So much has been debated and discussed about the Nobel Peace Prize that was awarded to President Obama. Peace is a relative state of the mind. For a person like me whose business has always been about making a positive difference to the world through path breaking initiatives, my attention was on Charles Kuen Kao, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his accomplishments in "the transmission of light in fibers for optical communication.”

Those who know about the development of optical fibers may be pleased as I am because this incredible man called Kao played a pivotal role in its development. Yes, Charles Kuen Kao is important for you, me and millions of professionals and individuals in the world.  Does it sound geekish?

Well, it's not, because Kao fueled the growth and development of those sheer waveguides known to route light and serve us across thousands and thousands of kilometers. These optical fibers function at the speed of light. 
So, here are 2 reasons why I believe Kao is a leader with extraordinary vision:

  1. Kao questioned and defied all the rules of conventional wisdom. Obviously, it worked, didn't it?
  2. People said that light could never pass through glass fibers. Kao saw it as a cheap, abundant and durable material which could also be the strongest to transmit data at astounding rates. He was right.

Today, when we talk about optical fibers and fiber optic cables, we need to respect this man for the lessons he's taught us - about breaking conventional streams of thought for a greater good that goes beyond making profits.

In a nutshell, it just boils down to something as simple as making history.