GENERATIONAL
“As Michael Jackson once said, ‘The children are the future’. Times are changing. The world is living longer and expectations from younger generations are higher than ever. Organisations need to be flexible and agile in order to remain relevant.
Hannah was 21 when she first became a bank manager. She remembers one of her
cashiers reminding her that both her daughters were much older than Hannah!
Age is an intersectional dimension of diversity, equity and inclusion that impacts us
all.
For many years, Hannah was the youngest in the team; from a 16-year-old cashier,
17-year-old personal banker, 21-year-old bank manager, and 30-year-old vice
president to a 35-year-old global director!
Yet, why is age important to discuss when it comes to DEI?
We are in an interesting time – a time of great resignation. The war for talent, hybrid
working, portfolio careers, and the side-hustle generation is more important now than
ever before!
The older generation is not done yet! They still want to drive in the workplace; they
want to reskill and learn, whilst the younger generation is just getting started but
wants to work differently. They want to see clear progression pathways that are not
time-bound; they want to work a corporate job but also run a side hustle; they want to
work whilst travelling, and they also want social justice.
Organisations need to be ready and agile for the future of work! This is just the
beginning…
Hannah Awonuga is an award-winning diversity, equity and inclusion senior
professional who uses her voice and perspective to share her experience as a
female frontrunner and how she navigates the corporate world as a young senior
DEI leader.