Have you heard of the term Digital Natives? The term digital native describes a person born after the 1980s who has grown up in the information age. Often referring to Millennials, Generation Z, and Generation Alpha, these individuals can consume digital information and stimuli quickly and comfortably through devices and platforms such as computers, mobile phones, and social media.
The world is changing fast, and it is time for the Built Environment sector to catch up and make room for these young leaders and problem solvers. By 2025, Gen Z will make up 27% of the workforce and one-third of the Earth’s population according to recent research reports by PEW Research. As digital natives, this new generation will bring a distinct set of skills to the workplace. They are comfortable with change and can adapt to modern technologies quickly. They are also incredibly innovative and always look for new ways to improve efficiency and productivity in the built environment. Digital natives are the future, and through their innovation, we have the potential to create a better future for all.
So, let us embrace their creativity and help them drive sustainable innovation for the built environment. We want them to thrive by providing access to resources that inspire their curiosity while encouraging experimentation to create innovative solutions for all aspects and the lifecycle of the built environment.
The Evidence Is Overwhelming
With the construction sector alone having more than 100 million jobs worldwide and 6% of global GDP, the next generation of Built Environment leaders must grapple with unique and unprecedented challenges and opportunities:
- Industry 4.0
- Climate Change
- Economic Volatility
- Future of Work
Industry 4.0 – Fusion of Human & Machine
The built environment is one of the most data-rich industries and is on the cusp of a fourth industrial revolution – Industry 4.0. This evolution will significantly shift the sector from traditional linear business models to more dynamic, networked, and interactive ecosystems powered by data, intelligence, and automation. As a result, industry 4.0 will enable the built environment to become more efficient, productive, and sustainable. It will also create new opportunities for companies to generate revenue and for employees to upskill.
What does this mean for the next generation of leaders? They must be comfortable and familiar with a wide range of new technologies driving this fourth industrial revolution.
World Economic Forum predicts that automation will disrupt 85 million jobs by 2025 and create 97 million new opportunities with machines and humans working together. The new jobs will require a unique skill set and mindset from the coming generations to thrive in a technology-oriented paradigm. As Industry 4.0 implementation gathers pace, the next generation of leaders must be prepared to harness the power of data and technology to drive efficiency, productivity, and sustainability in the built environment. They must be comfortable with change and leverage emerging AI-driven toolset to drive decision-making. They must also be able to create adaptive organizational structures that can respond quickly to change.
Climate Change – An Existential Threat
The world faces an existential threat from climate change, and the built environment plays a significant role as it contributes to nearly 40% of global CO2 emissions. In addition, it is responsible for 60-80% of the world’s energy consumption and produces approximately 30% of global waste. As a result, there is an urgent need to decarbonize the built environment and make it more energy-efficient and resilient to the effects of climate change.
What does this mean for the next generation of leaders? First, they must be able to navigate the complexities of decarbonization while also managing the risks associated with climate change. They must deeply understand energy systems and how to make buildings more energy efficient. They must also be familiar with a wide range of new technologies and materials that can help reduce the built environment’s carbon footprint. Furthermore, they must be able to develop and implement policies and regulations that incentivize sustainable innovation in the built environment.
The next generation of leaders must focus on creating sustainable solutions to the global climate crisis. They must deeply understand the science of climate change and how the built environment can help mitigate its effects. They must also be skilled in developing and implementing policies and regulations that will enable the built environment to play its part in combating climate change. And finally, they must be able to inspire others to act on climate change through their actions and work collaboratively with others. It will also need a shift in thinking and mindset from short-term gain to long-term value and a commitment to working with all stakeholders to drive change.
Economic Volatility – Reimagined Business Models
The built environment is a crucial driver of world economic growth that is also susceptible to financial shocks due to its reliance on government spending, global trade, and investment flows. The global construction market is expected to reach US$15.2 trillion by 2030. Moreover, studies mention that Capital programs in the sector generally take 20% longer to finish and are up to 80% over budget; the resources lost in this process are too significant to let go. Therefore, the decision-makers must rethink how we design, build, and operate built environment assets to mitigate this wastage.
What does this mean for the next generation of leaders? First, they must deeply understand macroeconomic trends and how they impact the built environment. They must also be skilled in developing and implementing policies and regulations enabling the built environment to weather economic shocks. It will also need a shift in thinking and mindset from short-term gain to long-term value and a commitment to working with all stakeholders to drive change. Finally, they need access to better data and technology-enabled tools to help them make informed decisions.
Future of Work – Flexible, Digital, & Collaborative
The future of work is one of the most significant challenges facing the next generation of Built Environment leaders. The rise of automation, artificial intelligence, robotics, and digital technologies are transforming how we work. WEF predicts that 1 billion people will need to reskill due to automation disrupting the job landscape by the next decade. The traditional skills that have been the bedrock of the built environment are no longer sufficient. The sector will require new skills, including data literacy, digital fluency, and experience in using emerging technologies.
What does this mean for the next generation of leaders? First, they must be able to navigate the complexities of the future of work while also managing the risks associated with automation and digitalization.
The future workplace will require the next generation and organizations to be flexible to new learnings and opportunities to bridge the skill gap which is existing and projected. The next generation of leaders must be comfortable with change and embrace modern technologies and data science to drive efficiency and productivity in the built environment. They must also be able to reskill and upskill their workforce to ensure future readiness. Finally, they must also be able to manage an increasingly diverse, mobile, and global workforce.
Preparing for the Future
The challenges and opportunities facing the next generation of Built Environment leaders are significant. To succeed, we need to empower the next generation of Built Environment leaders with the right mindset, skillset, toolset, and dataset to navigate the challenges and seize future opportunities.
Mindset: A growth mindset is essential for the next generation of leaders. They must be comfortable with change and be able to embrace innovative technologies and approaches.
Skillset: The next generation of leaders must deeply understand the technology and how it is transforming the built environment. They must also be skilled in data literacy, digital fluency, and emerging technologies.
Toolset: AI and machine learning-led tools are critical for the next generation of leaders. They must access better data and these emerging tools to help them make informed decisions.
Dataset: The next generation of leaders must have access to better data that can help them understand the trends and challenges facing the built environment.
Empowering the next generation of Built Environment leaders will require a fundamental shift in how we think about leadership, training, and development. We also need to rethink our approach to leadership. The traditional top-down hierarchical model no longer fits for purpose in a rapidly changing and complex world. Instead, we need to develop a more distributed and networked approach to leadership that is open, inclusive, and collaborative.
The future of the built environment sector is bright – but only if we empower the next generation of leaders with the ability to navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities ahead. Are you ready for the challenge?
Hluas – Empowering the Next Generation
Hloov Hluas is a research and innovation platform that empowers the next generation of problem solvers to develop creative solutions for a sustainable future.
Hluas is the perfect place for young leaders to develop the mindset, skillset, toolset, and dataset needed to navigate the challenges and seize future opportunities in the built environment. Hloov Hluas provides a platform where next-generation leaders can Connect, Collaborate, and Create to innovate and reimagine the built environment. The platform offers a unique blend of research, education, and innovation resources, allowing our members to develop creative solutions for a sustainable future.
Learn more about Hluas – /hlʊɑːs/ here >>
In conclusion, the next generation of Built Environment leaders face significant challenges but also have a unique opportunity to create a more sustainable and equitable future. We must empower them with the right mindset, skillset, toolset, and dataset to navigate the challenges and seize future opportunities. Hloov Hluas is the perfect platform for young leaders to develop the skills and knowledge needed to create a better and sustainable built environment for everyone.
Join us today and help shape the future of the built environment! Get in touch here >>
