Ernest Akinlola: How does underutilized human potential affect the economy?

From Ikigai to self-awareness: What really unlocks potential

1.Today, many frameworks such as the concept of Ikigai, which is built around four key questions: what do you love, what are you good at, what does the world need, and what can you be paid for, aim to help people discover their potential. Do you believe such models are truly useful, and are there any tools or methods you would recommend for identifying one’s strengths and hidden potential?

• Tools like Ikigai can be helpful, but only to a point. The real starting place is the individual. Without inner curiosity or a feeling that something is missing, no framework will truly unlock your potential. Self-awareness and honest questioning matter most.

There are many tools – books, coaching, personality tests like Myers-Briggs, but they should guide you, not define you. I also don’t fully agree with the strong focus on market demand or income in frameworks like Ikigai. Fulfillment comes from your inner drive, not just what the world needs. Many creators, like Pablo Picasso and Ludwig van Beethoven, followed their passion long before their work was recognized.

Expanding your perspective is equally important, through reading, travel, and new experiences. Ultimately, discovering your potential requires reflection and stillness. When you slow down, you begin to hear your inner voice more clearly, and that’s where the real answers are.

How environment shapes your potential

2. Our environment often shapes what we believe we are capable of. How can someone distinguish between their true potential and the limitations imposed by family, education systems, or social expectations?

• Our environment can shape what we believe we’re capable of, but it doesn’t have to define us. From an early age, we absorb expectations from family and society, often mistaking them for our own limits.

In my case, I was expected to become an accountant. I followed that path, even qualified, but it never felt aligned. The turning point came when I stopped listening to external expectations and focused on what came naturally to me: working with people, creativity, and dynamic environments. That awareness is key, recognizing what feels natural to you versus what feels imposed.

One of the most important things is building self-belief and mental resilience. I grew up with a simple philosophy: there is no such thing as “can’t.” Not every limitation is yours, many reflect others’ fears.
Ultimately, discovering your potential means listening to yourself and having the courage to act. If something consistently draws you, it’s often a sign of where your true potential lies.

        Ernest Akinlola – Source: Private archive

The economic cost of untapped human potential

3.From an economic perspective, how much potential do societies lose when individuals never discover or develop their true strengths? Could unlocking human potential be one of the most underestimated drivers of economic growth?

• From an economic perspective, when people don’t fully develop their strengths, societies lose enormous potential. It’s not just about personal fulfillment, it affects productivity, innovation, and overall economic performance. Individuals underperform, companies fall short, and entire economies operate below capacity.

According to the World Bank, suppressed human potential may have reduced global productivity by as much as 51%, meaning the world could be operating at only half of its true capacity. Much of this stems from limited access to education, mentorship, and opportunities.

Regions with young, fast-growing populations like parts of Africa, highlight how much untapped potential exists. With the right support systems, the impact could be transformative. Unlocking human potential is therefore one of the most underestimated drivers of economic growth, but it requires not just awareness, but systems that enable people to act on it.

Stability vs. Potential: The trade-off that shapes careers

4. Many people choose careers based on stability rather than alignment with their abilities. What are the long-term consequences, both for individuals and for the economy, when people work in roles that do not match their potential?

• At an individual level, it often leads to dissatisfaction and unfulfillment. Research suggests that a large majority of people are not satisfied in their jobs, which indicates that many are following paths that don’t truly match who they are. In such cases, people may perform adequately, but they rarely operate at their full potential.

This has a direct impact on businesses and the broader economy. When individuals are in roles that don’t suit their strengths, the quality of their work is lower, innovation is limited, and overall performance declines. If this is multiplied across millions of people, the economic cost becomes substantial, companies grow slower, and markets become less competitive.

Another consequence is that many people end up building someone else’s vision rather than their own. Employment often becomes a transaction, time and skills exchanged for stability, while personal ambitions remain suppressed. Over time, this creates a gap between what people are capable of and what they actually contribute.

