In Silicon Valley on February 19, 2014, the day after the protests broke out in Kiev, Ukrainian American WhatsApp founder Jan Koum signed a $19 billion deal to sell his company to Facebook. For Ukraine, that same $19 billion would have been the answer to its short-term bond, debt and gas bills.

The fact that Ukraine's economic lifeline could be equal in cost to the purchase of a mobile messaging app--created by a Ukrainian emigrant--exemplifies how much potential Ukraine has an d how badly that potential was being squandered under Ukraine's prior, Russian-model government. [...]

I often think back to the midnight shift on the janitorial crew. For many people I met on the job, their entire professional lifetimes would be spent pouring chemicals on the floor after a country music concert, even as they were capable of much more--if they'd simply had an option for career growth or the chance to go back to school.

There is no shame in these jobs, but there is great shame for society and its leaders when a life is made less than what it could be because of a lack of opportunity. The obligation of those in positions of power and privilege is to shape our policies to extend the opportunities that will come with the industries of the future to as many people as possible.