This post originally appeared<\/a> on the blog of the World Economic Forum. <\/em><\/p>\n

How might we prepare global residents for the future of work? Past waves of globalization offer lessons on what it will take to more effectively weather the transition. As leaders consider how to shape a new architecture for Globalization 4.0 (the theme of the World Economic Forum\u2019s\u00a02019 Annual Meeting<\/a>), we must prioritize the goal of addressing persistent inequalities \u2013 particularly those based on race, income, gender and place. This is the moonshot of our generation.<\/p>\n

Growing up in the 1990s with the global proliferation of American consumer goods and the start of the digital revolution, globalization seemed inevitable. Creative disruption threatened every industry, blue-collar and white-collar jobs alike. But the interconnectedness of our world accelerated by globalization was also thrilling. Millennials grew up expecting change, knowing that because it\u2019s impossible to unwrite the past, we must accept the uncertainty of change.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s time to be unapologetic about the emergent nature of our ever-changing world. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings, so here are three prescriptions for leaders to embrace as we prepare for the future:<\/p>\n

1. Take a systems approach<\/h2>\n

Communities and countries can\u2019t pretend to build walls around themselves. Let\u2019s face it: our world is interconnected, and our fates are linked. The reality of climate change makes this crystal-clear. To combat nationalism and nativism in favor of globalism and humanism, we must remember the African proverb that if you want to go fast, you can go alone, but if you want to go far, we must go together.<\/p>\n

Leaders working towards large-scale social change are taking a systems view on a range of issues from\u00a0Built for Zero<\/a>\u00a0(to end homelessness) to\u00a0Campaign Zero<\/a>\u00a0(to end police violence). In my hometown of Chicago, hospitals are working alongside residents to reduce health disparities through\u00a0West Side United<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you take the long view, we\u2019re living in the best possible time to be alive,\u00a0according to Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker<\/a>. While we should be optimistic, society still seems more polarized than ever, with people talking past one another,\u00a0arguing to win instead of arguing to learn<\/a>. Speaking on this topic at the 2018 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting,\u00a0I shared strategies<\/a>\u00a0to help others and ourselves take a systems view and slow down our thinking to address the root causes before moving to action.<\/p>\n