Embracing the Integrator’s Edge

Redefining the Generalist

“The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.” This ancient Greek proverb, as I’ve often reflected, perfectly captures the tension between the expert and the generalist. Society often pushes us towards the hedgehog path — specialize early, become the go-to authority, and climb the ladder of singular expertise. I felt this pressure myself, assuming that my diverse experiences as a dancer, designer, researcher, and more, would eventually coalesce into that singular Einstein moment of clarity.

But the moment never arrived. Instead, I discovered a different kind of strength in the fox’ approach — the ability to connect seemingly disparate dots, to synthesize complex information, and to adapt to ever-shifting landscapes.

My journey has been one of weaving together threads from various disciplines. Whether it was bringing a disused industrial shed to life as a black box theatre, designing a toolkit for communities to imagine and articulate their futures, or working on revitalizing the silk value chain in Kashmir, the ability to draw on a range of skills and perspectives proved invaluable.

The Kashmir silk project, in particular, highlighted this. Manufacturing value chains, especially those involving handcrafted products, are incredibly complex. They traverse agriculture, small-scale decentralized processing, distributed manufacturing and finishing, traditional retail distribution, online distribution and marketing, international market linkages, and brand building campaigns. Expertise exists in each of these fields. However, in this case, the overall story of Kashmir silk — its historical significance and global potential — remained elusive. When I became involved, the experts shared their individual pieces, but a cohesive narrative was missing. My role became one of facilitating conversations between these experts, documenting the dependencies between their work, presenting it back to the experts to validate, and visualizing the larger opportunity to the govt. It was about telling a story that included and valued each expert’s contribution, and synthesising the possibilities of what could be achieved together. While the project ultimately faced challenges, the process and proposition remain compelling, and I’m certain I’ll draw on these learnings in future endeavours.

This experience underscored a crucial point: in today’s world, and even more so in the age of increasingly capable AI, this ‘Integrator’s Edge’ is becoming essential. AI excels at specialized tasks, potentially disrupting traditional expert roles in myriad ways. What remains uniquely human is our capacity for creativity, empathy, systems thinking, and collaboration. These are the very qualities that a generalist approach cultivates.

But let’s redefine the generalist. Let’s see them not just as someone with diverse interests, but as an expert in integrating expertise. Their value lies in their ability to facilitate collective action, bridge divides between specialists, and drive complex projects to a conclusive end. They are the conductors of collaboration, ensuring that the orchestra of specialists plays in harmony to achieve a shared vision.

We need more of these Integrators — individuals who can navigate ambiguity, foster belonging, and work alongside AI to build resilient, equitable, and humane futures. This requires a shift in mindset: embracing curiosity, prioritizing continuous learning, and valuing the journey of exploration as much as the destination.

So, let’s redefine expertise. Let’s celebrate the foxes among us, for it is they who hold the key to unlocking a future where our differences are our greatest strength.