Innovation and training: A personal journey towards continuous improvement

Throughout my life, if I have learned anything, it is that change waits for no one. Everything you know, everything you master, can become obsolete if you don't adapt. This is where two magic words come into play: innovation and training. They are the engines that drive not only individuals, but entire companies and societies. In this article, I want to tell you from my experience how both tools, used well, can change everything.

What is innovation?

First, let's get something clear. Innovation is not just about having crazy ideas or being on the latest technological fad. Innovation is questioning the established, looking for more efficient ways of doing things. But be careful, because innovation does not come alone. For it to really work, it must be accompanied by constant training.

I tell you this because I have lived it. When I was young, I thought that what I had learned at university was enough. How deluded I was! The world changes, and if you don't keep up to date, you get left behind. Training is not just about getting degrees, but about being in constant learning.

Innovation and training: An inseparable pairing

If you ask me what the relationship is between innovation and training, I'll sum it up in one sentence: one cannot exist without the other. How are you going to innovate if you don't know the new tools, techniques or approaches that are emerging? And how are you going to learn something new if you don't have the open-mindedness to adopt changes and innovations?

In my experience in different industries, from education to entrepreneurship, one thing has become clear: training is the first step towards innovation. Let's take the case of education as an example. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many education systems around the world had to reinvent themselves overnight. And here I tell you in red: without proper training, this would have been impossible!

Innovation in education: Beyond digital

Today, when we talk about innovation in education, the first thing that comes to mind is digital technologies. But innovating in education is not just about putting a digital whiteboard in the classroom or teaching through Zoom. True innovation in education lies in the change of mentality, in the autonomy given to teachers to adapt their methods to the needs of students.

I'll give you an example: During the pandemic, in countries like Kenya, teachers not only had to adapt to online teaching, but they innovated in the way they collaborated with parents and students to keep learning going. And you know what These changes were here to stay, because teachers acquired training that allowed them to reinvent their way of teaching.

The importance of continuous training

From all my experiences, one thing has stuck in my mind: continuous training is key. It doesn't matter how much of an expert you are in a field; if you stop training, you lose. In my career, I have met many professionals who, confident in their experience, thought they didn't need to learn anymore. A blunder.

One of the most potent examples I saw was in the field of science and technology. In countries like Finland, training in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) has been vital in increasing the number of patents and technological breakthroughs. And not only that, technical education has democratized access to these areas, allowing people from any background to become innovators.

Innovation in companies: Training as a competitive advantage

When we talk about companies, innovation is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity. Companies that do not innovate, die. Period. But for that innovation to be possible, they need trained employees. In my role as a consultant I have seen how many companies try to implement new technologies without properly training their teams. The result? Failure after failure.

Here I make it clear and in red: investing in the training of your employees is not an expense, it is an investment in your future. Workers who feel empowered and prepared are the ones who will drive the changes your company needs in order not to be left behind.

Innovation in public policies: Training for the future

If we look beyond the business and educational sphere, we realize that training is also key in public policies. The countries that invest the most in the training of their citizens are the ones that make the most progress in terms of innovation.

For example, countries such as Israel and the United States have shown that university innovation not only generates technological advances, but also drives entrepreneurship. Universities like MIT or Technion in Israel are clear examples of how a solid training base can generate world-changing companies and innovations.

Conclusion: Innovate or die (by training yourself)

If life has taught me anything, it is that training and innovation are two sides of the same coin. No matter what field you are in, if you don't train, you don't innovate. And if you don't innovate, you get left behind. So I tell you from experience, and with authority: don't settle for what you know today. Get out there, learn, test, try, make mistakes and keep learning. And remember, the key to success is not only to have great ideas, but to be always in a continuous learning process.