I was headed into a meeting with a new client a chief technology officer let me
client a chief technology officer let me
client a chief technology officer let me explain I’m a management consultant and
explain I’m a management consultant and
explain I’m a management consultant and a leader in my organization so I’m
a leader in my organization so I’m
a leader in my organization so I’m headed to meet with this new client it’s
headed to meet with this new client it’s
headed to meet with this new client it’s our first time meeting face to face I
our first time meeting face to face I
our first time meeting face to face I walk into the conference room he turns
walk into the conference room he turns
walk into the conference room he turns he looks at me and he says well hello
he looks at me and he says well hello
he looks at me and he says well hello little lady you must be one of the
little lady you must be one of the
little lady you must be one of the summer interns why don’t you grab a seat
summer interns why don’t you grab a seat
summer interns why don’t you grab a seat in the back and take notes okay a little
in the back and take notes okay a little
in the back and take notes okay a little bit of a misstep there here’s what I
bit of a misstep there here’s what I
bit of a misstep there here’s what I fail to recognize a third of the
fail to recognize a third of the
fail to recognize a third of the workforce today are Millennials and by
workforce today are Millennials and by
workforce today are Millennials and by 2025 that number is gonna grow to 75%
2025 that number is gonna grow to 75%
2025 that number is gonna grow to 75% the face and behaviors of a leader are
the face and behaviors of a leader are
the face and behaviors of a leader are changing you know I’m an older
changing you know I’m an older
changing you know I’m an older millennial born in 1983 so I struggle
millennial born in 1983 so I struggle
millennial born in 1983 so I struggle sometimes and even calling myself a
sometimes and even calling myself a
sometimes and even calling myself a millennial and there’s two reasons for
millennial and there’s two reasons for
millennial and there’s two reasons for that first of all I am so much more than
that first of all I am so much more than
that first of all I am so much more than this one label yes I’m a millennial but
this one label yes I’m a millennial but
this one label yes I’m a millennial but I’m also a working mom a wife a
I’m also a working mom a wife a
I’m also a working mom a wife a preacher’s daughter an MBA and on and on
preacher’s daughter an MBA and on and on
preacher’s daughter an MBA and on and on there are many labels that make up my
there are many labels that make up my
there are many labels that make up my identity and second someone a long time
identity and second someone a long time
identity and second someone a long time ago just started decided to call our
ago just started decided to call our
ago just started decided to call our generation Millennials and since then
generation Millennials and since then
generation Millennials and since then we’ve picked up a lot of not so
we’ve picked up a lot of not so
we’ve picked up a lot of not so flattering stereotypes Millennials are
flattering stereotypes Millennials are
flattering stereotypes Millennials are often called entitled everybody gets a
often called entitled everybody gets a
often called entitled everybody gets a participation award but let me be clear
participation award but let me be clear
participation award but let me be clear about something I do not want a
about something I do not want a
about something I do not want a participation award I don’t you know
participation award I don’t you know
participation award I don’t you know what I feel entitled to
what I feel entitled to
what I feel entitled to I feel entitled to work in an
I feel entitled to work in an
I feel entitled to work in an organization where I believe in its
organization where I believe in its
organization where I believe in its mission where I believe in its purpose
mission where I believe in its purpose
mission where I believe in its purpose I’m Purpose Driven
I’m Purpose Driven
I’m Purpose Driven we’re often called narcissistic look at
we’re often called narcissistic look at
we’re often called narcissistic look at me you look at me but this one’s not our
me you look at me but this one’s not our
me you look at me but this one’s not our fault okay we’ve been creating we’ve
fault okay we’ve been creating we’ve
fault okay we’ve been creating we’ve been creating an online profile and an
been creating an online profile and an
been creating an online profile and an online brand about ourselves since we
online brand about ourselves since we
online brand about ourselves since we were little kids or brand oriented we’re
were little kids or brand oriented we’re
were little kids or brand oriented we’re often called distracted it’s always on
often called distracted it’s always on
often called distracted it’s always on to the next big thing and this one’s
to the next big thing and this one’s
to the next big thing and this one’s true but there’s a reason for it okay
true but there’s a reason for it okay
