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As CGK has grown and evolved since its founding 2011, we\u2019ve been fortunate to work with a variety of team members, from world-class speakers to pioneering generational researchers. For this Team Member Spotlight, CGK President Jason Dorsey is thrilled to interview one of our great team members, who many of you know, Alicia Rainwater.<\/p>\n
Alicia has been a Certified Keynote Speaker for CGK since 2015. Since joining CGK, Alicia has inspired, entertained, and educated audiences of leaders across the U.S. and internationally. Her industry clients range from education and healthcare to agriculture, finance, and hospitality. She presents our generational discoveries, research insights, and how-to strategies in her trademark engaging speaking style. If you\u2019ve ever attended one of Alicia\u2019s generational presentations, you know exactly what I mean!<\/p>\n
Interviewing Alicia for this Team Member Spotlight was a blast. What stood out most to Jason and the entire team was how rooted she is in the \u201cwhy\u201d behind what we do\u2014and how she continues to bring both precision, presence, and fun to the stage. We hope you enjoy getting to know her a little bit more and that you reach out to invite her to speak for you. Alicia doesn\u2019t just talk about <\/em>generations\u2014she connects to the people within<\/em> them.<\/p>\n Jason: What is one thing most people may not know about you and your work?\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n Alicia: \u201cMost people may not know that in addition to being a speaker for CGK, I\u2019m also a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), and that background adds a valuable depth to my speaking, event preparation, and insights delivery. For me, the best part of this work has always been the people\u2014both the speaking clients we serve and the audiences we have the honor to share our insights and research in a compelling way. My goal is to approach each keynote with curiosity, clarity, and to seek a deep understanding of the different stakeholders in the audience so I can customize my talk for them.\u201d<\/p>\n Jason: What most stood out to you when you considered joining our team?<\/strong><\/p>\n Alicia: \u201cI was drawn to how CGK uses research to unlock understanding between people who might otherwise talk past each other or not think they have the ability to connect with one another. I love that we make data meaningful\u2014and fun! We give people permission to laugh at what they\u2019ve experienced across generations, and in that moment, they start to be open to see things in a new way.\u201d<\/p>\n That approach resonates with her background in social work. \u201cIn clinical work, you’re trained to look at people in context,\u201d she told me. \u201cYou ask why someone is behaving a certain way and what experiences shaped them. With generational research, we do the same thing\u2014just at scale. We start with real-world trends, events, and behavioral shifts, then translate that into something leaders can act on.\u201d<\/p>\n That clinical curiosity\u2014paired with her engaging stage presence\u2014makes Alicia especially good at connecting the dots for diverse audiences. She helps people see past stereotypes and into shared experience.<\/p>\n Jason: How do you feel right before you go on stage to speak?\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n Alicia \u201cEven after all these years, I still feel a surge of excitement right before presenting. It happens every time. Just being in the room with the audience, I feel their energy, enthusiasm, and curiosity, and it shifts my own energy. As soon as I take the stage, I feel that connection and build on that momentum throughout my talk.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of my first keynotes was for a group of education professionals, a space where I had worked directly as a clinical social worker. Right from the beginning, there was so much laughter and engagement in the room during my presentation. It really energized me. Afterward people came up and told me they saw their students and colleagues differently because of my presentation. That\u2019s when I knew this work had real impact.\u201d<\/p>\n Jason: What is one of your favorite quotes or points during your keynote? <\/strong><\/p>\n Alicia: \u201cOne of my favorite moments during my keynote is when audiences light up during the discussion of generational tech shifts. Every time I share CGK\u2019s breakthrough discovery, \u2018Technology is only new if you remember it the way it was before\u2019 people light up. They instantly see the work in a new way, and I love that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe same is true when I ask people to share their experiences with technology. Whether it\u2019s talking about electric typewriters, the first time they used a fax machine, or what it felt like to get dial-up internet in their office\u2014it reminds everyone just how much change they\u2019ve lived through. This technology throughline is a powerful connector and shows that even though we\u2019re different we\u2019re all connected as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Jason: What has most changed about generations since you started speaking for CGK? <\/strong><\/p>\n Alicia: \u201cWhen I started speaking, all eyes were on Millennials\u2014trying to figure us out. Now, Millennials are increasingly in management and leadership roles. With Gen Z emerging so quickly, I often find myself empathizing more than I originally did with Gen X and Boomers who were trying to understand \u2018those young Millennials\u2019 just a decade ago. It is fascinating to see the generational change and continuum in our work!\u201d<\/p>\n Jason: What is the biggest lesson you\u2019ve learned in your work with speaking clients?<\/strong><\/p>\n Alicia: The biggest lesson I\u2019ve learned after keynoting so many events is to not assume anything about an audience or industry. I\u2019ve spoken to similar industries in different regions and had completely different experiences. The same is true for working with different companies in the same business in the same state! This always reminds me to meet every audience where they are\u2014and not put people in boxes, even if I\u2019ve spoken in the industry numerous times. I always want to go in ready to learn, observe, and connect.<\/p>\n Jason: That mindset reflects the same message we share in every keynote: generations are not boxes that each of us fit neatly inside. Rather, they are powerful, helpful clues that can help leaders to better connect with, build trust, and influence across people of all ages. We don\u2019t believe in generational stereotypes. We believe in data-driven insights that leaders can rely on.<\/p>\n So, Alicia, what are you most excited about now? <\/strong><\/p>\n Alicia: \u201cRight now, I\u2019m most excited and inspired about helping new leaders step into their roles with confidence. I\u2019m excited to help more Millennials step fully into leadership roles and even begin mentoring and developing the talent of Gen Z. I believe that Millennials right now are in a unique place\u2014they remember what work was like before some of the more recent tech shifts, such as social media, but they\u2019re also working on how to lead younger and older generations. Helping them bridge that generational gap is incredibly rewarding.\u201d<\/p>\n