Last week, we had our INAC Latam Regional Meeting in Chile, where we had the pleasure of hosting Monica Retamal and her talk on “The Future of Work: 8 Trends Challenging Today’s Companies.” One of the trends that impressed me the most and stuck in my mind was the decreasing lifespan of companies. Mónica mentioned that in 1958, organizations lasted an average of 61 years; today, that number has dropped to just 18 years.
The truth is that, in a world where tech companies are at the forefront, the speed with which they emerge and disappear due to the same technological evolution is astonishing. On the other hand, companies no longer aim to last for decades. Agility and the ability to adapt to market changes are key factors for their survival.
Clearly, this has an impact on professional careers. I remember those times (hahaha) when it was common for someone to spend their entire career at one or two companies, building a long, linear career. Now, things are entirely different. Careers now resemble a game of leaps, where we frequently change companies and roles.
As a headhunter, I have noticesd that candidates are not only seeking new opportunities, but they also want more diverse experiences that challenge them and allow them to remain relevant in a constantly changing work environment. As a result, they are willing to remove faster to find new opportunities. It is no longer about building a career in the same company; the key now is to adapt and evolve continuously. As an example, at INAC Perú – Global Executive Search , we have observed that 54% of C-Level placements in recent years have been in sectors different from those the candidates originally came from.
The reality is that both companies and professionals must learn to reinvent themselves. Companies, and consequently talent, must be agile and continually adapt to new business models, while talent must develop skills that allow them to transition between different industries and roles, and naturally, adapt to new technologies. Evidently, today everything is changing all the time, and in increasingly shorter periods. We need to be ready, as both companies and professionals, for whatever comes.
In this sense, I would say that companies that foster a culture of continuous learning and create collaborative spaces will not only be able to better adapt to challenges but will also attract the best talent, those who are seeking to grow and develop while enriching their work experience.
In conclusion, Charles Darwin’s famous quote is becoming more relevant each day: “It is not the strongest species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” Under this trend, the question we must ask to ourselves is … are we ready -as companies and professionals- to constantly respond to change?
Eduardo Balbín, Managing Partner, INAC Perú
Director of family businesses and Professor at the Escuela de Dirección Universidad de Piura with more than 28 years of experience. He was General Manager at Forus Peru (retail) and Director of Marketing at Procter & Gamble. He holds a degree in Industrial Engineering from the Universidad de Lima and an MBA from the Escuela de Dirección PAD – Universidad de Piura.
