When you hear the word “sharing” what comes to mind? Altruism? Charity? Philanthropy? In the years to come, I predict when business leaders think about “sharing”, they will have a different take than today. For the enlightened and entrepreneurial, the definition of “sharing” is already broadening in new and surprising ways. Value. Opportunity. Growth.

Business models throughout the 20th century were about protectionism. The empires of the era were built on the premise that knowledge, ideas and processes – “the crown jewels” – were always something to be locked in deep, dark corners of the enterprise.