Rethinking What Success Really Means. For generations, the benchmark for business excellence was simple: be the best. The best product, the highest profits, the most admired brand. But in a world that is more interconnected and transparent than ever, a new question arises: best for whom?
Oscar Di Montigny invites us to transcend this outdated paradigm of dominance and enter a new era, where success is measured not by superiority but by significance rooted in human-centered values. In his words, companies must evolve from being “the best in the world” to becoming “the best for the world.”
This evolution is part of a deeper call to bring humanism back to the center of business, economic, and cultural reflection.
The Old Paradigm: Success Defined by Superiority
The traditional business model was built on a foundation of competitive advantage and growth at all costs. Market share, quarterly earnings, and industry rankings were the yardsticks of victory. In this context, success was often a zero-sum game; one company’s gain was another’s loss.
Innovation under this model served primarily the bottom line. Efficiency meant reducing costs, often at the expense of ethical labor or environmental protection. Metrics ruled, but meaning was missing. Companies succeed by optimizing systems, but not necessarily by uplifting society.
This mindset gave rise to what Oscar calls the “extraction era” an era of profit without purpose, of success that served few at the expense of many.
The Emerging Model: Purpose, Planet, and People
The founder of the Spherical Economy, Oscar Di Montigny, believes the time has come to shift from extraction to elevation. In his view, true leadership is no longer about control, but contribution. It’s about being valuable, not just valued.
This emerging paradigm demands a broader definition of success: one that includes the well-being of employees, the sustainability of ecosystems, and the empowerment of communities. Companies must ask: Are we building something that improves life, not just lifestyles? Are we leaving behind value, not just valuation?
This doesn’t mean abandoning profit; it means embedding it within a higher mission. Brands like Patagonia, Interface, and Danone are thriving examples. These companies balance purpose with performance, and the result is deeper customer loyalty, greater employee satisfaction, and long-term brand strength.
Di Montigny reminds us that this shift is a transformation from ego-system to ecosystem, from self-interest to collective interest. It’s about aligning business models with life models.
The Strategic Advantage of Ethical Excellence
Far from being a noble ideal alone, this shift is a strategic imperative. Today’s consumer doesn’t just want a product—they want alignment. They are informed, empowered, and values-driven. They want to know what a brand stands for—and who it stands with.
Investors, too, are looking beyond the balance sheet. ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) criteria are now influencing major capital flows. Talent—especially among Gen Z and Millennials—is choosing employers that match their ethics. And governments are introducing new regulations that favor sustainable practices.
Oscar notes that being “for the world” gives companies a unique advantage: resilience. In a market disrupted by technological, ecological, and social volatility, trust is the new currency. And trust is built on transparency, responsibility, and care.
This is why Wise Gate, the consultancy aligned with Oscar’s vision, equips leaders with strategic pathways to embed these human-centered values into every decision.
Companies that internalize this now will not only lead their industries—they will redefine them.
Leading the Future by Serving It
Oscar’s call to action is bold but clear: the future belongs to businesses that serve. Not just their shareholders, but their stakeholders. Not just markets, but humanity.
This isn’t a utopian dream, it’s a practical necessity. As the world becomes more connected, so do its challenges, and so must our solutions. Companies that understand this will become indispensable not just in their sectors but in society.
The Italian thinker argues that greatness is no longer about what you achieve, it’s about what you contribute. The best company in the world is no longer enough.
The best company for the world is the one that will endure.
