“If anybody is on Snapchat and over 40, we need to talk.” Marcelle Karp says jokingly at “The Intern Stole My Job” session at PromaxBDA The Conference 2017. The conversation centered around generational differences and mutual respect in the workplace.

But one panelist, Heather Gerhart of NBC Entertainment, says she knows that feeling. The feeling that people are judging you on age. She’s a millennial.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to work with people who don’t patronize. But my friend was a former boss, and looked at my resume and asked ‘how old are you?’” When Heather shared her age, he responded “Don’t tell anyone that.” At first, she didn’t understand, but says it later made all the sense in the world. “What he was trying to convey is you’re going to be lumped into this age group.”

And to Heather, who started working at 14-years-old in her father’s company, it can be detrimental to judge someone based on their young age. It’s important to know someone’s story.

The same goes for people who are older.

“There is anxiety for people,” says Tracy Grandstaff, SVP Original Production, NBC Entertainment. “I feel as if, on some occasions, there are times when you walk into a room and wonder ‘Is it going to be my gender or age?’”

And Tracy often gives advice to millennials, like Heather, on entering the workplace. “A lot of times, I’ll let millennials know they’ve got to overcome a lot of preconceived notions.” But these notions don’t just stop at age and gender.

Sometimes, according to Dave Abel, Associate Creative Director, loyalkaspar, it can be looks. “Early on, as I presented creative work, Richard Eng said to me ‘Wear your glasses when you present work in the room.’ Primarily because it did in a way age me up. I think everybody understands that a good idea can be a good idea. People think ‘that kind of thinking can’t come from someone your age.;

But with all these differences, what can we really do to get along and work together? These ideas aren’t going to make themselves.

“Play nice”, says Tracy. “At NBC, we have this culture of nice, the power of nice can really go far. That evokes respect and listening. Creativity is what brought us al together so if you’re going to be relevant and adaptable and engaged in your job, you want to open up to “Please tell me what you think.”

Adrian Hilton, Senior Creative Director, BET, takes a different approach. “One thing people do is they age themselves out based on music.” Adrian believes music is one way to bring people together. “That’s my starting point and breaking down that wall. If you stop being curious, then you’re dead to me.”

Engaging each other is one way to understand each other. Sometimes, it’s the only way.

And then someone in the crowd asked Adrian “So what music do you listen to?” He would only answer partially with “Let’s talk afterward.” Point taken.

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