With more than 150 gathered in the Liberty Ballroom, Experience's Jenny Floren is addressing the General Session.
Following some lively (and loud) networking around the room, the conversation turned to the topic on everybody's mind this week -- What Gen Y Wants.
After Jenny's remarks and some additional insights from Experience's Ed Wagner, in a few minutes the larger group will be breaking into 7 smaller groups to look at different pieces of that puzzle.
Posts
2 comments:
During my introduction to the conference, I reminded everyone that the economic challenges we're facing today are of epic, never-seen-before-in-our-lifetime proportions... but the urgency and severity of the situation might be **exactly** what is needed to create some significant changes that are long overdue. As all eyes are focused on the importance of the next generation workforce (b/c the economy depends on it, companies' survival depends on it, the US's stature in the world order depends on it, etc), we -- meaning 'all of us engaged in launching the careers Gen Y' -- might FINALLY have the attention, momentum, and resources that are needed to change the world. These crazy times might open up the possibility of making career preparation a must-have part of higher education... and the possibility of creating systematic ways to engage employers -- and their millions of employees as mentors/ teachers/ role models, and their billions of dollars to fund new initiatives -- in the education and preparation of the next generation work force.
There is TOO MUCH AT STAKE for those of us who CAN make a difference to sit by and watch things play out... it is so, so, SO clear that the old way of doing things need to change... WE need to change. WE need to be the difference. AND WE WILL.
One of my favorite quotes of all time is from the anthropologist Margaret Mead, who said: "Never doubt the ability of a small group of committed citizens to change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has."
Our "small group of committed citizens" is anything but 'small'... Together, we bring together the power of 10,000+ staff members at universities, 100,000+ employers and millions of employees (aka "alumni") those employers represent, and millions of students and alumni who are part of the Experience network -- not to mention the 60+ (and growing) team members at Experience who have more passion and commitment than I could ever attempt to put into words.
So I posed a challenge to everyone in the room: to pick just ONE of the bazillion breakthrough ideas that will be shared during this two-day conference, and COMMIT to bringing that idea back to your office and making it happen...
I can't wait to see what people come up with over the next two days!
Jenny's point that career services are needed now, more than ever, really rings true. A member of the administration at MIT used to refer to the Experience Alumni service when he spoke about MIT being a "womb to tomb" experience.
"Come here", he used to say, "and we will educate you, help you launch your career and keep interesting opportunities in front of you for the rest of your life."
Not a bad proposition for these times -- or any time.
Post a Comment