For most of history, success was defined through conflict. From gladiators in ancient Rome to market share battles on Wall Street, the prevailing mindset has been rooted in scarcity: for one to win, another must lose. In Latin, this is captured in the phrase mors tua, vita mea—“your death is my life.”
Oscar Di Montigny proposes a radical shift: vita tua, vita mea—“your life is my life.” In today’s globally connected, digitally integrated, and ecologically fragile world, the fates of people, systems, and economies are more intertwined than ever before. The path forward, he argues, is not domination, but mutual elevation.
This is a fundamental expression of the Spherical Economy®—a multidimensional framework in which interdependence is not weakness, but the deepest intelligence we possess.
Competition as Conflict
Competition has long been credited as the driver of innovation, progress, and excellence. And it’s true—rivalries can push us to improve. But Oscar invites us to look deeper: at what cost?
This zero-sum model has created not only economic winners and losers, but also emotional burnout, cultural polarization, and systemic inequality. It builds borders between countries, barriers within organizations, and silos in society.
Worse, it promotes a mindset of extraction—of taking more than giving. In business, it’s led to exploitation of labor, depletion of resources, and aggressive tactics that reward short-term gains but sacrifice long-term value.
Oscar Di Montigny, known for rehumanizing business, sees this as a mindset of war, not wisdom. A model that once served a fragmented world, but is now outdated in a time of global interdependence.
The Shift to Mutualism
In contrast, Oscar’s emerging worldview centers on mutualism: the understanding that our well-being is inherently tied to the well-being of others. When we recognize this, we stop innovating against and start innovating with.
This isn’t wishful thinking, it’s already unfolding. Open-source software, cooperative business models, climate alliances, and public-private innovation hubs are thriving examples of mutual success. The fastest-growing movements in health, education, and sustainability are all rooted in shared progress.
Whether it’s entrepreneurs solving systemic issues, companies integrating ESG, or nations collaborating on global threats, our future depends on replacing rivalry with reciprocity.
This is the practical application of Humanovability, our capacity to evolve together as humans, not just as individuals.
Oscar sees this shift not as a soft ideal, but as an evolutionary necessity. Mutualism is the only viable path forward in a complex, interlinked world.
Co-opetition: A Collaboration Within Competition
Importantly, Oscar does not call for the elimination of ambition. Instead, he introduces a more nuanced model: co-opetition a blend of competition and cooperation.
In this paradigm, excellence is still pursued. Standards are still raised. Innovation still thrives. But it’s done within a framework of shared values and collective benefit.
Think of tech ecosystems where competitors share platforms. Or industries where companies collaborate on sustainability, even as they vie for market leadership. Or networks of entrepreneurs who coach one another, knowing there’s enough abundance for all.
Co-opetition doesn’t mean softening your edge. It means sharpening it alongside others, so the whole system improves. It’s a mindset where my growth supports yours, and your success enhances mine.
The Italian thinker believes this is the next step in conscious capitalism: ambition aligned with contribution.
Interdependence is the New Intelligence
Oscar’s message isn’t just philosophical, it’s profoundly practical. In a time of shared risks—climate crises, digital overload, economic uncertainty—the only way to thrive is together. The idea that “your life is my life” is not utopian. It’s a survival strategy.
The brands, leaders, and systems that understand this will shape the next era, not by standing taller than others, but by raising the floor for all. The future won’t be built by the most competitive—it will be built by the most collaborative.
And in Oscar’s worldview, that’s not weakness, it’s wisdom. It’s not a detour from success, it’s the path to it.
Because in a world where we’re all connected, your life truly is my life.