A Native Digital Talent Thought Experiment, with Adam Levin, CEO of Information Experts, and Steven Keith, Chief Experience Officer at CX Pilots
Picture this: legislation from the top above mandates that you replace HALF your staff with the younger crowd--- under 30s! 🙀
I know, it sounds wild, but stick with me!
In this exciting episode, we've got not one, but TWO incredible executives on board to help us unravel this mind-boggling scenario.
Adam Levin, the CEO of Information Experts,
and Steven Keith, the Chief Experience Officer at CX Pilots.
We’ll ask our guests about how businesses should adapt to this new generation.
These two powerhouses will be our guides as we venture into the Gen Z takeover.
Now, we know the real world isn't going to flip overnight,
but trust me, the takeaways from this convo are MIND-BLOWING!
Imagine completely reorganizing your company culture or hierarchy to sync with Gen Z's vibe.
These two boutique consulting firms, Information Experts and CX Pilots, have some radical ideas!
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A Case Study
Today you’ll get a glimpse into a think tank.
What if a brand-new law mandated replacing at least half of your team with tech-savvy, native digital humans under 27?
Steven and Adam have some fascinating perspectives on how their companies would adapt to this digital revolution.
Adam highlights that the first step might be embracing Gen Z's intuitive digital flair, focusing on design as a starting point.
"The easiest point would be to start with design since they're intuitively digital." - Adam Levin
His thoughts on the prospect of suddenly replacing a significant portion of their team with native digital humans appeared exceptionally challenging.
Their company prides itself on being sought after for its experience and expertise
and the potential mismatch in perceptions between the seasoned clientele and the young, digitally native workforce posed a notable challenge.
"It would be a challenge for me to put that demographic in front of my clients." - Adam Levin
On the other hand, we've got Steven who is all in for the Gen Z takeover, stating,
"I'd love it! Sure, it comes with significant challenges, like ageism. But some of the smartest ideas come from surprising packages, like a 22-year-old genius who blows us away with game-changing concepts."-- Steven Keith
Nonetheless, they recognized the importance of embracing change and exploring innovative solutions to make this transition work seamlessly.
It was clear that they were determined to navigate these obstacles and find a path towards a successful integration of native digital talent into their team.
AI and Gen Z
Taking it a step further, we contemplated the remarkable possibilities if Gen Z talents were half our staff.
Adam offered valuable insights, saying
"If you can leverage that technology again to create really dynamic deliverables, the clients aren't going to care who did, who worked on those."
It's clear that the integration of AI could revolutionize our deliverables and bring unparalleled value to our clients.
We also pondered whether these young individuals, equipped with AI capabilities, could potentially make an astounding career leap in terms of knowledge and strategies.
Adam acknowledged the potential for growth but emphasized the importance of experience and expertise gained over time, which remains irreplaceable.
Steven shed light on an intriguing epistemological conundrum—AI's capacity to present knowledge versus applying it effectively. He aptly pointed out,
"You can create and present the knowledge... but you can't create the step above knowledge, which is applied knowledge or wisdom."
This highlighted the significance of human-to-human connections and the unique value that experience, and institutional memory bring to decision-making processes.
By striking a balance between leveraging cutting-edge technologies and harnessing the power of experience and expertise, we can create a powerful synergy that propels our business to new heights.
Beyond Generations
Adam highlighted the mindset of the younger generation...
stating that they naturally think about how to leverage technology to its fullest potential, which can be a significant advantage for businesses.
"Having that mindset would be huge. Like an automatic, hey, how do we leverage the best technology out there? I think that's great."---Adam Levin
While we explored the concept of generational differences
Steven expressed his interest in having a team of digital natives dedicated to creative problem-solving and envisioning solutions that bridge the gap between digital experiences and human touchpoints.
He believed that the differences between generations might be less substantial than commonly thought and viewed the experiences as more of a gradient without clear boundaries.
"I'm not fully bought into the like Gen Z, Gen X, Gen Y, Millennial thing. Like to me, they're largely inconsequential because I grew a couple of them, and I deal with them all the time." - Steven Keith
In the end, both Steven and Adam emphasized the importance of mutual respect, flexibility, and effective communication as universal themes that transcend generational labels.
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Meet Adam and Steven!
Adam Levin is a CEO and Chief Marketing Officer of Information Experts, Adam formulates the company’s growth strategy & marketing strategy, and leads the company’s business development efforts to ensure the company still is known as one of the most successful organizations in the industry.
In addition to running Information Experts, Adam is the Chief Marketing Officer, Partner for NeXco National. He handles creating, communicating and delivering offerings that create value for customers, clients and business partners.
Stephen Keith, the Chief Experience Officer at CX Pilots is an extraordinary individual hailing from Iowa, Minneapolis, and Chicago. He had 10 years in college.
Steven's life has been an enchanting medley of roles, encompassing brain surgery on lab rats, taxi driving in a college town, scriptwriting, and trading cigars all simultaneously. Along the way, he braved four near-death encounters that shaped his perspective on life.
As a devoted parent, Steven's unwavering love and commitment were evident in raising his son who has autism. Embracing his entrepreneurial spirit, he fearlessly established two thriving companies, showcasing his resilience and innovative spirit.
Despite navigating challenges, including 19 job dismissals out of 21, Steven's indomitable spirit remains steadfast. Above all, his genuine concern and empathy for others have endeared him to many as a compassionate and cherished individual.
Links and Mentions:
www.cxpilots.com | Steven Keith | LinkedIn
www.informationexperts.com | Adam Levin | LinkedIn