true but there’s a reason for it okay we’re constantly searching for something
we’re constantly searching for something
we’re constantly searching for something new something different something truly
new something different something truly
new something different something truly innovative we’re called social media
innovative we’re called social media
innovative we’re called social media obsessed this one’s also true but I
obsessed this one’s also true but I
obsessed this one’s also true but I think people fail to realize that this
think people fail to realize that this
think people fail to realize that this is a huge asset for an organization
is a huge asset for an organization
is a huge asset for an organization because we’re constantly connected and
because we’re constantly connected and
because we’re constantly connected and this one’s my favorite I’ve been called
this one’s my favorite I’ve been called
this one’s my favorite I’ve been called rebellious and irreverent hell yeah I am
rebellious and irreverent hell yeah I am
rebellious and irreverent hell yeah I am I call it courage you see today’s talk
I call it courage you see today’s talk
I call it courage you see today’s talk is for my fellow Millennials because it
is for my fellow Millennials because it
is for my fellow Millennials because it is time for us to take back ownership of
is time for us to take back ownership of
is time for us to take back ownership of this millennial label and show the world
this millennial label and show the world
this millennial label and show the world what it can really mean because here’s
what it can really mean because here’s
what it can really mean because here’s what I think it means purpose driven
what I think it means purpose driven
what I think it means purpose driven brand oriented innovative connected and
brand oriented innovative connected and
brand oriented innovative connected and courageous and whether we like it or not
courageous and whether we like it or not
courageous and whether we like it or not we are the future leaders and with that
we are the future leaders and with that
we are the future leaders and with that comes a responsibility we have a
comes a responsibility we have a
comes a responsibility we have a responsibility to shape the kind of
responsibility to shape the kind of
responsibility to shape the kind of world that we want now more than ever we
world that we want now more than ever we
world that we want now more than ever we have a responsibility to extend the hand
have a responsibility to extend the hand
have a responsibility to extend the hand to other generations we have a
to other generations we have a
to other generations we have a responsibility to show up differently as
responsibility to show up differently as
responsibility to show up differently as leaders it is time to own the label and
leaders it is time to own the label and
leaders it is time to own the label and I want to start with this notion of
I want to start with this notion of
I want to start with this notion of purpose because two out of three
purpose because two out of three
purpose because two out of three millennial state that the reason they
millennial state that the reason they
millennial state that the reason they join their organization is because of
join their organization is because of
join their organization is because of its purpose but where I’ve seen this
its purpose but where I’ve seen this
its purpose but where I’ve seen this kind of stall in this this you know
kind of stall in this this you know
kind of stall in this this you know desire to work with purpose is a failure
desire to work with purpose is a failure
desire to work with purpose is a failure to first define our individual purpose
to first define our individual purpose
to first define our individual purpose and then find the organization where we
and then find the organization where we
and then find the organization where we can live it
when I first started in my organization
when I first started in my organization at a lot of different assignments as
at a lot of different assignments as
at a lot of different assignments as most consultants do some work glamorous
most consultants do some work glamorous
most consultants do some work glamorous some were not so glamorous and on one of
some were not so glamorous and on one of
some were not so glamorous and on one of those not so glamorous I was complaining
those not so glamorous I was complaining
those not so glamorous I was complaining to my manager a lot I was saying this is
to my manager a lot I was saying this is
to my manager a lot I was saying this is not what I want to be doing this is not
not what I want to be doing this is not
not what I want to be doing this is not my purpose this is not you know what I
my purpose this is not you know what I
my purpose this is not you know what I made for I found it very entitled I
made for I found it very entitled I
made for I found it very entitled I guarantee it so one point she stopped me
guarantee it so one point she stopped me
guarantee it so one point she stopped me and she said Kristin what does he you
and she said Kristin what does he you
and she said Kristin what does he you want to be doing what is your purpose
