Registration is open for an upcoming half-day conference hosted by MTSU aimed at helping business leaders understand and navigate generational differences within their workforces.

The 21^st Century Generations@Work conference will be held from 8:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at Embassy Suites Conference Center on Medical Center Parkway in Murfreesboro. Registration deadline is Oct. 23. Cost is $30 per person.

Click to register.

The conference follows last year’s event that focused on the impact of the influx of Millennials in the workplace. This year’s edition expands on the topic by addressing the interaction between Millennials, Generation Xers and Baby Boomers. Organizers say the conference will be valuable to area business and community leaders, as well as students, faculty and campus stakeholders.

Dr. David Urban

Keynote speakers will be John Martin and Matt Thornhill of GenerationsMatter, a research-driven firm that is a national leader in advising major companies —Walmart, Google, Procter & Gamble, Lincoln Financial, and many others — about how to approach business decisions using a generational lens.

A panel composed of successful Boomers, Gen Xers and Millennials will lead “a lively discussion of real-world generational challenges and opportunities,” said Dean David Urban of the MTSU Jones College of Business.

The conference is hosted by the Jones College and the Jennings. A. Jones Chair of Excellence in Private Enterprise.

Urban noted that since Middle Tennessee is “a hotbed for innovation, entrepreneurship and growth,” it’s critical that business leaders and influencers understand how and why generational differences matter. Among questions the conference will answer:

John W. Martin, founder and CEO of GenerationsMatter, spoke at last year’s “2020 Millennial Game Plan Conference: Maximizing Millennial Entrepreneurship and Innovation” conference held at Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro. (MTSU file photos by Andy Heidt)

• What generational dynamics are shaping the world of work?
• What’s your “generational IQ”— why is it a crucial indicator for leaders in today’s business environment?
• How can your organization prosper by capitalizing on the unique qualities of the generations?
• How will the different generations drive business, culture, and society in the next decade?

All conference attendees registering by the Oct. 23 deadline will receive a free web link to complete the GenQAssessment, a research survey that measures how well one understands generational preferences and traits at work. The instant feedback includes an overall generational knowledge score and scores for each of the generations. (A $39 value)

Seating is limited, so participants must register in advance at http://bit.ly/mtsu-genwork.

For more news about the conference, go to http://www.mtsu.edu/business.

— Jimmy Hart (jimmy.hart@mtsu.edu)

Matt Thornhill, founder and president of Generations Matter, speaks about the differences between generations during the “2020 Millennial Game Plan Conference: Maximizing Millennial Entrepreneurship and Innovation” held last year at Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro.