Reflections on Over 15 Years of Impact

by Legatum Center Staff

Among the discourse on ecosystems, regulatory frameworks, and technical barriers, one story stood out, embodying the primary value of the Legatum Center's work. It's the story of Alicia Chong Rodriguez, an MIT alum and Legatum Fellow, and the Founder & CEO of Bloomer Tech, a platform generating digital biomarkers for women's health. Alicia shared how the opinions of her family and friends, advocating for the rational choice of secure employment post-MIT, overshadowed the bumpy road of entrepreneurship. It was within the Legatum Fellowship that she found support from individuals whose concept of rationality extended beyond personal comfort and career stability. For them, rationality lay in leveraging their skills and knowledge for endeavors that would make the world a better place.

Listening to Alicia and many other fellows that day, I was reminded of a quote by Steve Jobs from the "Think Different" advertising campaign by Apple Inc in 1997: “Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things differently — they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.”

In the halls of MIT, where technology and human aspiration merge to create progress, the Legatum Center has established a nexus where visionary pragmatism meets the boundless potential of diverse entrepreneurs. This blend of innovation and inclusivity is epitomized by the center's focus on principled entrepreneurship, which transcends mere business creation to instill a deeper sense of purpose and responsibility in its fellows. As we celebrate these fifteen years, we witness the transformation of lives through the center's dedication to fostering sustainable ventures that prosper while elevating societies. With each cohort, Legatum reinforces the belief that entrepreneurship is not merely about market success; it is about creating a more equitable and sustainable world.