Mary & Mikey Convo: A Gen Z Launch

If you’ve been paying close attention, you’ll remember that Mikey is our Generation IQ intern this year. He finishes his term and internship soon, but this conversation stood out to me as a nice cap to a great year together.

Mikey: Hi Mary! As you know, I’ve been looking for a full-time job for the summer and I wanted to tell you some exciting news! I recently interviewed with a global engineering firm and have accepted an offer with them for a full-time communications intern position this summer!

They love the work I do for Generation IQ. I just wanted to say that working as an intern for you was such an amazing experience. I learned more about communications and I couldn’t have done it without your guidance!

Mary: Mikey, I’m almost speechless. I’m so happy for you! I knew we were going to wrap up the internship at the end of April, but you expected to return to your dishwashing job at the prison. During these eight months we’ve examined the inter-generational relationships you had on that job and used them to build your Generation IQ.?

Mikey: Yeah, this is a big leap from last summer. I’ve learned skills in class, and practicing them in Generation IQ helped me outgrow dishwashing.

Mary: I like how you’d tell me about when you’d talk in class about aging demographics and how it will impact the economy. I also remember your observation that an older marketing professor had some of the best content you’ve encountered, but their presentation wasn’t technically savvy—consequently, most students in the class disengaged.

Mikey: The impact of learning about generational differences seeps in over time, but it’s changed how I see situations, power dynamics, and how I? react. One of the biggest lessons you taught me was to say the words “I’m sorry” only when I’ve caused real harm. Saying “thanks for your patience,” or “thanks for understanding,” has improved my confidence in talking to older people.

Mary: And it shows humility. As an older person, the latter phrases make me feel like an ally versus worrying about the well-being of someone who is in a continual state of “sorry.”

I know you have finals and probably need to move out of the dorm soon after, but I gotta ask: What about our work at Generation IQ stood out?

Mikey: They liked the graphics I created and the way we collaborated to create content.

Mary: And you know how we collaborated to create content? We had conversations. At least twice a month, sometimes more, we’d Zoom and just chat. Pretty soon we had a convo that we could develop in a Google Doc.

Mikey: You’re reminding me it starts with being comfortable talking to people—of all ages

Mary: Many Gen Zs haven’t had enough practice to feel safe doing that yet. You may need to do some coaching out there in the field.

Mikey:? Will do. I’ll keep you posted on how it goes.

Mary:? A convo is waiting anytime you need one. Just remember: this is?

?au revoir, never good-bye.

Mikey: What the?!?!?!

Mary: It’s my way of saying you’ve got the Rizz, Mikey, you’ve got Rizz.

Thank you for everything Mikey!

More soon,

Mary.