Youth of Today

Does your organization struggle with millennials? You know, “the youngs.” The people who prefer their phone to their company-issued desktop. The ones who think that work hours are suggestions. Those kids who don’t know how things are done around here. Then you’re going to have a really difficult time with this reality: millennials are already old.

The median age is the US is 37.8 years old. Canada, 41.8. UK, 40.4
The median age in Iraq is 19.7. Afghanistan, 18.4. Uganda, 15.6 
[Source: CIA, The World Factbook]

The age gap between Global North and Global South has potential to affect every international interaction in business, humanitarian efforts, security and diplomacy, famine, war, migration. Scratch that. Not just “potential.” The age gap will undeniably influence all of those issues.

What are the implications of working with young leaders in your own organization? Those people likely share your national culture. Being realistic, they are peers to your children, your nieces and nephews, or maybe anyone a half generation younger than you. You should be able to relate with them. Now, add in cultural considerations, philosophical differences, and staggering wealth and income gaps. Can you understand and interact with young leaders who are driving global business interactions and international policies?

If we classify Global North and Global South by their roles in the past 500 years, we might use the terms “exploiters” and “exploited.” The South is rich in resources but poor in power. The North is rich because of historical political domination. It reminds me of young people in general: poor in power but rich in energy. And, perhaps you: rich because of historical advantage [tenure].

Here are sparks to help you assess the opportunities with Global South:

1. Let’s flip the idea that Global South is impoverished into the reality that they are primed for innovation that leapfrogs the infrastructure-heavy investments of the Global North. [Example: cellular technology exists in many regions without landline phone technology.]
2. Let’s eliminate the stereotype that young people are unable to handle their business. They can. Especially when there are fewer 40 year-old managers to get in the way. [Example: Tony Elemelu is betting on 10,000 young entrepreneurs with $10,000 each, via Forbes.]
3. Let’s imagine that South-to-North migration increases 100 times in the next decade, and you suddenly have a new talent pool with radically different experiences with ethics, workplace behavior norms, and social status.

In addition to being younger, the population of the Global South is much larger than the Global North. [Example: Nigeria’s population alone is 57% of US population, 186M vs. 324M, Wikipedia.] In a connected world, everyone matters. Each person has a voice and influence. Talent exists everywhere. And anyone who wants to stay in business must understand the importance of working with young people, at home and abroad.

Want to catch up quickly?
Watch: Navi Radjou: Creative problem-solving in the face of extreme limits
Watch: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: How Africa can keep rising
Watch: Yang Lan: The generation that’s remaking China