Why this CEO gets his advice from the 20-somethings in the office
As Gen Z swells to a third of the workforce, P&G’s Australia-New Zealand CEO Neal Reed says reverse mentorship keeps him connected, skilled up and relevant.
Procter & Gamble CEO Neal Reed says reverse mentorship keeps him connected. Louie Douvis
Neal Reed might have three decades of experience under his belt, but he is the first to admit he doesn’t have all the answers. As the Australia and New Zealand chief executive of household products giant Procter & Gamble, Reed has spent his career navigating markets from Switzerland to Japan. But his most critical advisers today aren’t fellow C-suite executives – they’re the freshly hired Gen Z graduates.
“My biggest risk is not my competitors, and it’s not any lack of experience,” Reed says. “It’s whether I’m disconnected from the people I’m trying to serve.”
Rachael BoltonWork and careers reporterRachael Bolton is a veteran technology and culture reporter who now covers the work and careers beat at The Australian Financial Review. Send tips about workplace culture, artificial intelligence, layoffs or other work-related issues via the encrypted messaging platform via Signal (@RachaelBolton.01). Email Rachael at rachael.bolton@afr.com
