Beyond the Stereotypes: Generations at Work in 2026 with Tess Brigham

In this episode of Career Pulse DC, Margaret sits down with Tess Brigham, host of Gen Mess with Tess, to unpack how generational experiences, from Boomers to Gen Z, are shaping today’s workplace.

Drawing on over 20 years as a licensed psychotherapist and coach, Tess offers a rare, ground-level view of how technology, COVID, burnout, and shifting cultural norms are influencing how people work, lead, and define success. This conversation moves beyond stereotypes to explore curiosity, empathy, and sustainability at work — and why the future of leadership may look very different than the past.

Key Topics & Takeaways

Generational stereotypes vs. reality
Why age should be treated as context, not a conclusion.

Gen Z, AI, and the future of hiring
Why younger workers are not immune to anxiety about AI, automation, and resume filtering — and how curiosity (not fear) is the most adaptive response.

Managing across age gaps
What seasoned professionals should remember when reporting to younger managers — and why ego is often the biggest obstacle to career longevity.

Networking without the cringe
Reframing networking as generosity, curiosity, and relationship-building — not self-promotion or transactional hustle.

Why Gen X feels invisible (and exhausted)
How being a “small sandwich generation” shaped Gen X leadership styles, burnout, and difficulty delegating — and what they can learn from Gen Z.

Millennials as managers
Why millennials often equate responsiveness with value, struggle to unplug, and carry invisible pressure to optimize everything — including their own lives.

Workplace empathy ≠ therapy
How managers can validate employees’ experiences without becoming their therapist — and why simple acknowledgment goes further than people think.

About the Guest

Tess Brigham is a licensed psychotherapist, certified coach, author, and TEDx speaker based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She hosts the Gen Mess with Tess podcast, where she explores generational psychology, work, identity, and mental health in a rapidly changing world.