The progress and innovation needed to advance as a society and improve the quality of life for all at the collective level are facilitated by building the capabilities of people at the individual level. As individuals build knowledge and skills, master domains, and develop competence across domains, they gain the power to transform themselves and become more capable of making the contributions that drive innovation.
​
Innovation is emphasized because it involves developing and introducing something new or reimagined that has impact and value. Innovation is essential to economic growth, technological advancement, and scientific discovery, which all improve our quality of life. Smaller scale change can have a ripple effect upwards, such that individuals become the leaders of nations and entrepreneurs become the titans of industry. The nation is a collection of its communities, and the issues faced at the local level often reflect those of society.