Generalist vs Specialist by Osman Daggezen 

“You have to focus.” 

“Pick one thing and master it.” 

“Be the best at something, not everything.” 

Sounds familiar, right? 

It’s the kind of advice we’ve heard over and over–in seminars, from recruiters, even from many outstanding seniors. The world today has built this myth that success belongs only to specialists. That if you can’t define your path in one specialization, you’re lost. That if you know too many things, you probably know nothing deeply. 

Somehow, the term specialization itself feels productive. It gives a sense of clarity. It makes you feel like you're doing what you’re “supposed” to be doing. But there’s a cost we rarely talk about: how this obsession of hyperspecialization quietly kills our curiosity. It pushes students to stay

in their academic lane, to overlook subjects outside their department, to dismiss cross-disciplinary learning as unnecessary or risky, and to treat exploration as inefficiency. 

While I am thinking more about this, I try to reflect and look back. The most impactful thinkers never limited themselves to a single domain. Leonardo da Vinci, for example–he painted, engineered, and dissected bodies. Moreover, Ibn Sina (Avicenna) was a physician, philosopher, and poet. 

Even in Indonesia, we can learn from B.J. Habibie, who is celebrated for his brilliance–not only in aeronautical engineering, but also in his influence that extended into public policy, ethics, and national development. In his work and writings, he consistently emphasized that innovation without an ethical foundation is hollow, and that science must be connected to humanity, dignity, and purpose (Habibie, 2006). He did not separate technical brilliance from social vision. Indeed, he embodied both. 

We can see other prominent heroes–Kartini, for example, who is often remembered as a women’s rights icon. But when you read her letters, you find a thinker far more complex. She spoke critically about colonialism, the failures of the Dutch ethical policy, the limitations of traditional Javanese structures, and the transformative power of education– not only for women, but for society as a whole (Kartini, 1964). Her concerns spanned ethics, policy, culture, and pedagogy. 

These figures didn’t operate within one discipline. They moved between domains. They asked questions that crossed boundaries. And perhaps that’s exactly why their ideas still matter today. These people didn’t just pick one thing and ignored the rest. Indeed, they have insights across disciplines, and their burning curiosity. 

Current research confirms this. David Epstein, in his book Range (2019), argues that in a complex and unpredictable world, generalists–those who connect ideas across disciplines–are more likely to produce groundbreaking innovations. Even in science, a Nature study (Uzzi et al., 2013) found that the most impactful research papers often combine disciplines that rarely intersect. 

So here’s the thing I keep thinking about: Why are students afraid to take a class outside their major? Why is “jack of all trades” still used as an insult? Why do we act like it’s risky to be curious? 

It doesn’t make sense–especially not in today’s world, where the problems we face (climate crisis, inequality, AI, mental health, social fragmentation, etc.) don’t sit neatly in a single department. Solving them requires collaboration between tech and policy, between economics and empathy, between logic and imagination.

And I say this as a reminder to myself, because I used to be terrified of not having a clear label. I thought being interested in many realms made me unfocused and just ended up being directionless. But then I realized–it actually helps me a lot in understanding today’s world, connecting with more diverse people, or even innovating ideas. 

The future needs people who can translate between worlds. Who can speak the language of both data and humans. Who can design systems and ask, “Is this ethical? Is this inclusive?” Who can build products, but also narratives. That’s why I believe students today need to be brave enough to explore more. To take detours. To talk to people outside their bubble.

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