Beyond Proxies: Measuring True Ability

Sometimes people hesitate to mention that they attend a prestigious university like Harvard. Not out of shame, but because the moment the name is spoken, something shifts. Assumptions appear. Others immediately construct a story about intelligence, competence, and ability before hearing anything else.

But the reality inside such institutions is more complicated.

Two students can graduate from Harvard with the same degree and the same diploma, yet possess completely different levels of understanding. One might be able to break down complex problems from first principles and explain them clearly because they truly grasp the underlying ideas. Another might struggle to explain why the code they submitted even works. The label is identical; the reality is not.

The same dynamic exists with well-known companies. Saying someone "worked at Google" might mean they built a feature used by hundreds of millions of people. It might also mean they spent years attending meetings about the color of a button. The brand creates an impression, but it does not reveal the substance of the work.

Brand names, projects, and degrees are proxies. They signal what someone might have learned or experienced, but they are not proof of what that person actually knows or can do.

A system built around proxies is not truly measuring talent; it is often measuring access.

What ultimately matters is what exists in someone's mind in the present moment. Can they think clearly? Can they learn quickly? Can they solve problems they have never seen before?

That is ability. And ability does not appear on a logo.