Episode 6: Nathaniel Diong on Young People, Education, Social Cohesion, and the Power of Social Enterprise
In this episode, Anthea Hancocks, CEO of the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute talks to Nathaniel Diong, founder and CEO of Future Minds Network on the transformative power of education and social enterprise in preparing young people for an uncertain future.
Nathaniel shares his personal journey of overcoming a sense of helplessness after high school and discusses the pivotal role of education in fostering social cohesion. He discusses the need for young people to develop empathy, communication, and conflict resolution skills to thrive in a rapidly changing world where many future jobs don't yet exist. He also highlights the impact of his Malaysian Australian heritage on his sense of belonging and connection within society.
Key takeaways:
- Education and social cohesion: Nathaniel believes education is crucial for social cohesion, providing young people with positive social interactions, role models, and a sense of belonging to something bigger than themselves. Skills like empathy, communication, and conflict resolution are essential for thriving in inclusive environments and understanding one's place in society, but they don’t always exist in traditional education environments.
- Impact-driven mindset:
Young people are increasingly attracted to social enterprises due to their impact-driven mindset. They prioritise social and environmental challenges and seek purpose-driven careers over traditional high-salary roles. Nathaniel notes that 82% of young people exclusively buy from brands with ethical and purpose-first values. The organisation started as Future Hack, a program that aimed to bring together 100 young people from five different schools to create solutions to local community problems. The program focused on UN 17 SDGs, such as no poverty, water, climate energy, and social development goals. Over three months, the organisation helped students develop solutions that helped communities, such as riverside clean-up initiatives, turning old fruit into skincare masks, tackling food waste, and starting mentorship programs for low socioeconomic status students.
- Community and social enterprise: Social enterprises provide meaningful opportunities for young people to engage and lead initiatives addressing issues that matter to them. Youth advisory boards help create social cohesion by making young people feel heard and valued. Examples include the Office for Youth, Victorian Youth Congress, and the Centre for Multicultural Youth, which empower young people to lead programs and initiatives.
- Bridging generational gaps: Nathaniel discusses the importance of succession plans and intergenerational dialogue within organisations. Understanding the challenges faced by different generations and working towards common solutions is essential for progress. Community forums and mentorship programs can facilitate collaboration between generations, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility.
- Need for traditional education institutions to adapt: Nathaniel highlights the declining trust young people have in institutions, especially universities, which have not adapted to new opportunities in emerging industries. He advocates for state and federal governments to invest more in external providers and take greater risks in crucial areas, emphasising the need to train young people in adaptability, creativity, and problem-solving to navigate the future of work effectively. Initiatives like Breakthrough Victoria, which invested in deep tech and FinTech across Australia, is a good example of this.
- Cultural heritage and problem-solving: Nathaniel highlights the value of his Malaysian Australian heritage in shaping his approach to community and problem-solving. Embracing cultural diversity and understanding unique cultural perspectives can enhance social cohesion and innovative solutions.
Listen to the full episode here or watch below!