This book is something I’ve wanted to write since my first career transition from engineer to training manager. After experiencing a work environment that disabled instead of enabled me, despite being one of the best companies to work for, I embarked on a mission to modernize the workplace. The Millennial Myth represents a significant milestone in bringing to life the research, interviews, and experiences I’ve had along this path. There have been many people who have helped support me on this journey and I’d like to acknowledge a few.
Thank you to those who contributed to the case studies and stories presented: Martha Clarkson, Program Manager for Workplace Strategies at Microsoft; Alex Goryachev, Senior Director of Innovation and Strategy at Cisco; Shani Richards, Taylor Sam, and Kristina Ordanza of the University of the Pacific; Scott Young, founder of ScottHYoung.com; Ryan McCarty, Director of Community and Employee Engagement at TCC; Angela Damiani, cofounder of NEWaukee; Jonathan Barzel; Sherina Edwards; Anne Moder; Jacklyn Faith; and Rick Kramer.
I’d like to thank my mentors, who have stayed close to my work and contributed to my concepts through rich discussions. Lisa Owens, whose relationship with me started with dinner on the eve of her retirement, I cannot thank you enough for the detailed feedback, conversations, and opportunities to partner. Jennifer Kahnweiler, who I met by chance at Association for Talent Development, thanks for spending the time to mentor me and believing I was ready to write this book (and making me believe it too!). Lee Goss, whose wife saw me speak at a TEDx, thank you for helping provide invaluable boomer/gen X insight through our joint talks for Monster.com. Amy Newcomer, thanks for always working with me to improve and reinvent ideas, especially in relation to Generation University. Lastly, Andrea Falls, who I met at TEDxPeachtree some years ago, whose creativity in thought shines in our discussions.
I’d like to thank the BK team: my editors for supporting the vision of the book, Neal Maillet and Jeevan Sivasubramanian; my production team for their detailed review, Jon Ford and Jonathan Peck; and my marketing team, Shabnam McFarland-Banerjee, Katie Sheehan, Zoe Mackey, Matt McFarland, Catherine Lengronne, and Maria Jesus Aguilo. I’d also like to thank my reviewers for their invaluable feedback: Kati Vastola, Shabnam McFarland-Banerjee, Andrea Chilcote, Jeff Kulick, and Melissa Ramos.
Last, but not least, I’d like to thank my friends and family for their continual support. Jeremy Segal, my rock and my source for calm in the deep ocean that makes up my thoughts. My mom, dad, and sister for always being there and believing in my unconventional path. Aaron Wang, for all the brainstorming, providing a workspace that was “alone but together,” and letting me talk through writer’s block with you. I couldn’t have made this journey without the amazing people who I am fortunate enough to have in my life.