Can You Recommend a Younger Person?

More than once, I’ve spoken with colleagues in my generation and slightly older/younger who were contacted by a Retreat Committee or a Program Leader about an upcoming event their organization was planning for – say – next year. Conversations have gone like this:

Caller: Hi (seasoned leader!) ________ Conference Center/Our Congregation/Our Presbytery/Our Denomination is planning a retreat next summer and we were wondering . . .

Seasoned Leader (in their heads): Oh good. They’re going to ask me to keynote this thing.

Caller: . . . if you could recommend a younger leader to be our keynote speaker.

Ouch.

Also YAY.

I am a 60-something leader who knows many gifted 60-something and 50-something (and even 70-something) colleagues with proven records in leading talks, retreats, and workshops. You probably know them. They have written books and articles. They have led officer trainings and national conferences.

I speak from a privileged space in that I – too – have been asked to do a lot of cool things. And yet, I’m finding that – for myself – I am less likely to attend an event if the leaders are in my generation – or a contiguous generation. I need mentoring from fresh voices.

Using my privilege for good includes recommending people who are less known when someone asks for suggestions. Or if they ask me to lead a thing, this is a good time to offer other names.

A colleague was asking me recently, “What do we (seasoned leaders) do if we are no longer “in demand”? Where is our place? What is our purpose?“

Answer: We open doors, recommend, and introduce new leaders to People in Power, especially lifting up those who have been overlooked: People of Color, Queer People, Rural People, Differently Abled People, Differently Brilliant People.

Friends of a Certain Age: we have a really fun and satisfying opportunity here and let’s not miss it. Unfortunately, we will indeed miss it if:

• We insist on being in charge/in the spotlight past our time.
• We don’t know any younger visionary/entrepreneurial leaders – especially those who do not look like or think like we do.
• We don’t keep up with the writings/podcasts/talks of new generations of thinkers.

There are few things more fulfilling than mentoring (either subversively or overtly) new leaders.

My denomination’s General Assembly is happening now both online and in Salt Lake City through July 4. For those of you watching or participating: look for the young leaders. Notice them. Listen to them. Get to know them. We will be richer because of their ideas and voices.

Image of Basima Abdulrahman, Emmanuel Jal, Rizky Ashar Murdiono, Amelia Telford, Samaira Mehta, Gwendolyn Myers, Harry Myo Lin, and Beatrice Fihn who were leaders in the 2019 Davos World Economic Forum Meeting. At the risk of omitting other amazing leaders, I also recommend you get to know Ashley McFaul-Erwin, Andy Morgan, Matt Conner, Phanta Lansden, Natalily Kyremes-Parks, Zeena Regis, Kate Murphy, Liz Ward, Claudia Aguilar Rubalcava, and Noura Eid.

Also – please feel free to add more fresh leaders we should all know in the comments. Thanks.