Cultural Intelligence Across Generations: How to Lead Across the Divide

Alastair welcomes Victoria Rennoldson, a multi-award-winning global leadership coach, international speaker, bestselling author, and podcast host specialising in strategic communication and cultural intelligence. A cusp Millennial who began her career at Boots before founding her own business, Victoria now works with leaders and organisations worldwide, helping them navigate the communication challenges that arise when different generations, nationalities, and organisational cultures collide. In this episode, Victoria and Alastair explore what today's multigenerational boardrooms are really grappling with, from the rise of younger leaders in their mid-30s, to the frustration of Gen Z employees who feel flexibility is applied unfairly, to the question of what actually gets people back into the office (hint: it's not pizza Fridays or beanbags). Victoria introduces her Cultural Intelligence framework, explains why curiosity is the essential starting point for any cross-generational relationship, and shares what vulnerable, human leadership truly looks like in practice. Victoria Rennoldson Takeaways: Cultural intelligence (CQ) starts with curiosity — genuinely wanting to understand someone's perspective before drawing conclusions about their generation, culture, or values Don't confuse generational labels with individual identity: see the person in front of you, not just the stereotype Younger generations expect their leaders to show a human side — vulnerability, including simply saying 'I don't know, but we'll find out together', builds far more trust than projecting certainty Hybrid working has become the primary generational flashpoint: flexibility must be applied equitably or it becomes a source of deep resentment What genuinely brings people together in the office is authentic cultural exchange (e.g., bring-a-cultural-dish events) — not surface-level perks Leadership styles are shifting rapidly: organisations must equip managers to lead in flatter, more transparent, psychologically safe ways, not just promote those who did well under the old model Advising young people on careers: focus on passion and transferable skills — the specific jobs that will exist in 10 years are impossible to predict Victoria Rennoldson Links https://culturecuppa.com/book   / victoria-rennoldson   https://culturecuppa.com/podcast/ Generationally Speaking Links: Generationally Speaking Website Generationally Speaking on LinkedIn Alastair on LinkedIn