want to be doing what is your purpose
want to be doing what is your purpose and I had to think about that because I
and I had to think about that because I
and I had to think about that because I don’t think I’d really defined it and
don’t think I’d really defined it and
don’t think I’d really defined it and finally I came back and I said you know
finally I came back and I said you know
finally I came back and I said you know what I want to put humanity back in
what I want to put humanity back in
what I want to put humanity back in organizations I want to work on
organizations I want to work on
organizations I want to work on inclusion and I’m not talking about your
inclusion and I’m not talking about your
inclusion and I’m not talking about your mother and father as affirmative action
mother and father as affirmative action
mother and father as affirmative action no I am talking about bringing
no I am talking about bringing
no I am talking about bringing individuals with diverse backgrounds and
individuals with diverse backgrounds and
individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences together in an environment
experiences together in an environment
experiences together in an environment where they can thrive and she said
where they can thrive and she said
where they can thrive and she said that’s it that’s your North Star
that’s it that’s your North Star
that’s it that’s your North Star now go do it so that’s the first step in
now go do it so that’s the first step in
now go do it so that’s the first step in owning the label define your personal
owning the label define your personal
owning the label define your personal mission and treat it as your North Star
did you know that 92 percent of
did you know that 92 percent of Millennials have a digital footprint and
Millennials have a digital footprint and
Millennials have a digital footprint and multiple online profiles okay that’s
multiple online profiles okay that’s
multiple online profiles okay that’s basically everyone right 92 percent we
basically everyone right 92 percent we
basically everyone right 92 percent we are very brand oriented by nature
are very brand oriented by nature
are very brand oriented by nature because we’ve been doing it since we
because we’ve been doing it since we
because we’ve been doing it since we were a little kid but it’s not just
were a little kid but it’s not just
were a little kid but it’s not just enough anymore to build the brand that
enough anymore to build the brand that
enough anymore to build the brand that we want we have to earn the brand we
we want we have to earn the brand we
we want we have to earn the brand we want in our organization see after I
want in our organization see after I
want in our organization see after I defined my purpose I realized that I had
defined my purpose I realized that I had
defined my purpose I realized that I had no experience I really had no business
no experience I really had no business
no experience I really had no business actually doing it yet many of you may
actually doing it yet many of you may
actually doing it yet many of you may have someone that you really look up to
have someone that you really look up to
have someone that you really look up to someone where you say that is who I want
someone where you say that is who I want
someone where you say that is who I want to be when I grow up well for me that
to be when I grow up well for me that
to be when I grow up well for me that person is Christie Smith she is an
person is Christie Smith she is an
person is Christie Smith she is an incredibly well-respected
incredibly well-respected
incredibly well-respected and influential leader in the world of
and influential leader in the world of
and influential leader in the world of inclusion and she happens to work in my
inclusion and she happens to work in my
inclusion and she happens to work in my organization so I knew if I wanted to
organization so I knew if I wanted to
organization so I knew if I wanted to work on inclusion I had to prove myself
work on inclusion I had to prove myself
work on inclusion I had to prove myself to her it took me years
to her it took me years
to her it took me years plural years leading various assignments
plural years leading various assignments
plural years leading various assignments working my butt off every day to try and
working my butt off every day to try and
working my butt off every day to try and show her I was capable and I could be
show her I was capable and I could be
show her I was capable and I could be trusted and finally one day I got the
trusted and finally one day I got the
trusted and finally one day I got the nerve to ask her a question that has
nerve to ask her a question that has
nerve to ask her a question that has ultimately defined the rest of my career
ultimately defined the rest of my career
ultimately defined the rest of my career I said can I just drop everything that
I said can I just drop everything that
I said can I just drop everything that I’m doing and work with you on inclusion
I’m doing and work with you on inclusion
I’m doing and work with you on inclusion and before I could go in any of my plans
and before I could go in any of my plans
