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