Bridging the Gap

“The rhythmic rattle of rain against the glass whispered of renewal, resonating with her restless resolve.”

It is a narrative of a young and ambitious lady, Bolu. Slim and smartly looking, she was the first in her family to go as far as attending college. The neighborhood she’s been known for the whole of her 19 years was one where jobs were just for survival and stability. Passion was secondary.

But she had defied the odds to stand aloof. And forward-thinking.

So landing an internship at FutureGrid — an innovative tech company embracing the #NextGenWorkforce—came to her like an answered prayer. A long and cherished wish is being manifested. She embraced it with hook, line, and sinker, hoping to build a sustainable career path.

But it soon looked like the environment she’d found herself in was antithetical to her interests. Bolu had always desired a workplace where technology and innovation were the core mandate. A place where #NextGenWorkforce was the preeminence.

Three months as a marketing intern with FutureGrid, one of the biggest marketing firms in the capital city of Lagos, Nigeria. Anyone seeing the progressive ethos of FutureGrid on their website from the internet and their advertising signboards across the length and breadth of the state would expect them to stay true to their preachings. But hell no.

She’d struggled to situate where the management stood.

And here came the first conflict against her motivation: her direct supervisor, Dan. Typical of his 50-year-olds alike, he dreaded innovation, overtly and covertly. He was very hierarchical and proudly meticulous in his almost two-decade-monotonous roles.

Unlike him, Bolu enjoyed adventures. She thrived at creating TikToks that would go viral and campaigns that would make an impact as soon as they were launched. On the few occasions she suggested something revolutionary to Dan, his deaf ears were always alert to rubbish it.

One rainy Tuesday in July, the CEO, Priscilla—a staunch advocate of innovation—called an emergency meeting. She wanted everyone at the rendezvous, irrespective of their cadres. “We need to rethink how we connect with our younger audience,” Priscilla declared, her voice direct yet welcoming.

‘’By Friday, I want bold ideas. Don’t hold back.’’ Her face affirmed what had just come out through her esophagus.

She left.

The well-spacious hall could house more than 100 people, but only about half the number attended the meeting. Yet, an abrupt heat and tensions soon took over, making everyone feel hot in the fully-air-conditioned open space.

Like an electric train in Tokyo, Bolu’s heart raced. A palpable tension engulfed the air. Bolu found some positives in the CEO’s declaration. It was her time to shine. But seated at an angle, Dan sighed. “Let’s not get carried away with gimmicks,” he said, his tone dismissive.

Bolu gazed in Dan’s direction, disappointed but not surprised. “What if gimmicks are what work?”, she muttered with a barely audible voice.

Dan raised an eyebrow. ‘’Care to elaborate?’’ He looked uncontended with Bolu’s subtle voice. He preferred an elaboration laced with some facts.

She looked somewhat unprepared for such defense. At least, not yet.

But her courage surfaced from nowhere. “The campaign could show how FutureGrid helps bridge the generational gap in workplaces. We use storytelling to highlight employees from different backgrounds collaborating to solve real-world problems.”

Priscilia, passing by, paused. ‘’Good one there, Bolu. That is quite intriguing. Flesh it out’’

Friday remained sacrosanct. Literally. Figuratively. Bolu would spearhead a project of that magnitude. She owned the idea.

It was a few minutes before the hour of three in the afternoon. And the next 50 hours or thereabout could determine a lot. Bolu drove into her work. Her desk was littered with sticky notes and sketches. She soon came up with a concept: a story, a mini-series of short videos. She titled it ‘’The Next Gen Bridge’’.

Each episode was billed to have a team member’s story that would showcase how FutureGrid’s hybrid model fostered innovation by connecting the wisdom of experience with the audacity of the juvenile.

During one late-night brainstorming session, characteristic of Dan, he yet again did not fail to confirm his disdain for such a paradigm shift where the traditional approach to work would take the back seat. He called it ‘a fluff’. “We need hard data, not emotional appeals.”

“Sir, stories are data with soul,” Bolu shot back. “It is easy for people to connect with authenticity.”

Bolu’s belief in her project continued to grow by momentum. And she was ready to prove it to anyone who was only out to downplay it.

Friday finally came. Bolu stood before the management team. A projector cast her slides—one after another—onto the wall, with vivid images of employees collaborating in vibrant, tech-filled spaces.

She explained what each episode represented. With clarity and seconded by the visual representation. “In one episode,” she explained, “a young coder and an experienced technician brainstorm solutions for sustainable energy grids. It’s not just about technology but the human stories driving innovation.”

Silence enveloped the presentation hall, with almost everyone being swept off their feet.

The few Dans in attendance were equally there but in smaller numbers.

“How do we measure success?" Dan queried.

Unperturbed, Bolu steadied her voice. “Engagement metrics. Shares. Feedback from employees and customers will do the magic. But most importantly, we measure how well we tell our story.”

Her response was a blow. It showed that of someone who not only knew her onions but had done her homework.

If a pin was dropped in the hall at that moment, it would be heard loud and clear. A proud Priscilla spoke, her tone full of thoughts. ‘’Bolu, you’ve captured something we’ve struggled with. I wholeheartedly agree with you.’’ “The future isn’t about one generation or another. It’s about building bridges.”

Dan sighed, his expression softening. “Maybe there’s something to this after all.”

It was time to launch an idea birthed and nurtured by Bolu, a ‘’bloody’’ intern at FutureGrid. It was a whirlwind. An avalanche of videos was set to flood the social media space. The first video featured a spirited debate between a Gen Z designer and a boomer engineer over an AI-driven project. It went viral within hours.

Comments poured in:

“This is cool.”

“This is my workplace!”

“Finally, a company gets it.was,”

“Waoh!”

One that caught Bolu’s attention was “I showed this to my dad. Now he wants to learn about AI. Thank you, FutureGrid!”

Indeed, it was her favourite, judging by her instantaneous internal reaction. It was electrifying.

Inspired by the campaign’s message, teams began hosting cross-generational launches. Dan even invited Bolu to co-lead a project. A clear indication of his respect for and admiration for Bolu.

Weeks of consistent implementation of campaigns passed, as this quickly became the new normal at FutureGrid.

A fulfilled Bolu was standing by her office window one afternoon. She watched how her colleagues—individuals of different ages and backgrounds—engaged in animated discourse. This hit her.

#NextGenWorkforce is not a farce but a reality. It also transcends beyond adapting to the future. It needs to be seen from the perspective of how people could embrace the messy and beautiful process of working together. Of learning from one another toward the realisation of one corporate mission.

Priscilla walked by. Elated. With a smile, she said to Bolu. “Young lady, you didn’t just bridge a gap. You built a foundation.”

Bolu smiled back, his heart swelling with pride. “The future is us, after all.”