Bridging the Digital Gapor

Why your organization could benefit from a

reverse-mentor program

Sean Hudson

@seanhudson

Photo: http://alexascordato.com/Logo: tedxboston.com

Alexa ScordatoBarry Liebert, CEO of Mzinga

I'll call you onthe phone.

Why don't you justtweet me?

Huh? You lost me at network

infrastructure.

Twitter is total crap! Why do I care what you had for breakfast?

300,000iPads sold on the

very first day.

13.5 Days - iPhone Apps (1 billion in the first 9 months)

38 Years - Radio

Time to reach 50 Million Users

13 Years - TV

4 Years - Internet

3 Years - iPod

5 Months - Facebook

Every 60 sec another 24 hrs of

video are uploaded to Youtube

Google activates 100,000 Android devices

every day

Today email is still a "can't live without it" tool, but what about tomorrow?

• Only 11% of teenagers use it on a daily basis.*

• As of 2008, Americans spend more time using social networks than email for general communication.**

• By 2014, according to Gartner Group research, social networks will replace email as the primary communications vehicle for 20 percent of business users.

*  http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Teens-and-Mobile-Phones/Summary-of-findings.aspx?r=1** http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/nielsen-news/social-networking-new-global-footprint/

Digital Immigrant

Digital Native

The generation gap argument is old.

                  Also, it's just plain lazy.

It’s not an “us” versus “them” conflict.

The ME generation just might be able to teach YOU

something!

Reverse-Mentorship

"That which seems the height of absurdity in one generation often becomes the height of wisdom in the

next." -John Stuart Mill, British philosopher (1806-1873)

Remember, he sits right across the hall from you.

Did you know Dwight is a social media genius?

I Challenge You!

Develop an official reverse-mentor program within

your organization.

Give 'em a reason to do it.

• Start simple • Few minutes every day or

week • Meet before work or during

lunch • Don't focus on the tools

 • Have specific goals

Make it a two-way street - the executives also have something of value to impart to the younger

professionals eager to learn the ropes of leadership