Dr. Steffi Burkhart makes many people who are in a management position today break out in a sweat. She is talking about young people who no longer want to lead. Not only do they question the old systems, they simply no longer participate in them. If nobody plays along, the game will soon be over.

According to Dr. Steffi Burkhart, Generation Alpha will be one of the main drivers of New Work phenomena, Youth Future and the ‘post-demographic society’. Born in 1985 and therefore a member of Generation Y, the sports scientist and doctor of health psychology calls herself a ‘Human Capital Evangelist’. She says of her ambition: “It is a matter close to my heart to champion the needs, questions and fears of young people. They are responsible for a change in culture and values in society. Economy and culture – they are our future. A second topic that is very close to my heart is women and careers. I want to promote both topics and inspire everyone to help shape the working world of tomorrow in a positive way today.”

Steffi Burkhart – Generations Y, Z and Alpha are shaping our world:

Generations Y (also known as Millennials) and Z have already had a significant impact on the modern working world. They are demanding adjustments in order to realise their full potential. Key concepts here are the desire for flexibility and work-life balance as well as a sense of purpose and community. They want to be treated as equals, experience continuous development and are therefore looking for mentoring and development opportunities.

Open and transparent communication is crucial for them, as is the natural integration of technological possibilities into their work. Adapting to the needs of Generations Y and Z requires organisations to take an agile and proactive approach. The task is to create an environment that supports flexibility, meaningfulness and personal development in order to attract and retain talented employees.

Generation Alpha will drive this change even further. This generation, born from 2010 onwards, is growing up in a highly digitalised world right from the start. Technology is not only available to them, but also a matter of course. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, members of Generation Alpha are more globally orientated. They have easier access to different cultures and perspectives.

Even at a young age, they develop a natural affinity for various technologies. Tablets, smartphones and other digital devices are part of their daily lives. Generation Alpha is expected to develop a strong environmental awareness, as environmental issues have become increasingly present in recent years.

It is assumed that they will have a high appreciation for individuality and diversity, as these values are becoming increasingly important in society. Due to the constant changes in technology and society, lifelong learning will be an important skill for them, which they already know is vital.

Looking positively to the future – New Work will reach a new level.

Dr. Steffi Burkhart speaks vividly and always positively about this ‘new world’ that is already taking shape today. There has been no going back for a long time, and she is convinced that this is a good thing.

Steffi Burkhart says: “What neuroscientists and psychologists are already realising: Generation Alpha will be a generation that brings with it new and higher cognitive abilities that are more developed than any previous generation.”

In her presentations, Steffi Burkhart talks about demographic change as a resource for the future, the mindset of millennials as a driver of the future, cultural change and digital expertise. She talks about how companies can attract and retain young talent and what kind of rethink is needed to achieve this. It’s about skillsets and modern consumption as well as the importance of ‘girl support’.

There is good news for those who feel somewhat marginalised by all this in terms of age: Steffi Burkhart predicts that “Youth culture will no longer only have something to do with young people. Youth culture is reaching a basic age or a flat age. It is horizontal, no longer vertical. It is based on values and no longer on demographics.”

So let’s look forward to a positive future!