Learning or Leaving: Gen Z's Expectations in the Workplace (Tuesday, May 19, 2026)

Tue, 19 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Gen Zs are changing expectations in the workplace, and organizations must decide if they will adapt to retain them. So, will you lead them, or will you lose them?

Register now to join Julie Guerette-Vafaee, CEO and Founder of Humanalyze Consulting, for a virtual session.

Click see details below to learn more!

Session Overview

In this session you will learn how to:

Recognize Gen Z’s learning preferences and apply them to your organization's culture.
Identify organizational improvement opportunities by engaging directly with early-career employees.
Connect employee engagement initiatives to measurable business outcomes such as retention and performance.

Today’s early-career employees are asking more of the workplace than any generation before them. By 2030, Gen Zs will make up one-third of the workforce, and companies will need to adapt quickly.

For this generation, work isn’t just a “job” - it’s a place to contribute to society, make an impact, and be continually challenged to learn. If they don’t see a path for advancement, they won’t hesitate to move on.

Learning isn’t just central to workforce development - it’s also one of the most effective strategies for retention.

In this session, we’ll explore five initiatives that both engage and create meaningful impact for early-career professionals:

Team Off-sites
Focus Groups
Culture Committees
Reverse Mentorship Programs
Town Halls

Each initiative comes with a ready-to-use template that you can bring back to your own organization. Retaining Gen Zs is less about perks and more about embedding growth opportunities into all aspects of their work.

About the Presenter

Julie Guerette-Vafaee is the CEO and Founder of Humanalyze Consulting, a firm specializing in workplace culture and leadership development. With cross-industry experience spanning national security, technology, and global consulting, Julie helps organizations uncover the “why” behind workforce challenges, navigate change, and ensure every employee has a voice - and a seat at the table.

Previously, Julie worked as an external consultant at The RepTrak Company, advising global clients such as Lenovo, AT&T, and Cargill on employer brand and organizational reputation. She also held an in-house consulting role at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, where she partnered with engineers and scientists to improve team dynamics, culture, and workforce effectiveness.

In addition to consulting, Julie lectures at Suffolk University, teaching a course on professional development.

Julie holds a B.S. in Journalism from Suffolk University and an M.S. in International Politics from Trinity College Dublin, and a Chief Learning Officer Executive Certificate from George Mason University.

Cancellation Policy: A full refund will be issued if the cancellation request is made on or before 5 calendar days before the scheduled program. Please email events@tdmaine.org with your inquiries.

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Learning or Leaving: Gen Z's Expectations in the Workplace (Tuesday, May 19, 2026)

Session Overview

About the Presenter