2026 Opening Address
Zap the Generational Gap: Transforming, Recruiting, Retaining and Engaging Multi-Generational Teams
Advisory firms are navigating an unprecedented mix of generations. Younger professionals are building their careers in a rapidly shifting environment, while seasoned leaders are adapting to new technologies and evolving workplace expectations. For firms focused on growth, talent development, and long-term sustainability, understanding these dynamics is no longer optional. It is essential.
Meagan Johnson鈥檚 General Session gives Large Firm Forum attendees a practical, engaging look at how to bridge these differences and strengthen team performance. She blends research, humor, and industry insights to help leaders recognize what shapes each generation鈥檚 expectations and how those expectations influence communication, collaboration, and workplace culture. Attendees will walk away with tools they can put to work immediately.
The program will cover:
- What defines each generation, and how early signposts influence workplace behavior
- Strategies for building a culture that supports generational diversity
- Engagement drivers that matter across all age groups
- How perceptions of leadership differ between generations and how to adapt
For firms working to recruit top talent, retain rising leaders, and create environments where every generation thrives, this will set the tone for a more connected and resilient future. Meagan鈥檚 message underscores a simple truth: when leaders understand the people around them, they unlock stronger teams, smoother communication, and better business outcomes.
The program explores:
- Key characteristics of each generation and the signposts that shaped them
- How to build a culture that welcomes generational diversity
- What drives engagement across different age groups
- How leadership perceptions shift among generations and why those shifts matter
Meagan reinforces a central message throughout her work: recognizing and valuing generational differences creates stronger teams, healthier cultures, and better outcomes. The desire to connect has not changed, even as the workplace has evolved. When leaders understand the expectations and motivations of the people around them, they can foster collaboration and reduce friction.
About Meagan Johnson
Meagan Johnson is a nationally recognized speaker, author, and expert on multi-generational dynamics. Since 1997, she has focused her research and consulting on helping organizations build cultures that support collaboration across age groups. Her work moves past stereotypes and digs into what truly drives each generation to succeed.
Meagan has partnered with more than a thousand clients, including Boeing, Intel Corporation, Pepsi, Procter and Gamble, Sodexo, and many others across a range of industries. She is the co-author of the best-selling book Generations Inc., and has been featured in outlets that include the Chicago Tribune, CNNMoney.com, US News and World Report, and the New York Times. Her commentary has appeared on NEWSY.com, CBSN, ABC Talk Live, and NPR, and she was recently a guest on the Dr. Phil show.
Meagan leads Meagan Johnson Inc. from Phoenix, Arizona, where she lives with her husband and three very drooly dogs.