Presenter: Steve Robertson

More than half of the world’s population is under 30, and Gen Z is now the largest cohort in both the workforce and the customer base. This workshop reframes Gen Z as a preview of how the whole world of work is changing. We explore the “perfect storm” that has shaped this generation, accelerating technology, 24/7 fear-driven news, social media, an epidemic of under-management, and how those forces are quietly reshaping every organization.

Drawing on years of work with tens of thousands of young people and staff around the globe, Steve introduces a practical model for moving from an old “blue world” of ownership and loyalty to a new “green world” of subscriptions, access, and optional commitment. Through vivid stories and real data, participants see why traditional leadership tools no longer produce the same fruit, and what next?generation leadership actually looks like in practice. Leaders leave with a new lens on their people and a set of simple, scalable tools to turn employees into “subscribers” who choose to stay, grow, and contribute at a higher level.

Value to Participants

Gaining a New Perspective
Attendees will experience how a genuine shift in perspective precedes any sustainable shift in behavior, culture, or results. They will see why Gen Z’s behavior is a logical response to their environment, and how rethinking assumptions about work, loyalty, and accountability can unlock new options for leading every generation more effectively.

The Power of Narrative
You will learn how to use narrative to make work meaningful in a subscription world—connecting roles to purpose, progress, and impact. They will see how intentional stories and language shape culture, drive engagement, and significantly influence both recruitment and retention, even in “ordinary” roles.

Upskilling for Leadership
Attendees will discover a practical leadership “DNA” they can apply one person at a time: building trust, setting clear goals, co?creating simple plans, and holding people to earned wins. You will learn how to use narrative to make work meaningful in a subscription worl

Key Takeaways

• Business Perspective and Strategic Narrative
  Participants recognize how a new lens on Gen Z and the blue-to-green shift can reshape strategy, decision-making, and long-term positioning. They learn to craft and use strategic narrative to strengthen culture, retention, and recruitment.

• Understanding and Engaging the Younger Generation
  Participants gain a grounded understanding of Gen Z’s drivers and fears, and specific ways to engage them without lowering standards. They learn how to leverage generational “legacy wisdom” so younger and older employees both win.

• Organizational Culture, Retention, and Recruitment
  Participants identify new, practical strategies to build a compelling culture that keeps their best people from “quiet quitting” and attracts talent in a tight labor market. They see how to compete not just on compensation, but on meaning, growth, and leadership.

• Workplace Challenges
  Participants develop a simple blueprint to address the “big five” challenges—stress, work-life balance, burnout, engagement, and retention, using the same next-generation leadership tools introduced in the workshop.