How does the new generation mix and match with the old guard?

Young professionals all want to be heard and are convinced that they can positively contribute to the development of events and their own organisations. It is also essential for the development of the events industry, says Patricia Vergeer, 29, who has an eye for the generation after her. “The industry is evolving with people fresh out of the academy—the mavericks”, adds Vergeer, Creative Lead and MT Member at event agency The Oval Office. “A 22-year-old is not much older than I am but has a very different view of the world. All kinds of things that are new to us are already quite normal for them. You need to have all the different perspectives. If you have any blind spots, you can’t challenge this group. Think about having twentysomethings on your management team as well. Hire and train them in-house, and see what happens.”

Innovative ideas

“As a young person, you want the opportunity to develop and prove yourself”, says Jeroen Kanters, 29, Event Manager at PostNL. “Young people have many innovative ideas because they go to public festivals and come across innovative things that they bring to work with them, for example.” Young professionals can also provide experience with digital trends, says Lisanne Van Heck, 26, Marketing & Communications Specialist at exhibition and conference location Rotterdam Ahoy. “Give young marketers the opportunity to use their knowledge online and on social media. For example, we started testing to see if TikTok could be a relevant channel for us by making a few videos and seeing how that goes.”

Personal development

Manon Sijbers, 27, Sales Manager Meetings & Events at catering company Hutten, summarises the basic expectations of industry newcomers. “Focus on an employee’s personal development and make sure that there are actually career opportunities. The younger generation feels the pressure to perform and wants to know right away what’s possible. A pleasant and informal work atmosphere is also extremely important. Someone can already feel this within a few minutes, so always make sure that you and your colleagues give a warm welcome. If you’re an organisation with a horizontal organisational structure and you offer flexibility, then you already have an advantage. These days, the social importance of a company is extremely important, especially for the younger generation. ‘Does my work matter, and what can I contribute?’ is a frequently asked question. Your company will be much more attractive if you practice corporate social responsibility.”

Learned much

Young professionals also say that they have learned a lot from their older colleagues. “They’re mostly matters related to building and maintaining customer contact and relationships. Things can move pretty fast in our industry”, says Lisanne Van Heck. Nouschka Griep, 27, has the chance to learn from older colleagues as well at the Beurs van Berlage, where she works as an international sales manager, but notes that it is not yet commonplace. “I’m often one of the youngest at network events, even when we’re the new market. We’re the people who handle the requests.” Although the empowerment of the younger generation may come off as pampered, they do understand that you have to make progress to learn the finer points of the trade. “In the beginning, you sometimes want to express your opinion, but I’ve learned that it’s better to be open and vulnerable. I’ve also learned that you can earn your stripes if you do what you do very well. The tough jobs will take you further. In a way, it’s a painful process”, says Sandra Kommer, 31, Production Manager and Creative at event agency Fjuze.

Speed versus experience

Many young professionals say that they can simply process a lot of information much faster. “If both the newcomers and the old guard realise this, then that’s an asset”, explains Danny Hartman, 27, Marketing & Brand Manager at conference location ECC Leiden. “Good communication is very important. Sometimes, you want to push through an idea or project. Young people often act first and think second, but then they run into problems and have to do a lot at the last minute. Experience and proper preparation make a big difference. Then you have the time to run through all the scenarios.” Esther ten Hove, 31, Account Manager at event location De Kaap, agrees. “People who have been around for a long time are very good at assessing the reaction to an action. I’m quite impulsive, and I learn about structure from others. I’ve learned that you’re not just busy in the moment but also looking ahead to your next event. The mix of young and old is fantastic. We mustn’t lose that.”

Talk about it

“Older colleagues have already been through a lot and have left their mark on the work. But times have changed, and new ideas are needed, so you have to be open to them. And don’t think in terms of juniors and seniors; just talk about it and give each other space. It’s very important to keep attracting young people. Jobs are everywhere at the moment, and we have to show how nice our industry is to compete with other industries”, says Lisa Diepstraten, 28, Marketing Coordinator of the Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions. The owner of Meisjes van de Wijn, Milan Gennissen, 31, explains that part of the old guard left the industry during the health crisis. “The old boys network is slowly disappearing, allowing others to fill in the void and flourish. It’s really up to young people now.” And he has a message for everyone in the industry: “Sometimes, I miss the ‘we-feeling’. Certainly not from everyone, but sometimes things just don’t run smoothly. We’re always part of a larger whole. When you’re planning an event together, you have to deal with people who just do the bare minimum. You want to be a team and let suppliers flow into each other. We all chose this profession because we liked it, right?”