Most careers today are shaped by the idea of going “deep”, mastering one domain, one function, one specialization. Depth brings progress, as specialists are the ones who create breakthroughs. But what often goes unnoticed is the equally important role of the generalist: the person who connects the dots across domains, translates complexity into clarity, and sees patterns others overlook.
As a practicing generalist, I have come to realize that being one isn’t about knowing “a little of everything.” It’s about knowing enough across fields to:
· spot the blind spots in a room full of experts,
· ask better questions that cut across silos, and
· bring coherence when problems refuse to stay neatly within one box.
Why Generalists Matter in 2025
The challenges companies face today rarely fit inside one department. Supply chain problems are also technology problems. Technology choices are also culture choices. Growth decisions are also risk decisions. When every problem is interconnected, you need people who can see the whole system, not just one part.
That is where generalists add disproportionate value. They don’t just bridge functions; they bridge perspectives. They make sure finance doesn’t miss the human story, or product doesn’t lose sight of the customer’s context, or operations doesn’t treat efficiency as the enemy of innovation.
Practicing Generalism: The Hard Part
Being a generalist isn’t glamorous. It doesn’t always come with neat titles or simple elevator pitches. It often means holding ambiguity longer than others, moving between different roles, and constantly learning without the comfort of a single playbook.
But the reward is equally real: you become the person who can simplify decisions, de-risk strategies, and connect ideas in ways that specialists alone cannot. In many leadership rooms, the most valuable voice is not the loudest expert but the generalist who can translate across experts.
How to Build Generalist Muscle
If someone who wants to grow in this direction, here are three practices that help:
1. Learn in Systems, Not Subjects: Don’t just study marketing or product or finance. Study how they interact. Even a simple business model canvas or systems map can train your brain to see links others miss.
2. Practice Translation: Sit in a room with specialists and make it your goal to reframe their insights in language others can use. If you can take what an engineer says and make it meaningful for a salesperson, you are already adding value.
3. Stay Curious, Not Just Relevant: Generalists thrive when curiosity extends beyond the immediate job. Reading outside your field, experimenting with new tools, or shadowing a different team helps you build range that eventually becomes leverage.
Celebrating Generalists
On International Generalist Day, I want to celebrate not just the idea of generalism but the community that has helped many of us practice it more intentionally: The Generalist World and its founder Milly Tamati.
The generalist path may not always look linear, but in a world defined by complexity, it might just be the most future-proof way to grow.
#InternationalGeneralistDay #GeneralistWorld #SystemsThinking #Leadership #FutureOfWork #ProblemSolving