and before I could go in any of my plans about this she stopped me and she said
about this she stopped me and she said
about this she stopped me and she said yes
yes
yes go wait you’re saying yes yes I can do
go wait you’re saying yes yes I can do
go wait you’re saying yes yes I can do this yeah I trust you go I had done it
this yeah I trust you go I had done it
this yeah I trust you go I had done it I’d finally earned this brand that was
I’d finally earned this brand that was
I’d finally earned this brand that was the moment that I became a leader so
the moment that I became a leader so
the moment that I became a leader so build your brand earn your brand on the
build your brand earn your brand on the
build your brand earn your brand on the label part of our generations brand is
label part of our generations brand is
label part of our generations brand is that we are the most racially diverse
that we are the most racially diverse
that we are the most racially diverse generation in the u.s. only 56 percent
generation in the u.s. only 56 percent
generation in the u.s. only 56 percent of Millennials identify as white this is
of Millennials identify as white this is
of Millennials identify as white this is compared to 73 percent of baby boomers
compared to 73 percent of baby boomers
compared to 73 percent of baby boomers we also define this term diversity
we also define this term diversity
we also define this term diversity radically different we define it in
radically different we define it in
radically different we define it in terms of identities experiences and
terms of identities experiences and
terms of identities experiences and ideas whereas other generations define
ideas whereas other generations define
ideas whereas other generations define it more in terms of representation
it more in terms of representation
it more in terms of representation demographics and equality this means
demographics and equality this means
demographics and equality this means that we approach teaming and
that we approach teaming and
that we approach teaming and problem-solving radically different
problem-solving radically different
problem-solving radically different we’re naturally innovative so be
we’re naturally innovative so be
we’re naturally innovative so be innovative and don’t be shy about it I
innovative and don’t be shy about it I
innovative and don’t be shy about it I do a lot of brainstorming sessions with
do a lot of brainstorming sessions with
do a lot of brainstorming sessions with my team and I showed up to one of these
my team and I showed up to one of these
my team and I showed up to one of these sessions with a set agenda and some
sessions with a set agenda and some
sessions with a set agenda and some ideas upon which I wanted to get the
ideas upon which I wanted to get the
ideas upon which I wanted to get the team’s input this was absolutely the
team’s input this was absolutely the
team’s input this was absolutely the wrong way to show up to a meeting with a
wrong way to show up to a meeting with a
wrong way to show up to a meeting with a lot of Millennials and I know this is
lot of Millennials and I know this is
lot of Millennials and I know this is true because when I went into the
true because when I went into the
true because when I went into the meeting and started talking about the
meeting and started talking about the
meeting and started talking about the guardrails for the sessions everyone’s
guardrails for the sessions everyone’s
guardrails for the sessions everyone’s laptops were up phones were out everyone
laptops were up phones were out everyone
laptops were up phones were out everyone was super distracted so I said okay guys
was super distracted so I said okay guys
was super distracted so I said okay guys let’s just stop for a second what’s
let’s just stop for a second what’s
let’s just stop for a second what’s happening here what’s going on
happening here what’s going on
happening here what’s going on one of my team members spoke up I said
one of my team members spoke up I said
one of my team members spoke up I said you know what Kristen can we just start
you know what Kristen can we just start
you know what Kristen can we just start with a blank whiteboard talk about our
with a blank whiteboard talk about our
with a blank whiteboard talk about our passions and our ideas and what we want
passions and our ideas and what we want
passions and our ideas and what we want to do and I said oh yeah okay let’s try
to do and I said oh yeah okay let’s try
to do and I said oh yeah okay let’s try that instantly laptops closed phones
that instantly laptops closed phones
that instantly laptops closed phones were down and what we came up with in
were down and what we came up with in
were down and what we came up with in that session was far more inventive far
that session was far more inventive far
that session was far more inventive far more creative just plain better it’s cuz
more creative just plain better it’s cuz
more creative just plain better it’s cuz he had an idea and he spoke up so be
he had an idea and he spoke up so be
he had an idea and he spoke up so be innovative and don’t be shy about it on
innovative and don’t be shy about it on
