October | 2011 NHRD Network Journal 13 About the Authors GENERATION Y: BRIDGING THE GULF TO MAKE THEM TOMORROW’S LEADERS Dr CARINA PAINE SCHOFIELD, SUE HONORÉ and NARENDRA LALJANI Abstract While most research on Gen Y highlight their superior articulation, confidence and tech- savvy approach, have we come across any research elaborating the “missing skills” in today’s young generation? This research based article launched completely in the UK takes us through a unique perspective of Gen Y, their missing skills few amongst them being lack of self awareness or the inability to manage “difficult conversations”. The findings also take us through the expectation gap between graduates and their managers. Experiences from Indian business leaders, also throws up differences between Gen Y in India and the UK providing a unique cross-cultural approach. T echnology is embedded in day to day life and rapid advances in technology have been reshaping learning, encouraging the view that younger generations learn in a fundamentally different way from those that have gone before them. However, technology impacts on all generations in the workplace; most employees experience new methods of learning in order to match business demands, their working lifestyles, their availability and their experience. Learning Narendra Laljani is a director at Ashridge Business School, with responsibility for graduate programmes and research. He has degrees in economics and management from India, and a doctorate from Cranfield University, England. Sue Honoré is an Ashridge Associate with an interest in blended learning and innovation in executive education. She holds an MSc in Networked Learning from Lancaster University. Dr Carina Paine Schofield is a Research Fellow at Ashridge. She has a first degree in Psychology and Computing, plus a postgraduate diploma and doctorate in Psychology.