Why I Decided to Leave My Job at Netflix in the Middle of a Pandemic.

And Why I Want to Upskill the Global Workforce.

The capacity to learn is a gift; The ability to learn is a skill; The willingness to learn is a choice. - Brian Herbert

COVID-19 has exacerbated an already daunting problem society has been grappling with for many years: the global workforce does not have the skills necessary to succeed. I’ve been thinking about this issue and the ensuing reality for the past year, long before the pandemic struck. But now with global unemployment potentially cresting at a quarter of a billion people in 2020, I feel a sense of responsibility to try and help solve the problem. I want to help people, especially those in marginalized communities, get back to work. 

I am endeavoring to answer the following: 

• What does the employee of the future look like? The workforce of the future? 

• How do I help enable today’s workforce to succeed through perpetual upskilling? 

• What product or service can I develop that can augment a collaborative partnership between government, private industry and the individual employee? 

• What can I build that will assist people in learning how to learn?

Over the course of my almost 6 years living and working in the Bay area, I’ve often struggled with tech’s core ideology of innovating at all costs. I’ve watched with confusion at the lack of accountability there seems to be in the valley for the software we’re building, promoting and profiting from. I’ve seen the development of products with harmful user behaviours that have and will continue to have a long-term negative impact on society (loss of jobs, effects on mental health, physical health, etc). As someone who has benefited greatly from working in big tech, I have a responsibility to play a role in solving for some of these adverse effects. 

Let me be clear - my time in big tech, and specifically my time at Netflix was gratifying. The culture, although not for everyone, is second to none in its ability to prioritize the work that truly matters when setting the lofty goal of entertaining the world. I learnt from some incredible product and engineering leaders, and worked alongside the most stunning colleagues. But that's the past, and now’s the time for me to focus all of my attention on tackling a more socially-minded problem. It’s time for me to upskill the global workforce. With that, I am launching the Infinite Learner to establish a definitive role for myself in helping circumvent long-term unemployment in a post-Covid world. I’m a long way from having all the answers but with all the upheaval and uncertainty in our world today, perhaps it’s the perfect time to simply embrace the questions. I do know one thing, it is time to build. 

This newsletter is where I'll be sharing updates on the new project, publishing interviews with entrepreneurs and thought leaders in this space, and when ready, where I'll be announcing the launch of my new business. I also welcome any connections to people in your network working on these issues and/or introductions to anyone who is thinking about the skills gap and the requisite need to develop a system of perpetual upskilling for the global workforce. 

While you’re here, check out my latest interview with the founder of GetSetup Neil D’Souza, whose company is aiming to be the modern day community center, providing the 50+ community a place to learn new skills, and socialize with others online through education.