Lessons from My Journey with Millennials, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha
When you’re an entrepreneur, you don’t just work with people — you work with perspectives, shaped by the times they grew up in.
As Co-founder of Shop4Smile, I collaborate daily with Millennials and Gen Z professionals. They are the heartbeat of our operations, marketing, and innovation in the dental technology space. At the same time, I have a front-row seat to Gen Alpha creativity, thanks to my daughter, who runs her own venture, Krsa Creations, crafting handmade candles and décor items.
Working across these three generations has been an unexpected masterclass in leadership, adaptability, and, most importantly, humility.
Millennials: Purpose-Driven Anchors
Millennials (born 1981–1996) have been my steady hands at Shop4Smile. They’re not just employees — they’re partners in building a vision. They thrive when they understand the why behind their work and when they can see their role contributing to a larger mission.
What I’ve learned:
- They value trust and autonomy. Give them a goal, not step-by-step instructions, and they’ll exceed expectations.
- They appreciate professional development. Our team members light up when offered training that sharpens their skills.
- Recognition is a powerful motivator. Acknowledging their contributions builds loyalty and long-term commitment.
Millennials ground the business. They bring a balance of ambition and experience that keeps projects moving without losing sight of quality.
Gen Z: Bold, Fast, and Digital-First
Gen Z (born 1997–2012) entered my business life like a fresh breeze — full of speed, creativity, and curiosity. They’re true digital natives who don’t just adapt to technology — they expect it.
At Shop4Smile, my Gen Z colleagues have:
- Streamlined our communication by moving us from endless email chains to collaborative tools like Slack and Trello.
- Pushed us into new marketing avenues — experimenting with Reels, trending hashtags, and interactive content.
- Questioned why we do things the way we do, forcing us to rethink outdated processes.
What I’ve learned:
- Transparency is key. They want to know the reasoning behind decisions, not just the outcome.
- They value mental health and work-life balance, and they’re not afraid to talk about it.
- They flourish when allowed to experiment — even if that means failing fast and trying again.
Gen Z reminds me that adaptability is not a “nice-to-have” anymore — it’s survival.
Gen Alpha: The Fearless Creators
Gen Alpha (born 2013 onwards) is still emerging in the workplace, but I get to see their mindset up close through my daughter’s venture, Krsa Creations.
At just 7 years old, she has a clarity of vision that’s both humbling and inspiring. She doesn’t think in terms of market competition or quarterly targets — she thinks in terms of beauty, joy, and the simple question: “Will people smile when they see this?”
What I’ve learned from Gen Alpha:
- Creativity thrives when it’s playful. Seriousness often stifles ideas.
- Instant feedback is natural — she’ll adjust her product in minutes if she feels it could be better.
- They are inherently visual thinkers — colors, shapes, and experiences guide their decisions more than data tables.
- Values matter. Even at a young age, she asks about eco-friendly materials and making things “good for the planet.”
Gen Alpha may well become the generation that pushes businesses to balance profitability with purpose at a deeper level than ever before.
Bridging the Gap
Working across these three generations has shown me that there’s no “one-size-fits-all” leadership style.
- With Millennials, I focus on purpose and growth.
- With Gen Z, I focus on speed, transparency, and innovation.
- With Gen Alpha, I focus on playfulness and values.
The magic happens when these worlds overlap. At Shop4Smile, we’ve had Millennials mentor Gen Z in strategic thinking while learning new digital skills from them in return. At home, ideas from my daughter’s fearless creativity often find their way into branding concepts for our campaigns.
Final Thought
Leading across generations is less about managing differences and more about amplifying strengths. Whether you’re building dental technology solutions or hand-pouring candles, success lies in creating an environment where each generation feels valued for what they uniquely bring.
As leaders, our role is not to make everyone think the same — it’s to create a space where diverse thinking becomes our greatest competitive advantage.