Carlos Slim and the Power of Technology

Carlos Slim is a business leader as well as a man who has spent his life working hard to assist those less fortunate by utilizing technology as a tool for advancement. His dedicated work has been a means to help raise the impoverished to new heights in society.

Technology to Improve Mexico's Future

Recently, Slim attended the US-Mexico Summit in Queretaro, Mexico. While there, Slim voiced his thoughts on poverty. He said that there are 120 million people in Mexico, but only 48 million are active in the population; while another 20 million are earning social security. He emphasized that there needs to be further investment in employment-generating economic activity and education.

Slim believes technology can improve the lives of many living in Mexico. Many people living below the poverty line do not have access to the Internet or to devices that would assist them with work opportunities, healthcare or education. Slim believes the government should help people access the technology they need. He believes it should be a top priority for all officials in order to raise the income levels of their constituents.

Carlos Slim presented his ideas to the Mexican government as a way to persuade them to focus on the number of people who do not have computers and/or Internet access and don't benefit from the opportunities available to them online. One of the benefits brought up is the potential growth of the society. With education through technology, people will be able to seek employment that pays better. This can lead to a major relief for the government in providing financial assistance.

Slim also brought up a benefit that is more in line with the goals of the government - growing businesses to improve the economy. Technology can help small and mid-sized businesses grow, which could lead to the creation of many more jobs. He said that the government should continue to support these small and medium sized business since 8 to 10 jobs are created by them. These jobs will lower the unemployment rate and bring many people above the poverty line.

In addition to education, more jobs, and the ability to find them through the use of technology, Slim hopes that the education found online will help citizens take better care of themselves. With health information, people will be able to know the benefits of eating healthy, exercising, and seeking medical care. This will lead to leading healthier lifestyle that will increase the productivity of workers.

Bridging the Income Gap with Access Latino

Aside from speaking at the US-Mexico Summit, Carlos Slim and the Carlos Slim Foundation started an online site called Acceso Latino this year (accesolatino.org) to help bridge the income inequality within the US Latino community. It was created to assist with all of the issues that the Latino community faces today around education, job creation, and healthcare. There are links to on how to locate employment opportunities that will greatly benefit job seekers. There is also information so families and individuals can find affordable healthcare as well as free online educational opportunities.

Finding a good job opportunity will assist families financially, but Slim wants to ensure that people in the Latino community don't discount the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Health information is presented in a friendly to use format-allowing people to focus on issues from their children's immunizations to the importance of family annual physicals and much more to stay healthy.

Rising Above in Business as well as Compassion for Mankind

Many business owners have great success with their financial gains through their business ventures. Carlos Slim has been very successful as a businessman, yet he has taken his gains to help others grow successfully as well. His compassion for humanity, especially for those in Mexico and more recently for Latinos in the United States, has shown his true character as a man who wants not only personal success but also wants to see everyone succeed in life.

Slim has risen above others in the business world with the technology advances that he has implemented for lower income families throughout the hemisphere. The compassion that Slim has shown will help families grow and succeed, and will help society as a whole to grow and flourish financially as well as educationally. The steps he has taken today will ensure a brighter tomorrow for not only Mexicans and the US Latino community, but also for the entire region if governments and individuals follow his plan for success.

Reference: http://www.jornada.unam.mx/ultimas/2014/10/26/la-mejor-inversion-en-mexico-es-combatir-la-pobreza-dice-slim-306.html

David Flores is a freelance writer who focuses on digital technologies, internet inclusion, and online education.