April 2026

As self-proclaimed Gen Z Whisperers, we're having the conversation nobody else seems to be having.

A Note from the Roots

We're going to be honest with you.

When the Gen Z conversation comes up in leadership rooms- and it comes up constantly- we've heard every version of the frustration. They don't have a work ethic. They can't communicate. They job hop. They're on their phones. They expect too much too soon.

And we'll admit: there was a time when some of that landed for us too.

But here's the thing. We might be the closest thing to Gen Z Whisperers you're going to find in an organizational development firm- and we don't say that lightly.

Amy spent twenty years in education, starting out in elementary classrooms, watching this generation grow up in real time. She saw them as wide-eyed kindergarteners. She watched them navigate a world that was changing faster than anyone could keep up with. As her career evolved and she found her way into middle and high school spaces doing strengths coaching, she was still right there with them- through the awkward years, the hard years, the figuring-it-out years.

Today, a significant part of what we do at Aspen Root Collective is college and career coaching alongside our educational partners - helping schools navigate Indiana's new state guidelines requiring students to explore real-world learning experiences before graduation. We are literally sitting across the table from educators and Gen Z students every single week, helping them find their footing before they ever walk through an employer's door.

And we're both parents of Gen Z kids. So yes- we're experiencing it at home too.

All of that to say: we see this generation with clear eyes. We see their strengths. We see their quirks. And we see- clearly, and with some conviction- where we as leaders, parents, educators, and employers are failing them.

Gallup's latest data confirms what we've been watching up close for years: younger workers are experiencing the sharpest declines in engagement of any group in the workforce. And this is happening right as Gen Z becomes the largest generation in the workplace. That's not a blip. That's a warning.

The good news? The fix isn't complicated. It's not expensive. And it doesn't require a total overhaul of how you lead.

It requires you to actually give a damn, and then do something about it. You can't expect an entire generation to be adaptable if you aren't willing to bend a little, too.

This month, we're digging into it.

With roots and a whole lot of real talk,

Amy & Sarah
Aspen Root Collective

Collective Connections | Upcoming Events

A Note on Our Live Events- And an Honest Ask

We're going to do something a little unusual here. We're going to ask for YOUR help!

Since we launched our open-enrollment Collective Connections events, we've tried just about everything. We've made them free. We've moved the times around. We've pulled out some of our most practical, high-impact content to give people a real taste of what we do. And yet — attendance has been... less than we'd hoped for.

Here's the thing. We're not too proud to admit when something isn't landing the way we hoped. And rather than keep guessing, we'd rather just ask you directly — because you're exactly the audience these were designed for.

So here it is, a few simple questions. One click. That's it.

When it comes to live, open-enrollment learning events from Aspen Root Collective, what's most true for you?

📅 I want to attend but the timing never works for me

💻 I'd prefer a virtual option

🎯 I need more specificity on the topic before I can commit

🙋 Honestly — I didn't even know these existed!

💬 Something else — I'll reply and tell you

Your answer genuinely shapes what we do next. If these events aren't serving you, we'd rather know that and pivot than keep doing something that isn't adding value to your life. And if there's something we could do differently that would make you actually show up? We really, really want to know that too.

Because at the end of the day, that's what this whole newsletter is about — showing up for you in the ways that actually matter.

Click Here to Give Us Your Feedback

Ready to bring this work to your team? Book a FREE 45-minute Discovery Call Today!

We've been in rooms with HR leaders, school principals, college students, and Gen Z kids sitting at kitchen tables doing homework.

And we can tell you this with confidence: the engagement crisis isn't a mystery. It's a mirror.

This month's Rooted Reflections digs into what Gallup's latest data is telling us about the sharpest decline in employee engagement we've seen in years — who it's hitting hardest, why it's happening right now, and most importantly, what you can actually do about it at the local level starting this week.

No overhauling your entire HR strategy. No expensive consultants telling you things you already know. Just clear, actionable shifts that start with how you show up for your people every single day.

Rooted Reflections is our monthly dive into the real, messy, beautiful work of leadership. We share what we're learning, what we're unlearning, and what keeps us rooted in this work.

Click Here to Read the Full Blog Post

What We're Loving This Month!

Strong Ground by Brené Brown

"The Lessons of Daring Leadership, the Tenacity of Paradox, and the Wisdom of the Human Spirit"

We'll be honest, when we both independently finished this book within the same week and started texting each other about it, we knew it had to be a Rooted Resources recommendation.

In Strong Ground, Brown shares lessons from six years of working with more than 150,000 leaders across 45 countries- and what she found cuts right to the heart of what we're talking about this month. At a time when bluster and bravado are increasingly being mistaken for leadership, Brown makes a compelling case for something different: that the leaders who actually move people forward are the ones who lead from connection, discipline, and accountability.

Sound familiar? It should. Because that's exactly what your Gen Z workforce is asking for, whether they can articulate it or not.

If you're in the middle of an engagement crisis on your team, or you're just feeling the weight of leading people through a season of uncertainty, this one is worth your time.

(Heads up — this is an affiliate link, which means we may earn a small commission if you purchase through it. We only ever share things we've genuinely read and loved.)

Grab a Copy of Strong Ground Here

Ready to bring this work to your team? Book a FREE 45-minute Discovery Call Today!

Download the Guide Here

Free Resource: Are You Actually Engaging Your Gen Z Team?

A Practical Checklist for Managers Who Give a Damn

We've talked a lot this month about what Gen Z actually needs from their managers. And if you're anything like the leaders we work with, you're probably reading the blog post and mentally running through your own team.

So we made it easy.

This month's free resource is a simple, one-page checklist built around the three areas that Gallup's research — and our own experience in the field — says matter most right now: clarifying expectations, developing your people, and improving day-to-day work experiences.

No fluff. No 47-page report. Just an honest gut-check you can print out, keep on your desk, and actually use.

Because the best time to address disengagement is before someone hands you their resignation.

And, just a reminder, you're not alone in this. If you find this helpful, share it with a friend or colleague. If you need a little more support, reach out.

🌱 Results Taking Root Across Indiana

Last month had us on the road — and honestly, we wouldn't have it any other way.

From an energizing trip to Merrillville to support the public relations team at NIPSCO, to the deeply meaningful work of walking alongside the Mustard Seed Furniture Bank in Fort Wayne as they lean into their mission- plus plenty of coaching and connecting in between- March reminded us exactly why we do this.

For profit. Nonprofit. Large teams. Small ones. It doesn't matter. The work looks different every single time we walk into a room, but the outcome is always the same: people who finally feel seen.

And here's the thing — the data is clear on the ROI. The research absolutely supports why organizations should invest in this work. But no spreadsheet has ever captured what it looks like when someone hears their strengths reflected back to them for the very first time. No metric fully measures the moment a team stops tolerating each other and starts actually working together- not just more efficiently, but more joyfully.

That's the real magic. And we get to watch it happen.

More roots going down. More work taking root. 🌱