Conversation with a Millennial Executive

As a mid-tier executive in the national healthcare industry, this Millennial often finds herself in boardrooms and meetings as the solo member of her generation amongside Boomer and Generation X colleagues. Because of this, she’s frequently referred to as the “Token Millennial” in the room.

In a recent conversation, she shared her thoughts on being a Millennial executive, and what advice she passes along to other Millennials who are hoping to advance their own careers.

 What would you like to say to companies looking to hire more Millennials as executives?

It is important to bring in more Millennials because it gives companies a competitive edge. As organizations offer products and services that target broad audiences that include Millennials, they should have those representative voices on their leadership team. Millennials bring creative and fresh ideas to the table, derived from their unique perspectives.

 How do you feel about being the “Token Millennial” in many corporate spaces?

It makes me uncomfortable! I’m often called on to be the sole representative of my generation, and you can’t have a singular answer to represent such a diverse group of voices. I don’t even feel like I represent the “typical Millennial.” Plus, being the first one in any situation can be uncomfortable. I feel really lucky to be in my position, but there is a lot of responsibility that goes along with that. The first impression you make in a professional setting carries a lot of weight.

As a Millennial, what challenges have you faced in your career so far?

One major challenge is in hiring. Those in hiring roles often look for candidates with deep experience—decades of corporate or managerial experience. As a Millennial, I won’t have that kind of experience, but I do bring deep intelligence, a creative approach, and the value of the unique experiences. When you’re in the boardroom or having professional conversations, as a Millennial and a woman, it is hard to overcome that perceived lack of experience. I have been lucky that others have rooted for me, and that is something others don’t always have. I do a lot of mentoring, so I often hear about barriers related to representation of our generation in corporate spaces.

 What do Millennial voices bring to the (boardroom) table of corporations and organizations?

Disruption. All companies want to be the “next big thing” that caters to younger generations’ buying power. The company with the courage to be that innovator will also have the courage to hire younger voices that take risks on new ideas.

 What advice would you give to other Millennials looking to advance their corporate careers?

I usually give two pieces of advice: The first is to be adaptable. If you learn to continually grow and adapt, you will be  ready for whatever the future holds. The second is never say “no.” Most opportunities that come along will be ones that no one else wants to do. Those hold the most potential: knock those out of the park and you will quickly build a reputation for hard work and innovation.