Nonprofits Are Messy Podcast

Ep 255: Managing Across Generations: What Nonprofit Leaders Need to Know (with Jason Burlingame)

by Joan Garry

Managing a team that spans five generations isn’t a Gen Z problem. It’s a leadership challenge. In this episode, I sit down with Jason Burlingame to talk about the workplace tensions that seem to resurface with every generation and what it takes to lead through them.

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Twenty-five years ago, I was handed a memo on my first day as executive director. It was well-written, thoughtful, and full of ideas about what the organization needed to fix. And it all came from an energized 20-something employee.

Here’s the kicker: I was told, on behalf of senior staff, that I needed to fire him.

But, spoiler alert, I didn’t.

That 20-something was Jason Burlingame. Today, he is the co-founder and partner of Stamp Event Co., a successful event management firm with 20 years of history and a client list that includes some of the most respected nonprofits in the country. And, on top of that, he now manages a multi-generational team of his own.

This origin story is more than a fun footnote to this episode. It’s the whole point of this conversation.

Because the tensions I experienced with Jason 25 years ago – senior staff frustrated with a younger employee who had too many ideas – are the same tensions playing out in nonprofits across the country right now.

Different generation, same dynamic.

What followed was a conversation about leadership, feedback, workplace culture, and what it takes to build an organization where people of different generations can do their best work together.

TUNE IN TO LEARN:

  • Why managing Gen Z isn’t actually a Gen Z problem: How the tensions nonprofit leaders are experiencing with younger employees today are less about the generation and more about the culture, clarity, and mentorship missing from the workplace.

  • What belonging looks like across five generations: How to build a workplace that honors different ways of working without abandoning the values and structure that make an organization function.

  • What great multi-generational leadership actually requires: How staying engaged with both the work and the people – not just managing from a distance – is what separates leaders who get this right from those who don’t.

KEY QUOTES:

  • “I think we need to take responsibility for incorporating these younger generations into the workplace and helping shape their experience.” – Jason Burlingame

  • “[P]roviding that opportunity and the training and really giving it structure and training and responsibility sets people up for success.” – Jason Burlingame

  • “[W]hen you actually take the time to actually listen to people’s stories, that’s when the values bubble up and when you realize there’s a lot of shared values and that you all have the same interests in finding meaning and purpose in your work.” – Joan Garry

ABOUT GUEST:

Jason Burlingame is Co-Founder and Partner of STAMP. With 30 years of experience, he is an expert in live event production and management, having produced award shows, galas, and large-scale activations for leading nonprofit and global brands.

RESOURCES:

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Sponsorship

Donor Perfect

Sponsored By DonorPerfect

DonorPerfect provides nonprofits with powerful fundraising tools to drive success. Built on a foundation of integrity and innovation, the company prioritizes its clients over investors, cultivating a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and a commitment to making a difference. 

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