Women in Business Fall 2017

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start by figuring out what you want to do for a living (and
not necessarily what others think you should) and then
begin climbing that ladder. While there may be missteps
along the way, it’s the experience and mentorship from
others that help people gradually get closer to their career
goals. Those goals can also change along the way.
Later in their careers, many women look to give back by
mentoring others.
Women in Business talked to experts about the various
stages of building a career with a focus on the four
different generations in today’s workplace: generation
Z, millennials (also known as generation Y), generation
X and baby boomers. The mix of these four generations
presents both challenges and opportunities for employees
– and their managers.
“We’re unprecedented because there are so many
different generations and we all have our ‘stuff’ that we
bring with us,” says Terry VanQuickenborne, a Vancouver-based
organization and leadership consultant. “There
needs to be a great understanding of what motivates
people, and what drives them towards success. We all
want meaning in our work, since we spend so much time
there, but what that means may differ from one generation
to the next.”
GENERATION ZThis is the generation coming in as
interns or starting their first full-time jobs. For many in
this age group – and those at this age who came before
them – the challenge is figuring out what you want to
do for a living. “Find out what your core strengths are,”
says VanQuickenborne. “It might not necessarily be what
you’re good at – usually what you love you become good
at. Find your own path and explore.”
Lisa Martin, a leadership author and executive coach,
says it’s important for women at this age and career stage
to understand what they value in a job and to enjoy what
they do without putting too much pressure on themselves
to immediately succeed. “Go easy on yourself and see how
it unfolds,” says Martin. “Don’t be so worried about an
end destination yet; just explore. You’re trying to figure
out what you feel good in your skin pursuing.”
MILLENNIALSAbout half of the global workforce
consists of millennials. They’re a powerful force in many
organizations and are shaping the future of how work is
done, driven by technology including digital and social
media. Still, some millennials have found it challenging
to kick off their careers.
Millennials need to be patient but also proactive at
work, says Ashleigh Brown, regional vice-president at the
staffing and employment agency Robert Half in B.C. She
recommends they actively seek out mentors and people
to partner with on projects. “Remember that partnership
is a two-way street,” Brown says.
Some millennials are also in a hurry to advance their
careers or may be frustrated that they’re not further
along by now. Martin recommends treating a career as a
marathon, not a sprint. “If you’re lucky, it’s a long road,”
Martin says.
GENERATION XGeneration X doesn’t usually attract
much attention. When they do, there are sometimes
TERRY
VANQUICKEN
-BORNE
ORGANIZATION
AND LEADERSHIP
DEVELOPMENT
CONSULTANT
There needs
to be a great
understanding of
what motivates
people, and what
drives them
towards success.
We all want
meaning in our
work, since we
spend so much
time there, but
what that means
may differ from
one generation to
the next
complaints about being tired and stressed out from years
of having their head down at work.
Gen X has also seen a lot of change in their careers
to date, driven largely by technology that has upended
many industries. “They’ve had to be agile,” says
VanQuickenborne.
She recommends embracing change and continuing to
learn new skills. “If you can embrace the shifting landscape
and roll with it, then I think Gen Xers will be fine,”
VanQuickenborne says. It’s those that resist the change
who will be challenged in their careers moving forward.
BABY BOOMERS Women of this generation have
reached a career stage where they often have a choice:
retire or continue working to keep the mind active (and
keep the money rolling in). Some are seeking out shorter
workdays or more flexible arrangements, giving them
more time to travel, get in shape or spend time with
grandkids without giving up their careers entirely. “It’s
about what engages you. It’s different for everybody,”
says Martin.
At many companies, keeping baby boomers around and
engaged is a way to provide mentorship and pass along
institutional knowledge to the next generation. Baby
boomers can also pick up some useful skills from the
younger generations. “This is your chance to leave your
legacy,” says VanQuickenborne. “Provide mentoring,
and learn from the younger generation.”
DO WHAT YOU LOVE, NO MATTER YOUR AGEWhat
women want changes in each age and stage of their career.
What shouldn’t is how work aligns with your values,
Martin says. “While the workplace may change, your
core values should remain the same.”
For Averbach, that means growing her new business,
myCEO, which helps other entrepreneurs build
their companies – and maybe avoid some of the mistakes
she made in her career.
Averbach also wants to remain active in the community
of like-minded entrepreneurs looking to do business in a
more positive and creative way.
“I’m looking to work with others that, like me, want to
truly embrace the concept of being human in the digital
age,” says Averbach. “I had a lot of great mentors in my
career to date, who treated me well and with respect.
Paying it forward in that same way is what gets me out
of bed every day.”