A Message from Our CEO – October 2023

“You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might find, you get what you need.”

--Mick Jagger

A new report from Adobe says that Gen Z is not in love with AI. But what they do love is learning hard skills. Gen Z grew up devouring terabytes of data. They have a remarkable ability to process and sort information with lightning speed. As an aging Xer, I watch with awe and envy as they tear apart a spreadsheet. Employers love this dexterity, but it’s useless if it’s not applied to a specific job or task. This is where hard skills come in—developing concrete and measurable abilities to perform a task at optimal levels. Gen Z is hungry for these hard skills, and about half say if their employer doesn’t provide them, they’ll move to a new job.

So, where does AI fit in? Don’t assume that they’re using it to complete their assignments. A puny 23% express excitement about using AI in the workplace. Writing a term paper is one thing, but navigating an agile environment daily is another beast.

The best thing you can do with this supercharged generation is to get to know them and build trust. They have a strong BS meter and can spot a fraud a mile away. Be authentic. Just be you. Embrace your dim-witted technology competence aging Xers! Make a friend, be a coach, and mentor a Gen Z today.

It. Pays. Off.

Warren