WARNING: RANT AND PERSONAL OPINION
UGH. I take offense to this annoyingly know-it-all woman. I gave her a chance based on the 30 percent of the video stating how incredible and valued she is. The remaining 3:30 minutes, where Ms. Levit regurgitated statistics and cracked belittling jokes, made me want to stand up and laugh in her face. To be fair, I’ve only caught a glimpse of her “work,” but I’m not the least inclined to learn more.
In another video, she spends most of her time literally looking down her nose at the screen, asserts you (as a gen y’er) don’t know where your career is heading, and says things like “folks.” Is she supposed to really have a clue?
Gen Y isn’t a beast to manage and mangle, we’re a generation with a new perspective. It’s not a matter of slights and giggles because we embrace technology. It’s a matter of adapt or get out of the way.
I hate how major media panders to self-proclaimed “generation experts” like these who aren’t living what they’re professing. It’s frustrating and leads to missed expectations.
More on this gem at www.alexandralevit.com.
Why do I feel the clapping and oohs and aahs have been inserted in the video. She is absolutely annoying and I feel like the “knowledge” she has about Gen Y’ers in the work place is obsolete
I tried to figure out how old she actually is, since she’s clearly not forthcoming or representing Gen Y. My guess is 32 based on a book review someone did in ‘04 (where they mention she’s 28). It’s a guess because I don’t know if the page is updated or not.
So terrorism shaped our perception of the world? Not the open minded and willingness to learn about different cultures? I didn’t get that memo. And because of terrorism we look for heroes in our lives? I would think that everyone has looked for heroes in their lives, whether gen-Y or not. That’s pathetic.
If you want to learn about a Gen Y’er, talk to them and get into their mind a little bit. Not trust some other non-gen Y’er to tell you how we are. *sigh*
It’s definitely canned audience reaction. She’s standing in front of a black curtain in an empty room… “okay I’m seeing about 2 or 3 hands in the air.”
No you’re not. You’re seeing the A/V guy and the janitor.
If she keeps waving her hands around, she’s gonna achieve liftoff. Her insights sound insipid, and I can testify that terrorism has NOT shaped me. Her dialog is stilted and if that’s the best she can do on a soundstage, she’s gonna be utterly boring in person.
The canned laughter is absurd.
I’m glad I’m not just being sensitive here… Pretty much everything you guys were commenting on made me want to write a ridiculously obvious letter to those paying her for her “insight.”
Hello Shauna,
I tried to write an e-mail to you, but couldn’t readily find your address on your blog.
Anyway…for some reason I just spotted this, and I’m just writing in to say that I’m sorry you were insulted enough by my video to write this blog post.
Answering your question about how old I am, I am 33. I’m on the cusp of Gen Y myself and I have worked directly with thousands of Gen Y-ers. I try to read as much of the published research as I can find.
No, I don’t know everything, and I am always looking to learn more. So if you and your readers would like to send me revised statistics or other ideas to be incorporated into the material I present, I would welcome them.
PS – there was a crowd of around 25 in the room. It’s the best quality video I have. The presentations in front of large audiences all have poor quality audio. As for the one I made at my desk at home, well, sorry you didn’t like it.
I hope you have a nice holiday and a happy new year.
I’m a bit surprised by how mean-spirited this post is. As a young business owner myself, I think it’s important to get out there and build positive relationships rather than cutting others down. I know Alexandra personally, and she’s been nothing but wonderful.
Thanks for your feedback, Ms. Levit and Allie.
The post wasn’t meant to be “mean spirited,” nor was it a comment on how wonderful Ms. Levit is. It was a reaction to content I found misleading and over-generalizing. I apologize it came across as crass.
I welcome your comments and wish you both the best of luck in your pursuits.
(email: hello@shaunanicholson.com)
I’m definitely not trying to raise hell. I work with data about human behavior on a regular basis, and sometimes it’s surprising what the general trends show, whether or not they actually ring true personally. It’s very eye opening.