Recent updates 🗞️
📉 Deepseek-R1 is released in China, upends NVDA and S&P500
🧑🚒 Economic loss from Jan 5th LA fires estimated at $250 billion to $275 billion
🇮🇳 Mahakumbh after 12 years in Allahabad, Coldplay in Mumbai for the 1st time
🎓 Started “Venture Capital and the Finance of Innovation” and “Data Visualization” classes
🎥 Watched “Giannis: The Marvelous Journey”
📚 Reading “Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology” by Chris Miller!
A new beginning - Philotimo, Management, and Rebranding youself in the AI era
As I sit here contemplating my journey from tech to an MBA, I can’t help but draw parallels between three seemingly unrelated concepts that have captured my attention this month.
The Greek Spirit of Philotimo
Watching Giannis Antetokounmpo’s story on Amazon Prime struck a deep chord with me. The Greek concept of Philotimo - a complex term encompassing honor, dignity, and duty to others - resonates deeply with me. We find ourselves ever evolving and seeking where we can make the biggest impact and embracing this philosphy can help us get closer to that goal.
Honor, Dignity, and Duty to others
The Shifting Sands of Management
In my strategy classes, we often discuss organizational structures, but what’s unfolding in today’s workplace is fascinating. The traditional middle management role that many MBA graduates aspired to is experiencing a seismic shift. A staggering 52% of Gen Z professionals are actively avoiding management positions, preferring to build expertise rather than manage teams. As someone straddling both the tech and business worlds, I understand this sentiment deeply. The concept of ‘Conscious Unbossing’ particularly intrigues me. In my tech days, I valued technical expertise over hierarchical authority, and now I see this preference becoming a broader movement. A remarkable 72% of Gen Z professionals are choosing to advance through individual expertise rather than people management. This shift aligns perfectly with what I’m learning in my MBA program about adaptive leadership and organizational behavior.
Rebranding in the Age of AI
This brings me to perhaps the most personal aspect of my current journey - the need to rebrand oneself in an AI dominated world. The traditional management career ladder is evolving, and as Lucy Bisset points out, younger professionals are more interested in becoming thought leaders and specialists1. In my marketing classes, we discuss brand evolution, and I’m applying these principles to my own career trajectory.
The intersection of these three concepts - Philotimo’s sense of duty and honor, the transformation of management roles, and the necessity of personal rebranding - forms a compelling narrative for modern professionals. I personally am learning that success isn’t just about climbing the corporate ladder; it’s about building meaningful expertise while maintaining our core values.
My tech background has taught me the importance of adaptability, and my MBA journey is showing me how to strategically navigate these changes. The future of leadership might not look like what we imagined, but perhaps that’s exactly what makes it exciting. As we face this evolution, I’m reminded that true leadership, like Philotimo, is about honor, duty, and the courage to forge new paths.
Cheers 🥂