Gen X at Work — The Quiet Backbone of Leadership
Gen X at Work: Leading Through Change Without the Spotlight
In this episode of GenShift, I turn the lens on my own generation—Generation X.
We’re often called the bridge generation. The quiet backbone. The ones who translate between systems that came before us and the expectations that came after. We didn’t invent constant change, but we learned to live inside it.
Gen X grew up during economic uncertainty, cultural shifts, and rapid technological change. We went from rotary phones to smartphones, from paper memos to Slack. Many of us were latchkey kids. Independence wasn’t a personality trait—it was survival.
That background shaped how we work, how we lead, and how we respond to uncertainty.
Leading From the Middle
I was joined by two Gen X leaders whose experiences reflect different paths—but familiar instincts.
Topher Margolin, CEO of Health Designs, shared what it was like to acquire a company just before the pandemic—and then lead through a complete disruption of the business model. His leadership style reflects something I see often in Gen X: clarity about where we’re going, paired with flexibility about how to get there.
Set the direction. Trust people to figure out the path. Move forward even when information is incomplete.
Tracy Lampert, Head of Employee Experience and Culture at Zurich North America, reflected on a long career inside one organization—and how leadership expectations have changed over time. She talked about the shift from top-down authority to shared leadership, where people at every level are expected to step in, make decisions, and lead in real time.
Leadership, as she described it, isn’t a title. It’s a responsibility you take on when the moment calls for it.
Loyalty, Wellbeing, and Evolving Expectations
One of the most honest parts of this conversation was about loyalty.
For many Gen Xers, loyalty once meant staying. Enduring. Seeing things through. For younger generations, loyalty looks different. It’s tied to growth, skills, flexibility, and wellbeing.
Rather than judging that shift, this episode tries to understand it.
We talked openly about how conversations around empathy, mental health, flexibility, and belonging were not part of the workplace culture when Gen X started working. Now, they’re central. That shift has required many Gen X leaders to stretch—sometimes uncomfortably.
But it’s also created better outcomes when leaders are willing to listen instead of defaulting to “how it’s always been.”
What I Hope Gen X Leaves Behind
As we closed the episode, I asked what legacy Gen X might leave behind.
What stood out wasn’t nostalgia or toughness for its own sake. It was resilience. The ability to adapt. The willingness to move forward without perfect information.
Gen X learned those skills the hard way. My hope—and the heart of GenShift—is that other generations can learn them with more support and less struggle.
When we understand how each generation was shaped, we stop misreading one another. And that’s when leadership, work, and relationships actually start to work better.
If this conversation resonated, I invite you to explore other GenShift episodes featuring voices from every generation. Each one is a step toward building real generational intelligence—and learning how to lead across difference with clarity and respect.