By Mika Rohac-Grenier – Contributor

I recently entered and won a competition to shadow a CEO for a day as a part of a program hosted by Odgers Berndtson, an executive hiring firm in Montreal. The CEOx1Day program is designed to close the gap between today’s youth and CEOs by giving us an opportunity to learn business and leadership skills first hand. I was ecstatic to be paired with Franca Gucciardi, the amazing CEO of the McCall MacBain foundation. I felt grateful to have been chosen to represent the next generation of leaders, and the experience was a great reminder of why it is so important to engage Gen Z. 

The truth is, there is no shortage of negative stereotypes associated with Gen Z: we are addicted to technology, we tend to job-hop or quietly quit, and we have dangerously short attention spans. These stereotypes create a misunderstanding of Gen Zers for current leaders and discourage other generations to work with us productively when we enter the workplace. Previous generations view Gen Z as disengaged, but in reality, Gen Z is just dismayed by the issues we have inherited. 

I believe Gen Z is approaching adulthood feeling frozen by the post-pandemic reality, nuclear threats emanating from Eastern Europe, and denial of gender identity and equity in the Middle East. In order to engage and retain young employees, employers must consider how stuck Gen Z feels. To engage Gen Z, employers must empower us to solve the issues that make us feel stuck in the first place. We may be the most dismayed generation, but Gen Z also represents an educated, diverse, and socially aware population. When empowered to do so, Gen Z has the power to change the world – which is exactly what the McCall MacBain Foundation strives to do. 

The McCall MacBain Foundation is a philanthropic organization that seeks to empower and develop the next generation of leaders. They do this by providing scholarships and mentorship opportunities for students and investing in innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges, in order to create a pipeline of talented young leaders who are equipped to tackle the challenges of the future. Through my experience shadowing Gucciardi, I learned about the importance of investing in young people and providing them with the tools and resources they need to succeed and feel engaged. 

During my experience with Gucciardi, I was able to see how the foundation’s values are reflected in her leadership style. She is a strong believer in the power of education and sees it as a key tool for creating positive change. Gucciardi is also passionate about engaging young people and empowering them to take on leadership roles, which is why the foundation’s scholarship program is focused on supporting students who have demonstrated leadership potential. 

Overall, my experience with the CEOx1Day program and the McCall MacBain Foundation was incredibly valuable. It gave me a unique insight into the world of leadership and philanthropy, and reminded me of the importance of engaging young people in the work of creating positive change. I walked away from the experience feeling grateful for the opportunity and inspired to continue working toward a better future for all.