Alexander Atherton
Generations speaker
Alexander Atherton helps senior leaders, HR leads, and L&D leads to:
Recruit, retain and understand Gen Z
Overcome the challenges of the multi-generational workplace, transforming generational friction into strategic strength
Biography
Alex is an award-winning keynote speaker, experienced educator and the author of ‘The Snowflake Myth’.
His professional background was in education. He spent 25 years working in inner-city comprehensive secondary schools, of which over 20 were as a senior leader and over half as a headteacher in London.
Alex is 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. He 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 the bottom line.
Alex equips leaders and managers with proven strategies to overcome generational divides and effectively recruit, develop, and retain top young talent.
Alex is a qualified, accredited and experienced Leadership Coach, passionate about empowering others to thrive in their working lives. He supports leaders from the public, private and voluntary sectors to achieve beyond their wildest expectations and work together with seismic impact.
He works with senior leaders, CEOs and those seeking to be either. Every member of a leadership team benefits from bespoke support to overcome their most significant challenges.
As a leadership team coach, Alex believes that working in a team is not the same as working as a team, and yet they are often treated as if they are the same. His programmes focus on the key concepts of collective responsibility, interdependence and mutual accountability. They are designed first to transform outcomes and then sustain them.
Outside of work, he loves his time with his wife and daughter, supports Sheffield United through thick and thin, likes his music loud and heavy and plays lead guitar for The Glentones.
Speaking
Excite your audience and teach them a new skill: How to see the future.
Campaigns
Tom tells original stories of tomorrow as a content creator and spokesperson.
Broadcast
Tom is an experienced on-air performer, for radio, TV or corporate work.
Topics
Alex Atherton speaks on the future of work, generational change and workforce engagement, helping organisations understand how shifting expectations across different age groups are reshaping leadership, recruitment and workplace culture. Drawing on original research and practical insight, his talks focus on bridging generational divides, improving communication and engagement, and helping businesses create environments where employees of all ages can thrive. His sessions are particularly relevant for senior leaders, HR professionals and Learning & Development teams navigating talent attraction, retention and succession planning in a rapidly changing workplace landscape.
Recruiting and Retaining Gen Z
Alex explores how organisations can attract, engage and retain Generation Z talent by adapting traditional recruitment, leadership and workplace strategies to meet the expectations of a new generation entering the workforce.
Leading the Multigenerational Workplace
Alex examines the opportunities and challenges created by having four or more generations working together, offering practical strategies to improve collaboration, communication and organisational performance across age groups.
Understanding Gen Z
Using original research, Alex breaks down the values, motivations and workplace expectations of Generation Z, helping leaders better connect with, develop and support emerging young talent.
Example Videos
Publications
Alex Atherton’s Amazon best seller, ‘The Snowflake Myth’, challenges the negative stereotypes surrounding Generation Z and offers practical strategies for recruiting and retaining Gen Z talent.
It is essential guidance for managers navigating multi-generational workplaces and for parents seeking to understand their adult sons and daughters.
What do you get when you book Alex to speak?
Alex is an experienced speaker with an audience of his own who is happy to work with you to help you promote your event.
This can include:
Pre-event video
Co-operation in pre-event PR and media interviews
Contributed articles for event blogs or programmes
Promotion on social media
Feedback
“Alex is well-versed in the challenges and opportunities for Generation Z. A great source of knowledge that businesses need to appreciate and action in order to secure their workforce of the future in the ongoing battle for talent. 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’s preparation for our audience was outstanding. From the first conversation it was clear how much thought and experience he brings. He delivered an engaging, insightful session that really connected with our audience. Alex was professional, easy to work with and brought great energy to the stage”
Janet Bell, Office Products International
