As part of our inaugural Northern Edition event in Manchester, Becca Clark, member of the micebook shadow board and account director at Smyle, took part in a Future of Work panel session, exploring negative next gen archetypes, a multi generational work environment and hybrid working.
In the second article of our new Next Gen Edit series, we caught up with Becca afterwards to see how she felt about the panel…
Going into the panel session, did you have any reservations about how your thoughts might be received when debating the perception of the next generation within the events industry?
I did have some hesitancy around the tropes surrounding the younger generations in the workforce. Gen Z especially are typically far more likely to prioritise their work life balance and maintain their boundaries, which perhaps feeds into the narrative that they can be “work shy” or “disengaged.”
I’m a big believer in that nothing changes if nothing changes. These topics are particularly prominent in the events industry, and are so important to tackle for all generations. It was so refreshing to have such an open conversation in what felt like a very honest and respectful forum.
How do you feel about working amongst five different generations?
It feels like we’re all stepping into uncharted territory a little here. Certainly, a one size fits all approach isn’t going to succeed given how different the communication styles can be.
That being said, I do think there are great opportunities for cross-generational learning. Personally, I’ve learnt so much from senior colleagues and have found their insight, experience and guidance so invaluable in shaping my own approach and working style.
On the flip side, having that continuous learning mindset works both ways and there’s a huge amount that newer generations can bring to the table. They have an inherent understanding of the new media landscape because it’s always been a part of their lives, and given the right forum, this knowledge can be shared up. When the challenge in clients’ briefs so often hinges on meeting younger audiences where they’re at, it’s a no-brainer to have voices from that generation in the room when you’re creating the solution.
What was your biggest takeaway from the panel session?
One of my biggest takeaways was the leader’s willingness to adapt and learn from the new generation coming into the workforce. It’s clear they recognise the value of new talent coming in and how vital it is for the future of the industry to appeal to, engage and retain them. I left the panel with a lot of positivity and felt eager to continue the momentum and conversation in sharing my learnings with the wider agency.
If you could give one piece of advice to someone wishing to enter the industry, or just beginning their career, what would it be?
Take every opportunity and apply for everything. It’s never too early to start expanding your network and LinkedIn is a great tool for this.
It’s also never too early to start building out a portfolio. Be that voluntary work, events you’ve been involved in through school or further education, or actual work experience, remember to capture everything you did (a short write up, some photos) and connect with everyone you met. Skills can be taught, but having the right mindset (and coming armed with the receipts) will get you a lot further.