Nancy N. Heilbronner, the associate dean for academic affairs at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, New York, lectures internationally on topics related to gifted and science education. In this article she writes that we have not fully come to terms with two influential factors that will likely impact future STEM outcomes across the planet: (1) changes in which nations are the most productive in STEM; and (2) the extreme influence of poverty on both educational achievement and productivity. To emphasize the crushing impact of poverty on the planet she asks: What if the next great thinker struggles to find food and shelter in a deeply impoverished country? What if he or she has never attended a day of school? What is the extent of this loss to the child? To our world? To aid in the understanding of these issues, Heilbronner suggests that it may be helpful to consider the following questions: (1) What do we know about STEM "educational achievement" internationally; and (2) What do we know about STEM post-graduate "creative productivity" internationally? Keeping those things in mind, Heilbronner argues that we should begin to consider global achievement rather than national achievement in order to prepare all of the world's students to take their places in a changing global STEM landscape. Increasing STEM productivity for one nation does not necessarily take away from another nation, but rather raising the level for everyone becomes a win-win situation. Heilbronner proposes that education need not be a zero-sum game, and during the coming decades, policymakers must come to terms with the stark reality that for their citizens to prosper, they must show concern for all of the world's children.