Next Gen Now Summit Speaker Spotlight: Natasha Stough
- Katelyn Sladek
- Oct 16
- 3 min read
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/.
Natasha Stough is a visionary talent and recruiting consultant
What inspired you to focus on generational engagement and inclusive leadership?
As an early talent recruiter, I’ve worked with college students and young people for over 25+ years. I see their potential and excitement to enter the job market and make a difference. Great talent and skilled individuals exist everywhere, but access does not. Bridging the gap and engaging employers to embrace a broad array of candidates, considering skills and abilities and setting them up for success has continued to serve as an inspiration for my work.
Can you share a pivotal moment in your career that shaped your approach to building inclusive cultures?
When applying for a senior recruiting leadership role, I had a moment when I recognized I did not need all the answers. What was critical was to recognize that I would be working with an incredible, smart and seasoned team with a broad range of experience and backgrounds. Collectively we could drive the strategy together. I knew the importance of listening to all the voices on my team and trusting and empowering them to help me execute our vision.
In your view, what is the most pressing challenge organizations face in engaging younger generations today?
Providing early careers hires with learning and experiences that attract and retain this demographic of talent. Many organizations are grappling with hiring new associates and the rise in automation which often includes core tasks completed by the new associates. How organizations begin to rethink these roles is critical in addition to the redesign of the EVP for all team members.
What emerging trends do you believe will significantly impact intergenerational collaboration in the next five years?
The rise in AI and automation is changing many, if not all roles in the workplace. Coupled with the increase in the pace of change, we all need to think differently about our work, roles and teams. The younger generations are much more adept with technology, and this is a wonderful opportunity to leverage their lived experiences to expand our understanding and embrace the changes brought about through AI and automation.
How can leaders cultivate environments where all generations feel valued and heard?
Being a strong leader is grounded in a high level of self-awareness, having the right skills to lead in an inclusive and thoughtful manner and recognizing the abilities in all team members (no matter their tenure, background or experience). I’ve always leveraged a “what is your superpower” exercise before we kick off each project, then we use those “superpowers” to align responsibilities.
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