innovative and don’t be shy about it on the label okay since I started this talk
the label okay since I started this talk
the label okay since I started this talk how many of you checked your cell phones
how many of you checked your cell phones
how many of you checked your cell phones no no you have I’m not offended I’m your
no no you have I’m not offended I’m your
no no you have I’m not offended I’m your people okay
people okay
people okay the average millennial will check their
the average millennial will check their
the average millennial will check their device 27 times per hour
device 27 times per hour
device 27 times per hour 27 times what does that say about us it
27 times what does that say about us it
27 times what does that say about us it says that we are hyper connected to a
says that we are hyper connected to a
says that we are hyper connected to a network but we don’t call it a network
network but we don’t call it a network
network but we don’t call it a network do we we call it community and there’s a
do we we call it community and there’s a
do we we call it community and there’s a difference a network is about
difference a network is about
difference a network is about professional development and career
professional development and career
professional development and career advancement community is about support
advancement community is about support
advancement community is about support don’t just build a network build your
don’t just build a network build your
don’t just build a network build your community this is my son Jackson
community this is my son Jackson
community this is my son Jackson I know he’s really is back here when
I know he’s really is back here when
I know he’s really is back here when Jackson was born I took five months off
Jackson was born I took five months off
Jackson was born I took five months off of leave and the first week that I went
of leave and the first week that I went
of leave and the first week that I went back to work what happened little
back to work what happened little
back to work what happened little Jackson caught a stomach virus he had a
Jackson caught a stomach virus he had a
Jackson caught a stomach virus he had a fever at 102 he was throwing everything
fever at 102 he was throwing everything
fever at 102 he was throwing everything up he couldn’t sleep it was
up he couldn’t sleep it was
up he couldn’t sleep it was heartbreaking and I got really scared
heartbreaking and I got really scared
heartbreaking and I got really scared because I couldn’t figure out how I was
because I couldn’t figure out how I was
because I couldn’t figure out how I was gonna do my job and take care of my sick
gonna do my job and take care of my sick
gonna do my job and take care of my sick baby so I did what a lot of folks in my
baby so I did what a lot of folks in my
baby so I did what a lot of folks in my generation do I turned to social media I
generation do I turned to social media I
generation do I turned to social media I posted about my predicament within about
posted about my predicament within about
posted about my predicament within about five minutes I had a phone call from my
five minutes I had a phone call from my
five minutes I had a phone call from my mom and my best friend saying hey how
mom and my best friend saying hey how
mom and my best friend saying hey how can I help out a few minutes later my
can I help out a few minutes later my
can I help out a few minutes later my boss and my team started pinging me hey
boss and my team started pinging me hey
boss and my team started pinging me hey I saw your post
I saw your post
I saw your post what can I cover so in the span of like
what can I cover so in the span of like
what can I cover so in the span of like 20 minutes I had a solution for this
20 minutes I had a solution for this
20 minutes I had a solution for this predicament you know and that’s just a
predicament you know and that’s just a
predicament you know and that’s just a personal crisis imagine the power and
personal crisis imagine the power and
personal crisis imagine the power and the impact that you have through your
the impact that you have through your
the impact that you have through your community crowdsourcing ideas getting
community crowdsourcing ideas getting
community crowdsourcing ideas getting information problem solving being
information problem solving being
information problem solving being connected is a huge asset for our
connected is a huge asset for our
connected is a huge asset for our generation so don’t just build a network
generation so don’t just build a network
generation so don’t just build a network build leverage and impact your community
build leverage and impact your community
build leverage and impact your community own the label you know I want to talk a
own the label you know I want to talk a
own the label you know I want to talk a little bit about courage now 61% of
little bit about courage now 61% of
little bit about courage now 61% of Millennials are worried about the state
Millennials are worried about the state
Millennials are worried about the state of the world and in light of recent
of the world and in light of recent
of the world and in light of recent events I think that’s pretty
