U.K.-based consultant Ali Hall delivered the Keynote Aaddress on Sunday at Seafood Expo North America 2015, cautioning the corporate world to be mindful of people from different generations working together in the same company, but not everyone in the seafood industry is concerned.
Doug Aikman, director of sales at Stavis Seafood, and Kelly Korkowski, account associate with Maritime Products International, are co-presidents of the class of 2014 with the National Fisheries Institute’s Future Leaders Program. Both said they have noticed the differences between generations. Aikman remarked that during a reception at the show one evening, one of his younger colleagues noticed the difference too, just by surveying the crowd.
“He said, the older crowd definitely outnumbered the younger crowd,” Aikman told SeafoodSource.
Korkowski said she has noticed the differences, too, but for the most part the new generation is concerned with learning the ropes and preserving what their elders have built.
“I think we have a lot of ideas and really want to keep the momentum the ‘older generation’ passed down to us,” she said.
When talking about generational differences, issues with technology inevitably emerge as defining the differences between the old and the young. Both Korkowski and Aikman said they think the ultimate need to get business done can often transcend technological differences.
“I think in sales, you establish whatever means of communications works,” Aikman said.
That said, Aikman said it’s important for the older generation not to forget the value of changes in technology and communication. As an example, he cited a client who went out of business because he wasn’t ready to change with the times.
“He just refused to adapt,” Aikman said.
Korkowski said the younger generation, on the other hand, embraces technology a bit too quickly, which leads the tech-savvy to forget the need for face-to-face contact.
“It’s becoming too impersonal,” she said.
To watch both Aikman and Korkowski discuss the issue, click here.
