<p>They both clearly impact lives, but you don’t necessarily get the credit (or get to see the people) depending on your position (you may impact lives in a way that those benefit take for granted). You would if you led or owned a company specifically designed to increase the quality of life of individuals I suppose. But let’s be honest, even “noble” professions have tons of selfish people doing it for rather selfish reasons. The reason they get credit when something goes well is because they directly interact with the people/stakeholders benefiting from their services. However, if the OP’s concern is worried about being challenged and becoming an innovator, there are so many pathways to do this and ways to develop the qualities of an “innovator” or creative thinker that there is no reason to believe that they must go on cliched tracks such as business or engineering. Again, that logic is what leads natural science oriented people to believe that the only way to use science to “help people” is to become a doctor. I don’t see how such logic from the get go transforms into a spirit of innovation, but anyway…</p>