Next Gen Now Summit Speaker Spotlight: Carly Silberstein

On October 30, the Next Gen Now Summit takes place virtually and in-person in Washington DC. Featuring 25 thought leaders, policy experts, and community innovators, the Summit is focused on solving critical challenges at the intersection of work, education, and leadership.

XYZ University's CEO, Sarah Sladek, organized the Summit to gather and share best practices on workforce trends, engagement strategies, and reaching the next generation. Speakers include leaders from organizations trailblazing the future -- and over the course of the next two weeks, we're featuring insights from the amazing line-up of speakers here on our blog.  

Stay tuned! And for more information or to register, visit: https://nextgennowsummit.com/.

Carly Silberstein is the CEO of Cielle&Co

What inspired you to focus on generational engagement and inclusive leadership?

I spent the early years of my career as the youngest—and often only—woman in rooms full of seasoned, traditional decision-makers. I quickly saw that meaningful progress requires both curiosity from the younger generation and openness from the older one. Inclusive leadership, to me, means co-creating across experience levels, not waiting for change to be handed down.

What excites you most about participating in the Next Gen Now Summit?

I love that this summit isn’t just about ideas (although I am very much an ideas person)-it’s about action. I’m excited to share space with others who believe that generational change isn’t a threat, it’s an invitation to build better systems, together. Added bonus, that I get to be IRL with Sarah Sladek, the pioneer in this space.

In your view, what is the most pressing challenge organizations face in engaging

younger generations today?

Too many organizations treat engagement like a checklist—perks, hybrid policies, maybe a Gen Z intern on the DEI committee. But what younger generations really want is influence, not just inclusion. If we can’t co-create with them, we’ll lose them.

What emerging trends do you believe will significantly impact intergenerational

collaboration in the next five years?

The rise of portfolio careers and entrepreneurial mindsets will redefine what loyalty and leadership look like. As more Gen Z and Millennial professionals build their own lanes, organizations will need to shift from retention-focused models to collaboration-focused ecosystems.

How can leaders cultivate environments where all generations feel valued and

heard?

Leaders need to trade control for curiosity. When every voice is treated as a data point—not a disruption—we create cultures where innovation can thrive. It starts with listening without defensiveness and building systems that evolve with the people in them.

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