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2013, we should also recognize that the current era presents us with huge opportunities for acceleration as ICT and Technology, in a broader sense, are the keys to fast-forwarding the SDGs. Technological innovation and pervasive implementation is helping to connect to new markets. Technological areas such as robotization, drones, 3D printing, and the Internet of Things (IoT) are innovative breakthroughs poised for an explosion of uses in our daily lives. And with these technological advances, there are new opportunities to connect people to knowledge that was previously inaccessible, and therefore break open new markets and reach new target groups. Education and financial services, for example, can reach people in rural areas and places where there has been little or no access. Smallholder farmers, for instance, which are estimated to number 525 million worldwide could benefit greatly from the technological advances. But this is only possible with access. For example, in 2015, 3.2 billion people had internet access. By 2017, this number has grown to nearly 3.9 billion, still leaving more than 3.5 billion people without it. With all the technological breakthroughs that are rapidly developing, internet access is crucial, and should be a priority.Technology will accelerate the achievement of the SDGs in many ways, including the use of smart grids that incorporate renewable energy sourced from consumers – creating a prosumer model in energy supply. 3D printing will transform conventional production, opening markets with estimates of 26.5 US dollars, and the Internet of Things presents endless opportunities as well with the prediction that by 2020 over 50 billion devices and objects will be connected to the internet. LEADING THE ACCELERATION The acceleration is much needed, as the progress in these past two years has simply been too slow. Business, in general, should definitely not pat itself on the back since there are current factors that are adding risks. The average turnover time for CEOs is getting shorter, as concluded recently by PwC, with the median CEO tenure falling to just 4.8 years in the UK, down from 8 years in 2010, and thus their leadership positions reflect those of politicians. Private equity is becoming relatively ‘long term’ in comparison to activist shareholders, and a lack of progress, even with Pictured: Marga Hoek’s new book“LEADERSHIP, DETERMINATION AND COLLABORATION ARE VITAL, AS IS RESTORING THE SOCIETAL CONNECTION TO PROGRESS AT LARGE”080 GLOBAL VOICES