Alex Atherton Profile Picture

Keynote SpeakerAlex Atherton

Generations Speaker, experienced educator and leadership coach

Alex Atherton is an experienced educator, leadership coach and leadership team coach. His professional background was in education. He spent 25 years working in inner-city comprehensive secondary schools, of which over 20 was as a senior leader and over half as a headteacher in London. Alex is a generations speaker... Read More

Biography

Alex Atherton is an experienced educator, leadership coach and leadership team coach.

His professional background was in education. He spent 25 years working in inner-city comprehensive secondary schools, of which over 20 was as a senior leader and over half as a headteacher in London.

Alex is a generations speaker and an authority on Gen Z. He is the former secondary school headteacher who heard the word ‘snowflake’ once too often to describe his former students and decided his own generation needed to hear a different message. Alex Atherton spent over a decade immersed in the mindset of this misunderstood generation, getting to the core of what makes them tick.

He talks to decision makers in organisations about understanding, engaging, recruiting and retaining Gen Z. He also talks about the challenges of the intergenerational workplace, helping organisations turn a multigenerational workforce into an asset to drive productivity rather than a hindrance which impacts on the bottom line.

Alex Atherton equips leaders and managers with proven strategies to overcome generational divides and effectively recruit, develop, and retain top young talent.

"Alex was fantastic - he helped us understand what tangible steps we can take to be a great employer for Gen Z. His passion also really shone through which made him a very engaging speaker." Ben Bramhall - XPS Pensions
"We are about to be big recruiters of Gen Z. 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
"Alex is well-versed in the challenges and opportunities for Generation Z. He is a focused, articulate speaker with a fantastic appreciation of his material delivering a practical session full of value and information to act upon." Paul Andrews – Family Business United
"Alex has a very engaging style as a speaker. His background meant his insights were grounded in real experience and a genuine respect for the young people he is advocating for. He was the highest rated external speaker across the whole event." Kate Edwards - NAFD
"It’s been a long time since I listened to a talk when I found myself making so many notes. Alex presents with such passion on a subject area that he is clearly well-informed about. I was that impressed I have asked him to key-note speak at our annual conference." Graham Ravenscroft – Gateway HR
"I just wanted to express my gratitude for coming to speak with us today. I was so inspired and as a Gen Zer about to start their first leadership management position here, you helped me feel heard, valued and listened to. I found myself nodding with everything you said. Thank you so much." Newly promoted Gen Z

Popular Talks by Alex Atherton

  • Multi-generational workplace
    Unparalleled levels of age diversity are now the norm, with four or more generations working side by side. This multigenerational workforce brings both unique opportunities and complex challenges. This is not a statistical anomaly, it is a critical issue that can disrupt productivity, affect team dynamics, and ultimately impact upon...
  • 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...
  • Managing intergenerational teams
    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...
  • 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...