From Planning to Possibility: How Nielsen Sparked an Intergenerational Conversation
When you bring four generations into one conversation, something special happens.
Stories unfold that remind us how much wisdom — and humility — it takes to truly listen across age lines.
Last month, on October 23, I had the joy of facilitating Nielsen’s Intergenerational Collaboration Panel — a conversation that grew out of months of planning with Trent Wondra, Shanna Cleveland, and the N-GEN and SPARK Innovation ERGs.
This was my fourth year partnering with N-GEN, and for the first time, they teamed up with SPARK Innovation to explore how age diversity can fuel creativity. Together, they embodied Nielsen’s 2025 theme:
“Change is coming — let’s grab it by the horns.”
The idea was simple but powerful: show how collaboration across generations isn’t just nice to have — it’s how innovation happens.
💡 Highlights from the Conversation
What began as a talk about work styles turned into something deeper: how we grow together.
Susan Butler shared how younger teammates helped her see that boundaries can boost performance. “They still get the job done,” she said, “just with more grace.”
Chris Nielsen described mentoring younger colleagues as “humbling and surprisingly reciprocal.” The flood of new ideas he once found overwhelming became the spark his experience needed.
Polina Borisova built trust with older partners by adopting their pen-and-paper habits — then introduced digital tools that made everyone’s work easier.
Each story revealed the same truth: the future of work isn’t about which generation is right — it’s about how well we learn from each other.
🧭 Our North Star: Agile + Crystallized Intellect
We explored two kinds of intelligence that drive innovation:
Agile intellect — fast-moving creativity and curiosity.
Crystallized intellect — seasoned judgment and perspective.
When these meet, innovation takes flight. One brings the spark; the other builds the structure.
It’s not about age — it’s about exchange.
🤝 Why It Matters
In a follow-up note, Polina captured the impact beautifully:
“It was powerful hearing how work-life balance and emotional well-being differ across generations. I’ll carry that awareness forward in how I work with others.”
That’s intergenerational collaboration in action: respect without rigidity, curiosity without judgment.
✨ Looking Ahead
N-GEN and SPARK’s partnership proved that innovation and inclusion grow stronger together.
And for me, it was a reminder of why I love this work: when every generation has a seat at the table, we build teams that last.
💬 A Question to Take With You
When was the last time you learned something unexpected from someone of a different generation?
That’s where the magic happens — in the everyday exchanges where wisdom and wonder meet.
Let’s keep learning from each other.
That’s how we build teams that last.
Warmly,
Mary