I am part of the generation that grew up in the 8-4-4 Education system. Anyone who came through the rigor of that system will be familiar with the mantra, ‘Knowledge is Power’. This was such a pervasive dogma that to date you will find pockets of schools still using it as a School Motto.

We were inundated with persistent reminders that the accumulation of Knowledge, which found it’s expression in the achievement of high grades, and accumulation of ‘Papers’, was the key to Success. To some extent, back in the day, this was true. The professions that promised riches and influence were all Knowledge centric; Doctors, Engineers, Accountant, Lawyers, Architects, Pilots. A parent with a child who had taken on any of these career paths would parade them at any available opportunity, as the Son/Daughter who’s currently pursuing career X in the University. Some would go as far as christening their Child ‘Engineer’ or ‘Wakili’ so and so the moment they got admission into University.

I was not one of these lucky ones. My father had greatly desired that I become an Electrical Engineer, and it’s all I heard from as early as I could remember. My high school grades however shattered his dreams. To cement the point that I was not Electrical Engineer material, my lowest grade in K.C.S.E was in none other than the Electrical Engineering elective subject. It was time to pivot.

He then discovered Computer Science, an emerging course for those who were smart, but not smart enough to become Engineers. The rest is history.

Alongside my Computer Science undergraduate course, I also acquired a diploma in Information Technology along the way, not to mention numerous certifications. Into the Workplace I went, ready to take over the World with my mostly A grade brains.

Here’s what the Marketplace has taught me about Knowledge;

  1. Simply knowing something does not constitute success. The ability to turn that knowledge into Value extraction is the real power. This sounds obvious, but I have encountered many a Smart person with Papers upon papers who never seem to burst the ceiling of career and financial mediocrity. A recent example that saddenned me was seeing the CV of a PHD holder in his 40’s, who had applied for an advertised Junior specialist position.
  2. The so-called ‘Soft Skills’ are anything but soft. I work in Fintech startups, an industry filled with many stories of Founders who attain enviable Fundraising success on the basis of their Pitching prowess, not necessarily the robustness of their businesses. While I don’t subscribe to the ‘Hot air’ form of entrepreneurship, it is hard to ignore the Multi-million dollar deals being struck on the basis of well presented Powerpoints, poise, Charisma, and great articulation.
  3. Once the internet democratised access to knowledge, and it stopped being the domain of which elite University you attended, while enabling the Hungry learner to gain specialised knowledge in an sub-domain of any field, thereafter securing gig work, or specialist roles in industries that have nothing to do with their Undergraduate degree, all gloves were off. A lawyer can work in Cyber security, and an Engineer can moonlight as a ghost writer or software tester. It’s no longer what you studied that determines your earning power, it’s your ability to channel a particular set of skills towards the right problems. AI is taking this to the next level.

I studied Computer science, ended up in Marketing through sheer curiosity, later transitioned into Customer Experience to gain senior Management experience, before pivoting into Fintech product leadership. Through it all my earning Power compounded enough for me to give my family a decent life, while giving me career path optionality, and resilience in the face of disruptions.

It’s no longer about what you know, but rather what problems you can competently solve. Pick the right problems, become the best at solving them, and professional or business success will follow you.