THE 90% CODE

Sharma calls on readers to embrace a new collective leadership style that matches the needs of the tech-driven artificial intelligence era.

This nonfiction work uses real-life examples and lived experiences to inform the author’s recommendations to utilize more collaborative leadership methods. Sharma, a systems strategist and entrepreneur, observes, “We’ve optimized for efficiency and eliminated the space for human connection.” Central to her argument is the idea of the “90 percent,” a term describing the majority of the world’s population that sits outside the centers of power, money, authority, and ownership—90% percent of people around the world own less property and exercise less power than the top 10% of people (“the 90 percent” is a devastatingly stark mantra used throughout the book to motivate readers to consider a different approach to leadership). The author explains that the traditional “Hero Model” of leadership is broken and unable to continue as it once did due to the extreme speed and volume of technology and information; now, things break and go viral before anyone has a chance to stem the tide, resulting in catastrophes that could potentially have been averted in a previous era when business ran at the pace of humans, not lightning-quick machines. Sharma suggests the use of collective intelligence as a possible solution, coupled with a selection of infrastructural shifts. The framework is timely and suited to the author’s inspirational style of writing, though the text can be tedious and preachy at times, due to the repetitive idealistic rhetoric (the book also includes copious illustrations, charts, and a large notes section with citations). Each chapter covers a way of practicing and implementing collective intelligence, and most include questions to prompt reflection on an individual or group basis. The book will no doubt serve as a useful manual for organizations aiming to drive meaningful change.

A reflective call to action for individuals, organizations, and humanity as a whole.