We’re deeply underestimating young professionals
When I entered the workforce 30 years ago as a junior analyst with General Electric, I was shocked by how many accountants still preferred printing calculators and columnar pads over screens and Excel spreadsheets. Even at one of the world’s largest and most valuable companies, some of the brightest financial minds were doing complex calculations by hand. Putting aside how much this anecdote…
In the workforce three decades ago, many accountants relied on manual calculations using printing calculators and columnar pads, while some brilliant financial minds were still doing complex calculations by hand. Recognizing this, the author, who entered the workforce at General Electric as a junior analyst, emphasized the importance of mastering digital tools like Microsoft’s productivity software as a crucial skill for success in a demanding environment.
Today, the youngest professionals are the least AI-fluent, but they are rapidly becoming AI-native, inheriting the capability to unlock the elusive return on investment (ROI) of AI, despite being among the most apprehensive about its rise. Leaders must appreciate that these young professionals play a vital role in AI transformation and cannot be overlooked.
The generational tug-of-war between younger workers’ skills and speed, and their seasoned colleagues’ experience and judgment, will continue to shape organizations as AI becomes ubiquitous, transitioning from a superpower to a baseline capability.
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