We asked for honest conversations, and Bristol delivered.
Last week, we gathered a room full of men and women across five generations, multiple industries, and a spectrum of perspectives for a special International Women’s Day Breakfast Panel.
Our incredible panel included:
- Amber Shippey, Project Management Apprentice, Mace
- Janis Sinton, Managing Director, TasteTech
- Sangeetha Wynter, Head of Programmes and Partnerships, Babbasa
- Kim Lee, Senior Business Development Manager, Birketts LLP
Chaired By: Sharon Alred, Signature Bristol’s Co-Founder & Director and introduced by Leanne Davy at ForrestBrown
The conversation we had is one that most workplaces avoid and every team needs: How do you navigate the multi-generational workplace?
Hosted with ForrestBrown, this event wasn’t designed to be comfortable: it was designed to be real.
And if the feedback to our expert panel is anything to go by, it landed.
Here’s what attendees took away:
“Continue being authentic. And appreciating that it is still harder for females in the workplace, so being an ally is as important as ever.”
“The desire for all levels of people to involve themselves in informal mentoring.”
“Generational differences should be embraced and celebrated—we can all learn from one another if we open our minds.”
“The more time we spend with other generations, the more we all learn.”
“Going to be more curious about what my younger staff want rather than assuming.”
“Not making assumptions—thinking of the real people.”
The Moments That Made Us Think:
Our Gen Z panelists challenged the room directly:
“We have things to teach too.”
She reminded us that younger generations bring value that older generations shouldn’t underestimate, including everything from cultural relevance to fresh insights to an eagerness to learn.
Our Baby Boomer panelist shared the tension many leaders feel: investing years in training graduates, only for them to move on quickly. Our Gen X panelist acknowledged that this can make them “hesitant” to hire graduates, preferring apprenticeships instead.
But Gen Z pushed back thoughtfully:
“This isn’t a generational issue, it’s an individual one.”
They pointed out that with entry-level opportunities shrinking, many take roles outside their interests simply to get a foot in the door. Eventually, they seek work aligned with their goals. Rather than coming from a place of disloyalty, it’s the reality of navigating a different economic reality.
To the incredible women on our panel: Thank you for your honesty, your vulnerability, and your willingness to name the “icks.”
To everyone who showed up, asked questions, and stayed for the conversation: you are why this matters.
The Conversation Isn’t Over:
If you attended and want to keep talking, please drop us a line. If you missed it and wish you hadn’t, we’re looking forward to our Leadership Breakfast Series Workshop on March 24th, hosted with Crisp Professional Development.
The more we talk across generations instead of just tolerating each other, the better we build.
