Why Generation X may be the secret weapon for startups in the AI era
I’ve been thinking about how different generations show up in the workplace. The more I reflect, the more I realize Generation X has a hidden edge right now. Yes, I obviously have bias but I’ll explain and yes for the purpose of this I am making some broad stroke generalizations. There of course are always exceptions.
We’re the last generation raised entirely pre-Internet and pre-social media. That means we learned how to:
Read a room without a phone in our hands
Build trust and rapport face to face
Navigate conflict and collaboration before everything was mediated by screens
Those skills gave us high EQ and strong social adaptability as a baseline. And in a world being disrupted by AI, that strength is more important than ever. AI will replace repetitive tasks but cannot replace intersocial interactions; the conductor of the orchestra. (Yet). In a time when AI and automation are redefining work, Gen X brings the human layer that machines can’t replicate: empathy, intuition, and social intelligence. Startups that balance technical brilliance with this kind of emotional intelligence have a much better shot at thriving through disruption.
Startups today don’t just need technical talent or funding. They need leaders who can rally teams, build trust, and align humans around a mission while technology transforms at a pace we’ve never seen.
Gen Xers sit in a unique spot:
Experienced enough to lead with empathy in the middle of constant change
Adapt without instruction manuals. We grew up navigating change before Google was there to answer every question. That resilience and resourcefulness are exactly what startups need in moments of uncertainty.
Handle conflict directly. If there was an issue, you picked up the phone, walked into someone’s office, or sat across the table. That ability to resolve problems quickly and without hiding behind a screen is a major asset in fast-moving environments.
Read people in real time. Without phones in our hands, we had to pay attention to body language, tone, and context. That skill translates into better leadership, quicker conflict resolution, and stronger team alignment in the workplace.
Build trust face to face. Before “likes” and “follows,” relationships were earned through consistency and presence. In startups, that trust is what keeps teams rowing in the same direction when things get chaotic.
2. The Meeting Dynamics Example
Gen X: Reads the frustration in the room, pauses the agenda, and creates space for voices to be heard. Alignment comes from sensing the mood and addressing it.
Younger generations: May stick rigidly to the agenda or avoid speaking up in conflict, preferring to follow up later in chat channels. The chance to diffuse tension in real time often gets missed.
I like analogies and potential real examples so here are a few I came up with all which I have witnessed first hand over 25yrs of working at startups.
3. The Mentoring Example
Gen X: Coaches the younger employee on eye contact, tone, and presence, pulling from pre-digital experience of live pitching and in-person storytelling.
Younger generations: Tend to lean too heavily on slides or tools to carry the message. Without practice in real-world persuasion, they may struggle to connect beyond the deck.
4. The Slack Spiral Example
Gen X: Calls an impromptu huddle, gets everyone in a room, and resolves it face-to-face before it festers.
Younger generations: More comfortable letting the debate run on in Slack or email threads. Without experience in face-to-face conflict resolution, the issue drags out and team morale suffers.
The irony? The “forgotten middle child” generation might be the best equipped to steer startups through the uncertainty of the AI age.
What do you think, is Gen X finally having its moment?
#leadership #startups #AI #futureofwork #genx