events I think that’s pretty
events I think that’s pretty understandable
81% have donated time money or resources
81% have donated time money or resources an 84% believed that making a positive
an 84% believed that making a positive
an 84% believed that making a positive difference in the world is more
difference in the world is more
difference in the world is more important than professional recognition
important than professional recognition
important than professional recognition we are activists and we have a lot of
we are activists and we have a lot of
we are activists and we have a lot of courage but here’s the most important
courage but here’s the most important
courage but here’s the most important thing that I’m gonna tell you today
thing that I’m gonna tell you today
thing that I’m gonna tell you today having the courage to stand apart is
having the courage to stand apart is
having the courage to stand apart is required before you can lead others to
required before you can lead others to
required before you can lead others to stand together do you remember that
stand together do you remember that
stand together do you remember that story I told you at the beginning about
story I told you at the beginning about
story I told you at the beginning about my client let me tell you how it ends
my client let me tell you how it ends
my client let me tell you how it ends and every meeting after that started
and every meeting after that started
and every meeting after that started with the same well hello a little lady
with the same well hello a little lady
with the same well hello a little lady or you remind me of my daughter or
or you remind me of my daughter or
or you remind me of my daughter or you’re pretty so it doesn’t matter for
you’re pretty so it doesn’t matter for
you’re pretty so it doesn’t matter for smart now what I realized is my team was
smart now what I realized is my team was
smart now what I realized is my team was losing respect for me because I didn’t
losing respect for me because I didn’t
losing respect for me because I didn’t stand up for myself or for them so one
stand up for myself or for them so one
stand up for myself or for them so one day I confronted him I had to I said
day I confronted him I had to I said
day I confronted him I had to I said listen I am highly qualified to do this
listen I am highly qualified to do this
listen I am highly qualified to do this work but I can’t continue to work with
work but I can’t continue to work with
work but I can’t continue to work with you when you’re treating me with such
you when you’re treating me with such
you when you’re treating me with such disrespect if you want me to find a
disrespect if you want me to find a
disrespect if you want me to find a replacement I’m happy to do that just
replacement I’m happy to do that just
replacement I’m happy to do that just you know they won’t be as good as I am
you know they won’t be as good as I am
you know they won’t be as good as I am with that I left the conference room
with that I left the conference room
with that I left the conference room went back to my desk sat down and
went back to my desk sat down and
went back to my desk sat down and panicked what did I just do instantly
panicked what did I just do instantly
panicked what did I just do instantly I’m thinking well I’m fired and I there
I’m thinking well I’m fired and I there
I’m thinking well I’m fired and I there was my parents will let me move back in
was my parents will let me move back in
was my parents will let me move back in with them and then suddenly I heard that
with them and then suddenly I heard that
with them and then suddenly I heard that familiar diddly
familiar diddly
familiar diddly it was an Outlook invite from that
it was an Outlook invite from that
it was an Outlook invite from that client for a meeting later in the week
client for a meeting later in the week
client for a meeting later in the week to continue our work I couldn’t believe
to continue our work I couldn’t believe
to continue our work I couldn’t believe it I I got through to him and bonus I
it I I got through to him and bonus I
it I I got through to him and bonus I didn’t get fired courage courage makes
didn’t get fired courage courage makes
didn’t get fired courage courage makes this generation special it makes us
this generation special it makes us
this generation special it makes us worthy of followers
worthy of followers
worthy of followers it makes us leaders so have courage be
it makes us leaders so have courage be
it makes us leaders so have courage be strong own the label
strong own the label
strong own the label see it’s time for us to take back
see it’s time for us to take back
see it’s time for us to take back ownership of this millennial label and
ownership of this millennial label and
ownership of this millennial label and show the world how it equips us to be
show the world how it equips us to be
show the world how it equips us to be great leaders so let’s do it let’s own
great leaders so let’s do it let’s own
great leaders so let’s do it let’s own the label thank you
the label thank you
the label thank you [Applause]
”
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