At the same time, it’s important to recognize that not everyone needs to become an entrepreneur. The key issue is not the type of career, but whether individuals are in environments where their potential is recognized, developed, and utilized. When that doesn’t happen, both the individual and the employer lose.

Importance of mentorship in developing one's potential

5. How important is mentorship in discovering and developing one’s potential? What would you recommend to young people seeking guidance or mentors?

• Mentorship plays a crucial role in discovering and developing one’s potential, but it has to be approached in the right way.

One of the biggest mistakes people make is seeking validation from the wrong sources. When you have an idea, going around and asking friends, family, or colleagues for approval can often hold you back. Most people will respond based on their own limitations.

From my own experience, I learned that the real shift happens when you stop asking for permission and start seeking the right environment. If you want to grow, you need to surround yourself with people who are already where you want to be. If I wanted to move into a different role, I would put myself in that space, observe, learn, even volunteer if needed. That’s how you accelerate your development.

Mentorship is not just about formal programs, it’s about proximity to the right people. Sometimes, all it takes is one person to recognize your potential. For example, Novak Djokovic was noticed by his coach at a very young age, which played a crucial role in shaping his path. Many successful people have had that moment, someone who saw something in them before the world did.

At the same time, mentorship is also a responsibility of leaders. In my career, I’ve always made a conscious effort to identify and develop people. Before leaving one of my roles, I had already prepared my successor well in advance, mentoring and supporting her growth so she could step into the position with confidence. That’s what real leadership looks like, helping others grow.

Why most people never reach their full potential

6. In your view, why do most people never fully reach their potential? Do you believe there is a point in life when it becomes too late to discover one’s true potential?

• Most people don’t reach their full potential due to lack of self-belief, limited support, and environments that don’t encourage growth, but one of the biggest reasons is conformity. People often choose what feels safe instead of what truly aligns with them, avoiding the courage it takes to change direction.

Many also don’t explore their potential enough or don’t feel the need to. That’s why it’s crucial to surround yourself with people who encourage growth, not limitations.

It’s never too late to develop your potential. Examples like Harland Sanders, who built KFC in his later years, show that success can come later in life. Ultimately, growth comes from action, trying more, experimenting more, and continuously evolving until you find what truly fits.

3 steps to start discovering your potential today

7. If someone reading this interview feels “lost” in terms of their potential, what are three practical steps they could take in the next 30 days to start moving in the right direction?

• The first step is self-reflection, honestly assessing what gives you energy and what drains you. Without that clarity, you can’t move forward.

The second step is action. Don’t wait for the perfect moment, start immediately, even if things aren’t fully clear. Progress comes from movement, not overthinking.

The third step is finding the right people, what I call “finding the eagles.” Surround yourself with people who are already where you want to be, learn from them and let them challenge you.

A personal perspective on the journey of potential

8.On a personal note, how did your own journey of discovering your potential unfold? Do you feel there is still untapped potential you would like to explore?

• My journey has been anything but linear. I come from a very modest background, I didn’t have a privileged start, no safety net, no shortcuts. Everything I’ve built has come from starting at zero and figuring things out along the way.

When I graduated, I wasn’t from a top university in England, so I knew I didn’t stand a chance of getting into elite graduate training programs at companies like Unilever, Procter & Gamble, or Microsoft. Instead of accepting that, I decided to build my own path. I moved across roles such as marketing, sales, business development, government relations, taking every opportunity to learn. Step by step, I created my own “training scheme,” which eventually led me to multiple CEO roles.

Even today, I don’t feel like I’ve reached my full potential, I’m just getting started. Recently, I began taking singing lessons. When I performed publicly for the first time, even close friends were surprised. That made me realize how often we hide our abilities because we seek approval or fear judgment.

This realization inspired a bigger vision I’m working on, an application designed to help people discover and unlock their potential, and more importantly, act on it.

There have also been moments that showed me how far belief can take you. I went from an average university to lecturing at University of Oxford, which reinforced a simple truth: when you believe in yourself and take action, your trajectory can change in ways you never imagined.

So yes, there is still so much more I want to do. The real question is not whether potential exists, but whether you are willing to pursue it.