We've created a system of fictional generational boxes that don't exist in reality.

"Boomer," "Gen X," "Millennial" - arbitrary labels with zero scientific basis.

Yet we use them daily to dismiss, categorize, and stereotype people who were simply born during a random year span.

The cost?

• Innovation stifled.
• Talent wasted.
• Workplaces poisoned.

The coming demographic shift (longer lives, fewer births) will expose this charade.

The winners will be those who see people, not labels.

The question isn't which generation you belong to.

It's whether you'll perpetuate the myth or break it.

In this fierce conversation with Sheila Callaham, Executive Director & Board Chair | Global Educator | Forbes Contributor

We break down:

The Great Age Label Myth
The arbitrary boxes assume people think identically because they were born within 15-20 year spans. We'd never accept this for race or gender – why tolerate it for age?

The Demographic Time Bomb Leaders remain dangerously oblivious: people are living longer while birth rates plummet. The talent pool is shrinking, yet organizations continue discarding experienced workers. This talent sustainability crisis will explode within five years.

The Longevity Revolution The Age Equity Alliance's Longevity Mindset Index measures how "future-ready" companies are through employee perceptions.

The Action Plan

1. Recognize when age-based assumptions infiltrate conversations
2. Call it out – respectfully but firmly
3. Focus on skills and competencies, not birth years
4. Ask people what they want rather than assuming based on age

For more information, visit ageequityalliance.org or connect with Sheila Callaham on LinkedIn.