The power of human movement | Benjamin Fernandes | TEDxPenn

Key Concepts

• Movement as a Catalyst: The fundamental idea that human movement, in all its forms, is the driving force behind discovery, cultural exchange, and progress.
• Migration as Ambition, Not Crisis: A reframing of migration from a negative, crisis-driven phenomenon to a positive force fueled by ambition and the pursuit of opportunity.
• Remittances: The financial flows from migrants to their home countries, highlighting their significant economic impact.
• Talent as an Export: The concept that the movement of skilled individuals from emerging markets is a significant, and often underestimated, economic contribution.
• Opportunity Gap: The disparity between the availability of talent and the availability of opportunities, which drives migration.

The Power of Movement and Migration

The speaker begins by illustrating the profound impact of human movement on cultural enrichment and discovery. Without people moving, we wouldn't experience diverse culinary traditions (like pineapple on pizza or Indian food), understand cultural nuances in communication (like punctuality), or enjoy global art forms (like salsa or Afrobeat). This movement, driven by passion, culture, and dreams, has transformed the world into a "museum of people's passion projects."

Personal Journey: From Tanzania to Opportunity

The speaker shares a personal narrative to underscore the transformative power of movement. Hailing from Tanzania, a country known as the setting for "The Lion King," his initial exposure to movement was through a British family who established a British school. This provided him and his sister with an international education, exposing him to British culture and, humorously, "beans on toast."

Despite excelling academically in his early years, his senior year report card in Tanzania showed significant struggles (Geography C, Physics U, Business E, Mathematics U), with "U" signifying failure and requiring a retake of the entire year. This academic setback, coupled with his peers' college acceptances, intensified his desire for movement and exposure to new opportunities.

After numerous rejections from universities, a small university in Minnesota offered him a three-month probation period. This conditional acceptance marked his first solo move to America at the age of 17. He humorously recounts the complexities of international travel and border control, given his Indian appearance, Mexican surname (Fernandez), and African passport, leading to frequent interactions with border officials. He also brought elements of his African culture to university, such as wearing a Maasai outfit for prayers, which initially made his professor wary.

Overcoming Societal Expectations and Achieving Success

The speaker addresses the societal pressure in many Asian and African cultures to pursue careers as doctors, lawyers, or engineers, framing other paths as failures. He notes that a significant portion of the audience likely falls outside these traditional professions.

During his trial period in America, he dedicated himself to rigorous study. He successfully passed probation, graduating four years later as the top student in his university. This achievement led to a full scholarship for an MBA at Stanford Graduate School of Business, making him one of the youngest Africans to attend the program.

Migration: Ambition and Economic Engine

The speaker emphasizes that his story is not solely about academic success but about the "opportunity that was driven by movement." Today, he runs a company that facilitates billions of dollars in remittances to emerging markets, a venture made possible by his initial move.

He challenges the prevalent negative media narrative surrounding "migration," which often frames it as a crisis. Instead, he posits that "migration is actually about ambition. It's about movement towards opportunity." He argues that countries like the United States are known for opportunity precisely because of the people who have moved there and contributed to its development.

Supporting Evidence for Migration's Positive Impact:

• Fortune 500 Companies: According to the American Council of Immigration (2024 data), 46% of Fortune 500 companies in the US have at least one migrant founder or leader. These companies employ 15 million Americans and contribute $8.6 trillion annually to the US economy.
• Unicorn Startups: 55% of startups valued over a billion dollars have at least one migrant founder.
• Prominent Examples: Google (Sergey Brin - Russian migrant), Tesla (Elon Musk - South African migrant), and Nvidia (Jensen Huang - Taiwanese migrant) are cited as examples of companies founded or led by migrants.

The speaker concludes that "migration isn't the crisis, it's the engine that powers progress. Because economies thrive not despite migration, but because of it."

Understanding Remittances and Migrant Behavior

Driven by his own experience and his company's mission, the speaker sought to understand the behavior and motivations of migrants, particularly concerning remittances. He conducted research in East London, engaging with migrants at churches and mosques to understand how they send money home. This personal engagement even led to an amusing encounter with the police, who turned out to be of Pakistani descent, just like the speaker.

This research informed the development of an application that enables people to send money to emerging markets in Asia and Africa. He highlights the significant volume of remittances, noting that last year, $647 billion was transacted by migrants in the US, UK, and Europe to emerging markets.

Comparison with Foreign Aid:

• Migrants sent home $166 billion last year, which is four times the amount sent for foreign aid. This underscores the critical role of migrants in supporting their home countries' economies.

The speaker reiterates that migration "doesn't drain countries. It actually fuels them and it creates a win-win opportunity on both sides." Migrants contribute to their host countries' economies and, simultaneously, stimulate their home economies through remittances, job creation, and business development.

The Story of Ruth: Sacrifice and Ambition

A compelling case study is presented through "Ruth," a Kenyan nurse working in the UK. She sends approximately 30% of her income home every month, missing significant family events like her father's funeral and her child's birthdays. Ruth's sacrifice exemplifies the ambition and dedication of migrants.

The speaker poses two critical questions inspired by Ruth's situation:

1. How can we enable migrants like Ruth to build long-term wealth in their host countries?
2. How can we create opportunities in their home countries so they don't have to leave their families in search of them?

Data-Driven Insights: Kenya and India

To further illustrate the economic impact of migration, the speaker presents data from Kenya and India:

• Kenya: While tea is Kenya's largest export, generating $1.2 billion annually, Kenyan migrants abroad sent home $5 billion last year, five times the value of the country's largest export.
• India: In 2023, India's largest export was refined petroleum ($55 billion), but Indian migrants abroad sent home $129 billion, double the country's largest export.

These examples lead to the crucial question: "Is talent emerging markets' greatest export?"

Conclusion: A Mindset Shift for Opportunity

The speaker advocates for a fundamental mindset shift regarding migration:

1. Stop seeing migration as a crisis.
2. Start seeing migration as an opportunity engine.

He concludes by emphasizing that "migration is the essence of movement. Movement is essence of migration." It is humanity in motion, driven by ambition and the pursuit of dreams. Migration is the "heartbeat of progress." The talk ends with a rhetorical question, prompting the audience to reflect on their own existence and the role of movement in shaping their lives: "Where would you be today if no one before you had ever moved?"