Generations 2.0

You may think you know the generations, but Baby Boomers, Generation Xers and Millennials are carving out new territory as they evolve. And here comes the latest twist—the arrival of Generation Z. Just when you think you’ve bridged the gaps, it’s time to learn what’s happening now as the four generations continue to collide. This session will focus on navigating the multigenerational workplace, and offers strategies to recruit, retain and effectively communicate across four generations. We’ll consider how these generational insights impact customer expectations.

Learning Outcomes:

• Identify where all the generations are in their careers today

• Examine what each generation needs to be successful

• Discuss what it takes to connect with each generation of consumers

• Compare the biggest generational issues for leaders, managers, and individuals

David Stillman is not new to the generational conversation. For almost twenty years he has been called on by business executives, politicians and the media to share his expertise on how best to bridge generational gaps. David has appeared on CNN, CNBC, and the TODAY Show, as well as NPR and in Fast Company, The New York Times, USA Today and The Wall Street Journal. His creative communications work has earned him numerous accolades including gold medals at the NY Film Festival, the much coveted CLIO Award and most recently was named as one of 200 People to Watch by the Business Journal as well as one of the Power50. In addition to being an internationally acclaimed speaker on the generations, David is also the co-author of two best-selling books including When Generations Collide and The M-Factor: How the Millennial Generation Is Rocking the Workplace. David’s latest book Gen Z @ Work, published by HarperCollins, describes the 7 key traits of Gen Z. He has co-authored this book with his Gen Z son, Jonah.

Jonah Stillman Growing up, for 10-years, Jonah competed on the national US circuit in snowboarding. He was ranked in the top 5 in the US. Jonah is the co-author of Gen Z @ Work published by HarperCollins. It describes the seven key traits of better understanding and connecting with Gen Z in the workplace. GenGuru, the company which he co-founded with his father, has worked on Gen Z strategy projects with some of the world’s biggest companies, including Microsoft, The NFL, Gatorade, 3M, Universal Studio, NBC,Virgin and Clif Bar. He has shared his insights on Gen Z with CNBC, MSNBC, TED and CBS, and is featured in Fast Company, TIME, INC, Forbes, Fortune and The New York Times.

Success Magazine voted Jonah and David in the top 25 most influential speakers and authors.

Just Be(longing): Authenticity, Belonging, and Connection at Work

We’ve all felt that sinking feeling of not quite belonging. Altering ourselves to fit a certain mold for acceptance rather than being able to embrace our authenticity. When everyone is seen, heard and acknowledged authentically, intentionally and consciously, workplaces promote a sense of belonging rather than a longing to belong.

Is it easy? No. Can it be done? Yes, but it’s a continuous journey, not a destination. Ultimately, to belong means to be seen. If we cannot change the way we look, we need to change the way we see.

Learning Outcomes:

• Longing to belong: Small actions, large impact

• The art of authenticity: Four strategies to embrace your authentic self

• Leading with empathy: Encouraging and embracing courageous conversations at the workplace

• Inclusive meetings: Strategies for healthy dialogue, discussion, and debate

• Difficult conversations: Constructive, continuous, influential, inclusive and solution-based feedback

• The impact of purposeful and intentional vulnerability at the workplace

 

Tina Varughese is a globally recognized human connection expert and bestselling author. She inspires audiences with humor, humility and humanity to transform their workplaces into environments where employees feel empowered to share ideas, ask questions, take risks and communicate openly without fear of judgment or retribution. Her proven tools and techniques help organizations build cultures of collaboration, curiosity and compassion — remaining adaptive, agile and authentic to pave the way for impactful change.

Recognized as one of “Canada’s Top 10 Notable Speakers” by Ignite Magazine, Varughese’s practical, tactical, hilarious and thought-provoking keynotes inspire attendees to think, behave, act and communicate with intention. She is the bestselling author of 50 Shades of Beige: Building Bridges While Breaking Bias, and her work has been featured in the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, CBC Radio’s Eyeopener and HR Reporter. Past clients include Pfizer, Carnival Cruises, Hockey Canada, Kraft-Heinz, 3M and the Million Dollar Roundtable.

Varughese is the past-president of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (Alberta Chapter) and was part of McMaster University’s Future of Canada Council. She previously worked for the Province of Alberta’s immigration office and ran her own successful relocation and settlement firm.

Leading in an Age of Artificial Intelligence and Technology Acceleration

We are living during a unique moment in human history — and what’s coming next is radically different. Socio-cultural shifts, technological advancements and evolving geopolitics are reshaping our societal backbones — or “operating systems.” The convergence of exponential technologies like artificial intelligence, immersive realities and quantum computing is accelerating toward the singularity, placing us on the cusp of the Age of Acceleration.

Yet with all the promises of technological change, we find ourselves at a crossroads: what does it mean for the resilience of our organizations, leadership models and security?

This keynote is essential for leaders who don’t just want to survive but thrive amidst accelerating complexity. As technologies increasingly shape not only our systems but our very perception, the greatest skill for the future lies in tuning into the present.

Learning Outcomes:

• Guide you on a journey of radical and accelerating technological change

• Explore how leaders can reconnect to “full body leadership” — integrating body, mind, heart, intuition and interconnected awareness — to stay grounded in presence, sharpen perceptual clarity, and lead with purpose in a rapidly evolving world

• Equip you with actionable insights to enact radical evolution in your organization

Sam Rad (Samantha Radocchia) is the founder of Radical Next, a meta-media studio creating transformative stories, experiences and media productions that shape a positive future. Her upcoming book by the same name, Radical Next: Reclaiming your Humanity in a Post-Human World, explores how “radical next ideas” and technologies will transform societies in the decades to come.

She was amongst the first anthropologists to conduct ethnographic research living in the virtual world “Second Life” in 2009 and later, was amongst the earliest AI researchers to virtually clone herself.

A four-time entrepreneur, Sam has served in multiple founding executive roles across the C-Suite. She was previously co-founder of NYOUM, a London-based Generative AI communication platform, and Chronicled, a San Francisco-based blockchain company bringing trust to global commerce and supply chains. Prior to Chronicled, Sam founded two companies leveraging AI to map personal taste. Sam holds several patents linking the physical and digital worlds and is considered a pioneer in applied cryptography, blockchain systems, artificial intelligence, natural language processing, immersive realities and simulations. She is noted as inventing the protocols which would lead to ERC-721 or Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs).

Sam is the author of two #1 Best Selling books, Radical Next and Bitcoin Pizza, previously wrote as a contributor to Forbes and was named to the 2017 Forbes 30 Under 30 list.

True to her “Rad” name, Sam is no stranger to risk and has accumulated hundreds of jumps as an ex-competitive skydiver.