globalized world.

Dr. Larry R. Thompson is president of Ringling College of Art And Design.