The Foreign Service Journal, April 2014

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | APRIL 2014 55 AFSA NEWS America’s First Globals: The Millennial Generation On March 4, AFSA welcomed pollster and political analyst John Zogby to speak about his new book, “First Globals: Understanding, Managing, and Unleashing Our Millen- nial Generation,” a detailed analysis of Americans born between 1979 and 1994. Zogby maintains that “millen- nials,” as this cohort are gen- erally referred to, are more globally aware than any pre- vious generation, and strive to make their workplace and planet a better place. Rea son fo r Hope In that spirit, Zogby opened his presentation at AFSA headquarters with a cry of “Today, I will give you hope!” He delivered on his promise. Contradicting a com- mon misconception, he insisted that humanity’s “first globals” are not self-entitled and lazy. He added that they are the well-travelled age cohort, the most willing to live and work abroad and the least interested in settling down. “They have their world at their fingertips, and they appreciate the opportunity to be global,” Zogby says. The numbers support his argument: 60 percent of millennials have a passport, with a substantial number of those expecting to work abroad at some point in their career. While first globals appreciate American culture, fewer than 40 percent of them view it as superior to others—significantly fewer than among older groups. “In that sense they really are America’s first global citizens.” Shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Zogby Analyt- ics conducted a survey on Americans’ reactions to the event. They then compared the millenials’ reactions with other generations: the “Nikes” (born between 1964- 1978), the “Woodstockers” (1946-1964) and the “Pri- vates” (1926-1945). While most in the older age groups turned inward, most of the millennials asked, “How can we go to war with people who listen to the same music and wear the same clothes as we do?” Te c hno l ogy a s “Game Change r ” What makes first globals see the world differently? “Every age cohort has their influ- encing factors. For the baby boomers, it was Woodstock; for the millennials, it was technology”: MTV, the Inter- net and the mobile phone. Sports and fashion also play a big role: while ear- lier generations preferred American-styled clothes, Zogby believes that today, it’s all about “whether they are cool or not, wearing Versace or Gucci, or playing soccer instead of baseball. It’s truly international nowadays.” AFSA BOOK NOTES BY JULIAN STEINER, AFSA STAFF Zogby closed his pre- sentation by praising first globals as “a group that wants to change the world. They have less hierarchy, but a better understanding for immediacy. They are also used to solving problems on a horizontal basis.”While these attitudes present challeges for older, more traditional managers—in both government and the private sector—it is crucial to listen to and learn from the first globals. “Continuing to do things the way we have always done is dangerous.” To view the event online, please see www.afsa.org/ video. n Embassy Risk Management Supports AFSA Scholarship Fund We are pleased to announce that for the first time, Embassy Risk Management is sponsoring a $2,500 academic merit award in 2014. Administered through the AFSA Scholarship Fund, the award recognizes the academic achievement of an AFSA member’s child in high school. The scholarship will cover some college expenses. ERM also continues to assist AFSA in other ways, including a $1,000 contribution toward AFSA’s 90th anniversay celebration of the founding of the Foreign Service and AFSA. Embassy Risk Management has its own rich history beginning in 1869, when the com- pany was founded. The company offers personal property and auto insurance tailored for Foreign Service employees serving aboard.        NEWS BRIEF Political analyst and pollster John Zogby talks about his new book First Globals at AFSA headquarters. PHOTOBYÁSGEIRSIGFÚSSON