GENERATIONAL LEARNING

I’m going to state the blazing obvious here, but it’s worth repeating:

When different generations listen to each other, everyone gets smarter, faster.

I recently had the good fortune to attend the Caird Event in Tahoe alongside a fantastic group of Coast Guard Academy (CGA) alumni. The two-day gathering was packed with professional and leadership development, candid conversations about business challenges, meaningful connections, a fireside chat, some outdoor adventure, and all of it set in an incredibly beautiful location.

What stood out most? The people, and the potential in the room.

There is power and magic in bringing together different generations of CGA grads. I was the old guy, someone who’s been around a bit and picked up a few lessons along the way. But I was surrounded by several incredibly sharp and driven young professionals. I learned a lot from them and left deeply encouraged. Their drive, energy, insight, and approach to business and life were inspiring.

When you share a common lived experience, like time at the Academy, there’s a built-in trust and camaraderie. You can skip the small talk and jump right into the real stuff. That makes learning from one another easier, faster, and more authentic.

The takeaway? We all bring value to the table. The seasoned wisdom of experience and the spark of new ideas and energy don’t have to compete, they can (and should) work in tandem. That’s the kind of leadership and collaboration we need more of. It was an honor to be there.