Joy Works

CHAPTER 11The Next Generation of Joy at Work

How will the next generation change the way we think about work, and how will they infuse work with more joy, justice, equality, and positive change?

Pass the baton

I'm extremely focused on the next generation that will soon lead Kearney, the firm I've been a part of for the past 25 years. Here's why: Kearney is a private partnership—with an emphasis on partner. Our goal is to build a firm that will outlast us by multiple generations. For that reason, I am extremely motivated to build a firm that is ready for the long haul and to coach and guide the next generation of colleagues who will lead it. I think of my work as a relay race to the next generation. I want this institution to outlast me and take on a purpose that is bigger than myself.

When I think about my legacy as a leader, I want to attract the best people to carry on the firm's mission. Years from now, when people hear my name, I want them to have a smile on their face.

This chapter is for the leaders who are in my shoes, preparing to hand over the baton. But it's also for the next generation: the members of Gen X, Gen Y, and Gen Z who are taking the reins, demanding a better way of working, and who are already making a serious impact on the world.

Join the “Great Resignation”—or is it the “Great Reflection”?

We can't talk about the youngest generations in the workforce without talking about the much‐publicized “Great Resignation” of 2021 and 2022 (and beyond?). You ...