Without
Immigrants, We Wouldn't Have Google
What is the secret
sauce of US commercial success? It’s the contributions of immigrants, like
Google co-founder Sergey Brin, who have made huge contributions to the
technological and economic success of the United States, argues Harvard
Business School Professor Shane Greenstein.
In light of the
tragedies in Paris and San Bernadino, a number of politicians, following in the
footsteps of Donald Trump, have urged this country to respond by barring
immigrants, refugees, and Muslims from our shores. Such a “solution” is perhaps
emotionally cathartic for some at the moment, but out of keeping with the
spirit of America and harmful in the long run.
After all, what is the
secret sauce of US commercial success? It’s the contributions of smart and
hard-working immigrants who have made innumerable contributions to the
technological and economic success of the United States. Outsiders keep our
commercial markets vital by offering perspectives that differ from the
prevailing view, introducing new business practices, and conceiving of new
modes for specialization.
Consider one of the
founders of Google, Sergey Brin. His experience defines what it means to
transition from outsider to insider. He came to this country at age six because
his parents were trying to escape the oppression of the former Soviet Union.
Needless to say, his family brought no wealth with them. His parents’ primary
assets were their talents, energies, and aspirations to have a better life for
themselves and their children.
So how did Brin reach
a position to cofound Google in 1998? The US educational system recognizes and
promotes talent wherever it comes from. By the time Brin had graduated from the
University of Maryland, he was such an academic star that the National Science
Foundation helped fund his Ph.D. studies.
It turned out to be a
good bet. Brin teamed with Larry Page while the two pursued their doctorates at
Stanford’s computer science department. Starting in 1995, and continuing over
the next few years, they launched a research project to simplify Internet
search, a process that was then far from easy.
Outsiders do well in
the US when venture capitalists and angel investors don’t discriminate. Tim
Draper, cofounder of the venture capital firm Draper, Fisher, Jurvetson, can
serve as an example. In 1995 he and his partners heard a proposal from two
coworkers who aspired to be entrepreneurs, Sabeer Bhatia, a native of India,
and Jack Smith. Though lacking any entrepreneurial experience, they had a great
idea for a new business—web-based electronic mail. Their idea became Hotmail,
the world’s first free web-based email service and the first electronic mail
for tens of millions of users. While it was only a promise, the parties struck
a deal less than 48 hours after they first met.
And what a deal.
Hotmail eventually sold to Microsoft for hundreds of millions of dollars. It
also helped create viral marketing, which lets users help suppliers sell the
product. Potential for commercial success once again triumphed over social
station.
Openness to outsiders
also benefits major US corporations. In 1995, for instance, the then-CEO of
IBM, Lou Gerstner gave Irving Wladawsky-Berger the assignment of his life – put
together an Internet strategy for a company that had fallen on such hard times
that it was being described by many as a dinosaur. As it turned out, he helped
IBM emerge with a visionary strategy focusing on a lucrative line of
internet-related services that helped one of the largest technology companies
in the world make the turnaround of the century.
How did
Wladawsky-Berger get there in the first place? In the late 1950s, at the age of
15, he emigrated with his family from Cuba to the US and worked his way up the
US educational system, earning a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. Once
again, America proved itself to be the land of opportunity for those with
talent and aspirations.
The genius of the US
technology community is its focus on talent and its predilection to favor what
works over ideologies that promote exclusion. This is in keeping with our
long-standing social compact to live and let live, allow a variety of cultures
to thrive, and refrain from interfering with freedom of expression—an admirable
reflection of the American ideal. And when it comes to technology, it’s also
very good business.
Let’s not take this
attitude for granted. We should let it thrive with this generation’s outsiders,
regardless of place of origin, ethnic background, religion, or gender. They can
help bring a new set of perspectives and contributions that will renew
technical opportunities for all.
by
Shane Greenstein
http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/without-immigrants-we-wouldn-t-have-google?cid=spmailing-12536416-WK%20Newsletter%2012-23-2015%20(1)-December%2023,%202015
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