Alex Atherton: Generations Speaker | Multigenerational Workplace Expert

Award-winning keynote speaker helping organisations bridge the generational gap and build high-performing multigenerational teams

Man in a blue suit speaking on stage with a colorful graphic screen in the background.

Why Alex as a speaker for your event?

‘Alex gave our Leadership Conference a fascinating presentation, there were a lot of ‘oh...yeah!’ moments.

We now realise that we need to work with the next generation to make our company a great place to work and a great place to stay’.

Meg Fox - National Grid

Trusted by

Award winning keynote speaker, conference speaker, masterclass, lunch and learn

Alex examines the generational differences between Gen Z, Gen X, Baby Boomers and Millennials, and the challenges of the multigenerational workforce in the modern age.

Whatever the format his audience leaves with practical solutions they can act upon straight away.

What’s it like working with Alex?

Every audience is different, and the same applies to every talk.

Each speaking package includes

  • a briefing call in order to understand the precise issues of each organisation or event

  • content adapted to the needs of each audience

  • a slide deck, available for download by audience members

  • follow up call and Q&A as required

If you are a conference planner click for my information for bookers and one page summary.

Testimonial with abstract yellow border, praising Alex for understanding needs, delivering engaging content, and adapting quickly to company culture. Quote by Sally Litchfield, Head of People at Hakim Group.

Recruiting & Retaining Gen Z

In today's rapidly evolving job market, attracting and keeping top talent from Generation Z has become a critical challenge for organisations across all industries and the future of work in general.

Gen Z is the most significant generational shift so far. Many organisations are struggling to recruit and retain the best of this generation. Traditional methods of recruitment no longer work, and problems with retention are more acute than ever.

Senior leaders, including those in Human Resources and Learning and Development, often find themselves behind in the race to secure the services of the best young staff.

For those they do recruit, a generational disconnect can open up as motivation and engagement become issues which hold organisations back. This has a further impact on succession planning.

This talk identifies their key characteristics and the solutions organisations can use to recruit and retain the best of this generation in any industry.

Leading the multigenerational workplace

Unprecedented levels of age diversity are now the norm in many workplaces. As life expectancy increases and retirement ages rise ever higher the age gap between the youngest and oldest is expanding, sometimes spanning more than 50 years.

For the first time in history, organisations have four or more generations working side by side, from Baby Boomers to Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z. This brings both unique opportunities and the potential for a generational divide which demands both attention and a strategic approach.

This widening range brings a wealth of diverse experiences, perspectives and skills. It also presents challenges in areas such as communication, technology adoption, work styles, and expectations around career progression and work-life balance.

In this talk generational expert Alex demonstrates not only how to overcome the challenges from multiple generations in your workforce but use them to move the organisation forward, and faster.

Understanding Gen Z

Generation Z is the most significant generational shift so far, poised to reshape the workplace with their unique perspectives, values, and expectations.

Recruitment and retention of young staff are core concerns for many organisations. Yet those who have recruited the young staff they need often find that they do not understand Gen Z’s aspirations. A generational disconnect can open up as motivation and engagement become issues which hold organisations back.

As the oldest members of Gen Z move into management positions it has become even more important to understand what they need, so that succession planning is secure.

In this talk Alex uses his original research to describe the key characteristics of Gen Z and also the strategies organisations can implement so that leaders and their young staff can get the best out of each other.

Testimonials

Why organisations book Alex

What makes my approach different:

  • Classroom to boardroom: my unique background as a former secondary school headteacher working with Gen Z (and millennials too)

  • Implementation expert: Audiences leave with actionable strategies they can use on Monday morning. This is about more than insights for reflection.

  • Real-world experience: A decade plus of leading multigenerational teams through organisational change

Book Alex if you are:

  •  Struggling to recruit or retain Gen Z talent

  • Experiencing generational conflict or communication breakdowns

  • Looking for practical solutions (not just generational insights)

  • Succession planning with Gen Zs and millennials moving into management roles

  • Seeking immediate, actionable strategies your teams can implement

Events include

  • Leadership conferences and away days

  • HR and L&D team events

  • Industry conferences addressing workforce challenges where you are looking for a speaker not in the industry

  • Final session of the day when the audience needs an energy boost!

Case study - PIMFA Senior Leadership Conference

“Alex was excellent both in preparation and delivery. The fireside chat was inspiring, informative, and delivered in a relaxed, natural manner. He came across as confident and deeply knowledgeable about his subject.

He went the extra mile by spending additional time at the conference engaging directly with delegates, adding significant value to the overall experience. His flexibility and willingness to participate beyond his allotted slot impressed the team.

Attendees found his session highly insightful and engaging. They particularly valued his perspective on Gen Z entering the workforce and becoming future clients, and how to bridge generational gaps effectively”.

Case study - webinar for a ‘Big Four’ consultancy

Alex combined rigorous research with a warm, challenging delivery style. It was the kind of session that shifts how people think, not just what they know. Alex was also quick to communicate with us and adapting the session as a result, including in the hours leading up to the session on the day.

The session received outstanding feedback, including

"Very optimistic yet realistic view on a complex topic. Great speaker!"

"Concrete, pragmatic content. I liked that he challenged us about what we will do about it tomorrow. Thought provoking"

"Strong speaker! The topic was backed up with very interesting research, loved the perspective on what matters for Gen Z and the level of detail brought about the onboarding!"

FAQs

Common questions about booking Alex as a keynote speaker

Q: What topics does Alex Atherton speak about?
Alex specialises in three core areas: recruiting and retaining Gen Z talent, leading multigenerational workplaces, and understanding Gen Z behaviour and mindset.

Each talk is adapted to the specific challenges of the organisation or event, with audiences leaving with practical strategies they can implement immediately.

He is also working on a new keynote in 2026, a more directly motivational talk about ‘the power of the young professional’. Watch this space!

Q: What industries has Alex Atherton spoken for?

Alex has spoken across a wide range of sectors including financial services, local government, human resources, learning and development, agriculture, construction, logistics, and education. His generational expertise translates across all industries facing workforce challenges with younger staff and with an increasingly multigenerational workplace.

Q: What makes Alex Atherton different from other generations speakers?
Alex's background as a former secondary school headteacher gives him direct, lived experience of working with Gen Z before they entered the workplace - something most workplace speakers don't have. His talks are also workplace specific, with a focus on actionable strategies audiences can use on Monday morning, going beyond generational theory.

Q: What formats does Alex Atherton offer?
Alex is available for keynote speeches, conference presentations, masterclasses, lunch and learns, after-dinner talks, and fireside chats. Every booking includes a briefing call, content tailored to your audience, a downloadable slide deck and a follow-up Q&A call.

Q: How do organisations book Alex Atherton to speak?
You can book Alex directly through his contact page. If you are a conference planner, an information pack and one-page speaker summary are available on request.

Q: Is Alex Atherton based in the UK?
Yes, Alex is a UK-based keynote speaker who works with organisations across the UK and internationally. He has spoken at national conferences, leadership away days, and industry events throughout England, Scotland, and Wales.