APRIL 21, 2009

“iPoders”

I’m a Millennial (or if you prefer, one of the 95 million people born between the years 1980 and 2000), and it always fascinates me to see what non-millennials have to say about my generation. That’s why I was drawn to an article in The Financial Times earlier this month entitled, “Internet-savvy leaders waiting in the wings.”  It was written by the dean of the School of Business and Technology at Webster University, Benjamin Akande, and he spends the article analyzing Harvard Business School Professor James Heskett’s new book: How Will Millennials Manage?. Heskett’s book addresses our future leaders (that would be the Millennials, or the “iPoders,” as Akande calls us) and our need to embrace change.

According to Akande, embracing change won’t be a problem for us, especially given that we’re the first generation to grow up with digital media, where change happens at break-neck speeds.  He says:

So what will the future look like with iPoders at the helm? It will be a future of innovative doers, who value independent thought. To stay relevant, organisations must successfully recruit and retain them. Andrea Hershatter, associate dean at Goizueta Business School, Emory University, says of iPoders: ‘They don’t feel entitled because they are special. They just want to have those who are closest to them support their quest to achieve and accomplish meaningful goals.’

Why is this quote my favorite part of the whole piece? Because I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to hear older generations voice their support for and confidence in my generation. It’s nice to know that some actually have faith in our ability to achieve great things — unlike others who simply view us as “trophy kids.”

Like Akande and Hershatter, businesses should take note and begin to recruit and embrace the innovative minds of the iPoders.  Those who don’t will miss out our “innovative minds,” and inevitably, fall behind the curve.