SXSW Preview #2: Managing Milennials

Licenced psychologist, camp director and teacher Jennifer Selke will speak at SXSW Interactive this year about how to manage millennials.

Running a camp for more than 20 years, she has a great deal of experience managing teenagers and young adults. Cal Youth and Outdoor Programs employs 130-150 high school and college students each summer.

"Every summer, you see a shift in what they need in a supervisor and the struggles they have making their way in the world," Selke said.

This is her third year speaking at SXSW, but this year it will be a core conversation rather than a panel. She hopes the session will be interactive and informative for all who attend.

"I look forward to bringing people together in conversation," Selke said. "So many businesses lack the understanding of how to deal with these millennials and they are losing out."

The topic of her dissertation was actually on job tenure and job satisfaction. In her many roles, Selke communicates with the young adults who work for her about what they are looking for out of a job.

"Camp is a venue that can help young people find out what they love and apply these life skills," she said.

For an example of managing millennials at camp, view this video:

Selke grew up in Chicago, but she lived overseas in England for three years, and currently lives in California. She was introduced to camps when she lived in England. Her husband was in the military and she began working in Morale, Welfare and Recreation at RAF Upper Heyford, England. Prior to that, her background was in psychology. She earned her bachelor of science degree (magna cum laude) in psychology from Loyola University Chicago and a Ph.d. in educational psychology from the University of California, Berkeley.

All of these achievements combined have helped her get to where she is today as a camp director, speaker, teacher, and psychologist. Selke looks forward to speaking with others at SXSW.

"I enjoy the eclectic group of people that come together," she said.

The main questions she will address are:

-What is different about the millennial generation from Gen-Xers and Boomers?

- How can managers provide supervision to increase retention?

- How does the interview and evaluation process differ with these workers?

- What can you do in your work place and with your policies to improve productivity?

- What impact does their comfort with technology have on the workplace?

For more information and updates, visit the SXSW Interactive web site.