Christien Renner

Young leaders have the drive, knowledge, and new ways of thinking in order to succeed, yet they often struggle to be taken seriously due to age bias, stereotypes, and perceived inexperience. Join Christien as he shares his perspective on leadership—including a deep dive into why emerging leaders must be identified early, how being a top performer does not necessarily make someone a strong leader, that succession planning is strategic, not optional, and why leadership training is essential. Major key: leadership impacts on KPIs, engagement and culture. Participants will take part in a “recognizing unconscious bias” activity. They will also leave the session with an understanding of how poor communication and weak succession hurts an organization, they’ll take away frameworks and tools for identifying talent with practical steps to develop and empower high-potential employees and understand the cost of not participating in leadership development.

When it comes to generational differences in the workplace, it often boils down to more than just a difference of opinion. Misconceptions in the form of stereotypes and biases can significantly impact communication and the way people function and work together. With technology advancing and changing the way workplaces operate (and even communicate), some may ask the question: “Can you teach an old dog new tricks?” Which sparks the counter question, “Are new tricks always necessary when the old tricks are backed with proven stats that they work?” With preconceived notions about each generation, there are bound to be misunderstandings, with each side thinking their way of doing things is the right way. Human factors can impact how we react, and those misunderstandings can create potential safety hazards. By understanding the nuances of each generation's approach, you can learn how to address generational differences in your workplace. Which side will you be on as the presenters each take the stance of their own generation and not only provide their perception of the other generation’s point of view, but also call on the participants to provide their input as well.