I recently lead a panel about leadership for an industry organization. As we were discussing possible panelists there was a lot of thought given to who should sit on the panel: different levels of leader (managers or senior leader), kinds of organizations to be represented (corporate or entrepreneurial) and most important, diversity.  

And yet, in all the conversations we never talked about having a mix of different ages of leaders on the panel – which I felt was critically important to a discussion about leadership. Especially given that my definition of leadership eschews hierarchy and focuses on inspiring behavior that draws in committed followers: leadership is the ability to communicate a vision and gain commitment to it.

The implication is that anyone can be a leader at any stage or age as long as they have a vision, can communicate it, and can capture the hearts and minds of their audiences to take on that vision for themselves. This kind of leadership can be cultivated no matter where you lead, at what level you are in an organization, or who you are.

In the end we curated a fascinating group of diverse leaders, at different levels, from different kinds of organizations. And for me the biggest win was having a 20-something leader on the panel (22 to be exact).

I have always sought out connections to leaders who are younger than I am - mainly because I love their unique perspective and energy. And because I remember there was a time when I was the youngest person in the room and how much I gained from inter-generational connections. Although, honestly, as a look back, I realize I was filled with the brash confidence of youth - thinking I knew everything.

Now I’m old enough and yes, confident enough to know that I know…nothing. Well not nothing, I now know that being curious and open-minded is really the only thing you have to “know” in life.

These days I’m often the oldest in the room and I still find myself drawn to leaders who take risks, are truly authentic, and who are willing to change the world with who they are – and so many of them are significantly younger than I am.

Leaders like Ellie Burrow Gluck, Co-founder of MNDFL. Fully more than 25 years younger than I, her wisdom on what helped her to become a great leader resonated deeply. She told me she became the leader she is by watching other leaders in action and as she said, “never forgetting what it was like to be someone’s assistant.”

Or the 22-year-old who sat on that panel, Sheila Dunne, Co-founder of Dunne Goodwin whose path to leadership began as a teenager when she became an Instagram influencer before that was a thing. She says leadership for her is all about “being able to inspire those around you with your passion, commitment, sacrifice and original self.”

We recently commemorated National Mentors Day and it made me realize that some of my best mentors were the young people I was supposed to be mentoring. They taught me how to take risks, question more, and continue to make an impact on the world.

If leadership is all about how to show up authentically, staying true to what’s important to us, and a willingness to focus on the needs of others – the next generation to inherit our world has much to teach those who are willing to continually learn from our fellow humans no matter who they are.

Outlaw Leaders embrace leaders of all ages and from them, gain the wisdom of the ages.