In today’s workplace, there are commonly four different generations working together. That diversity and range of experience can be an asset, but it also comes with its own challenges. Each of the generations has its own way of communicating, its own communications preferences and a unique set of values. It’s critical to understand how people born into different generations communicate in order to foster harmony and understanding in the workplace. But, for communicators, understanding different generations can be even more important. Not only do we need to understand our colleagues, we also need to understand the audiences we are trying to speak with in order to build successful campaigns.
Our July Career Coffee discussion delved into intergenerational communication to gain insight into the values, preferences and technologies each generation utilizes, what each can bring to the table and how you can adapt your communication style to most effectively reach each audience.
The session also featured a Q&A panel with diverse representatives from across the generational spectrum.
Speaker:
Hayim Herring, PhD
Rabbi Hayim Herring, PhD, is an author, presenter and nonprofit organizational futurist, with a specialty in faith-based communities. A former congregational rabbi and “C-suite” nonprofit executive, Hayim blends original research and real-world experience to inspire individuals and organizations to achieve their greatest impact. He has published over 60 scholarly and popular articles and studies about the intersection of technology, spirituality and community. Recent books include Connecting Generations: Bridging the Boomer, Gen X, and Millennial Divide (Rowman and Littlefield 2019) and Leading Congregations and Nonprofit Organizations in a Connected World: Platforms, People and Purpose (Rowman and Littlefield 2016), co-authored with Dr. Terri Elton. He is a proven organizational visionary and entrepreneur and works to “create today's leaders for tomorrow's organizations.”
Panelists:
Margaret Ann Hennen, APR, Fellow PRSA
Margaret Ann Hennen is a communication and public relations professional with 30 plus years experience in Minnesota’s business communities. She has a history of delivering desired results for corporate and community organizations. An organized and strategic leader with a reputation for motivating individuals and groups, Margaret Ann helps seemingly unrelated entities find common ground and aligns employees, customers and programs to business goals, helping to achieve strategic results.
An active member of PRSA, she is a former Minnesota PRSA chapter president and its ethics officer. Margaret Ann has served on the national PRSA board of directors, the College of Fellows executive committee and the Board of Ethics and Professional Standards. She is the 2021 recipient of the Patrick Jackson Award for Distinguished Service to PRSA and the 2022 Chair of the PRSA College of Fellows.
Margaret Ann earned a bachelor’s degree in speech and Spanish, a master’s degree in English literature from St. Cloud (Minnesota) State University and a master’s in business communications certificate in public relations from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota. She is accredited by the Public Relations Society of America and a member of its prestigious College of Fellows.
Jocelyn Parker
Jocelyn Parker joined the Council as Director of Communications and Public Relations in March 2020, and is charged with bolstering the reputation of Minnesota’s nonprofit health plans through relationship building among Council colleagues, member health plans and external partners.
She is a veteran news media and corporate communications leader who is passionate about helping organizations of all sizes solve problems and create opportunities through brand and reputation building. An expert storyteller, she helps her clients and strategic partners identify and advance narratives that will strike a chord with their customers and stakeholders. Her diverse experience includes management roles at key health care organizations, including UnitedHealthcare, where she was Director of Communications for its Medicaid line of business, leading and managing integrated marketing-communications for cross-functional teams.
Prior to working in health care, she spent more than 15 years as an assigning editor and business reporter for the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Detroit Free Press and New York-based Dow Jones Newswires.
A native of Saginaw, Mich., she earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Wayne State University in Detroit. She lives in Maple Grove with her husband, two sons and two wiener dogs. In her spare time, she enjoys mentoring youth and young professionals, and has volunteered her time with Minneapolis Public Schools, the University of St. Thomas, Metropolitan State University and the Brooklyn Park Chapter of Toastmasters International.
Shai Yang
Phoushai (Shai) Yang is a PR Coordinator for the Content Promotion team at Brandpoint, a content marketing agency based in Minneapolis. Shai joined Brandpoint as a PR intern in the fall of 2021 and was recently hired full-time after completing her six-month internship. Shai manages lead generation, account team coordination and assists her team with industry, agency and brand intelligence.
Shai is currently a senior at Metro State University, majoring in Public Relations with a minor in Project Management. As a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advocate, Shai serves on Brandpoint’s D&I committee and assists with Pro Bono PR consulting for the Page Education Foundation, supporting students of color in Minnesota to attend post-secondary institutions through scholarships, known as Page Grants.