How does Gen Z leadership create a global business?
At the outset let me wish all of you and your loved ones a Very Happy, Prosperous, Healthy, and Peaceful Diwali and the year ahead from the WE-Matter team and me. We had a fantastic Diwali celebration with my wonderful young team at the office and my wife, Sarita Prashant, at home. My team is an extension of my family.
I recall a dear friend calling me a few years ago to ask me how he could align his solutions with the needs of the younger population. His company’s solutions were creating nice and memorable experiences. Expectations of experiences vary with generations.I told him to induct the younger generation and let them decide how to serve the customers better.
He was running a large business with an established senior leadership team. It was difficult for him to change the composition of the leadership team. But he did it.
Drawing learning from this conversation, when we set up W.E.-Matter a few years ago we decided to have young leadership team. Our research and model were based on addressing the needs of multiple generations and multiple industries. It was evident that this business requires a young team. I was also clear that if we must address the issues of hashtag#GenZ, we need Gen Z hashtag#leadership. I was fortunate to get a co-founder, Saurabh Jain, who was a fresh graduate from an IIM.
Recently, I invited a few members of my leadership team to a meeting with a prospective partner. He was surprised to see all Gen Zs in the leadership team. I explained to the gentleman that my entire leadership team except two people, including me, are Gen Z. This has helped create a global competitive advantage.
How?
1. Many businesses are struggling to understand how to engage and ensure performance from Gen Z. Our leadership team understands these issues and solutions naturally.
2. Gen Z leadership brings huge energy, aspiration, and innovation to the organization. They work very hard to achieve their aspirations.
They have changed our vision of leadership in India to Global leadership.
3. They are the future. So the future is now.
He understood the secret sauce of the success of W.E.-Matter .