2026: When Preparation Meets Opportunity, Success in the New Economy Follows
As we step into a new year, moments of reflection often bring clarity and insight. Over the December break, a message shared with me alongside the World Economic Forum’s New Economy Skills report captured that clarity perfectly:
"GRIT Hub is well-positioned for what lies ahead."
Moreover, there is a quote often attributed to Dan Cathy that feels especially relevant as we enter 2026: "Success is when preparation meets opportunity". In the context of the new economy, preparation means possessing skills, fluency, and confidence, and opportunities are arriving faster than ever.
The report affirms something we have long believed and built toward at GRIT Hub: the future of economic growth will be defined not only by technology itself, but by who has access to the skills to use it meaningfully.
Across the globe, artificial intelligence, data, and digital fluency are no longer specialist capabilities. They are becoming foundational skills, as essential as literacy and numeracy, across every sector, role, and community. Yet the gap between demand and readiness continues to widen, particularly in emerging economies and outside traditional tech pipelines.
At GRIT Hub, our work has always been about closing that gap with intention.
As we enter our fifth year as GRIT Hub, this moment feels especially significant. What began as a local response to skills gaps in the Garden Route has grown into a maturing ecosystem focused on digital skills, entrepreneurship, and inclusive access to opportunity. This milestone is not just about longevity; it reflects the lessons learned, partnerships built, and clarity gained about where we can create the most meaningful impact.
From Insight to Action
The World Economic Forum’s findings are clear: economies that invest early in applied digital fluency, ethical AI understanding, and practical skills development will be better positioned for resilience and inclusive growth. Importantly, the report emphasizes that AI skills are not only for engineers and developers, but they are increasingly required across administration, entrepreneurship, creative industries, operations, education, and public service.
When we talk about the new economy, we are not referring to a distant future. We are referring to an economy already shaped by AI, data, automation, and platform work, one where digital fluency directly affects employability, productivity, and competitiveness across every sector, not just technology.
