5 Tips for Gen X Leaders to Slay the AI Game (No Cap): A Guide to Staying Ahead

A thought-leadership piece written by the MD of Kabloom, Elluria Breytenbach.

I feel like our generation whispers every day, What next? Even KITT from Knight Rider has become a reality – last night a Tesla reprimanded my dog for getting too close!

If there’s a generation built for adaptation, it’s us – and that is our strength moving forward. We went from thinking MS-DOS disks and texting was cutting-edge to standing on the brink of a world where the machines are actually learning. As a marketing professional and MD riding this next wave of innovation, the AI era presents unique challenges, particularly in leading a business and ensuring the correct AI tools are tested and integrated.

While younger employees may be more naturally fluent in technological shifts, as leaders, we play a vital role in guiding our teams through the strategic adoption of AI. These are my 5 top tips:

1. Squad Up – If Martha Stewart Can Collab with Snoop, We Can Learn from Our Team

I make it a point to check in with the younger members of my team regularly. One Gen Z colleague, in particular, knows he’s my go-to for the latest trends. He appreciates that a senior leader values his insights and is genuinely interested in his perspective. (Bonus: I also learned that his mom has great taste in music, so now we also swap Spotify playlists.)

The millennials in my team are fantastic at articulating how things work. They blend the strategic insights passed down by Gen X with the technological fluency of digital natives, ensuring that AI solutions are innovative and aligned with business goals.

2. Leverage Digital Natives’ Expertise – They’ve Got the Receipts

Empower employees to lead AI initiatives. One of our youngest team members spearheaded an SEO testing project, another optimized our use of copywriting AI, and a third took the lead on video content editing.

Their comfort with technology drives initiatives forward, while more experienced employees ensure that solutions are user-friendly and relevant.

3. Co-Learning Sessions – Sharing the Hacks

Our weekly company meeting has been rebranded as a learning session. Each Monday, we discuss the highlights of one client campaign and dedicate a slot for team members to learn from one another.

This fosters a culture of openness and a willingness to try new things, while leveraging the strengths of all generations at the table. We’ve explored everything from social media tools and content creation to workflow automation.

4. Lead the Way—Test AI Tools That Match Your Vibe

I started using ChatGPT early for idea generation because, after years in a niche market, I needed fresh perspectives. While ChatGPT is not creative, it does provide different angles that I often use as a springboard for messaging and concept development. After exploring recommended tools, I shared my experiences keeping the process transparent and encouraging an open dialogue about what worked, what didn’t, and how we could refine our approach to AI-driven innovation.

5. Results Audit: Keep It 100

Share your frustrations and happy surprises with your team. If a tool isn’t working, identify it quickly and move on—create a culture where mistakes are inevitable, and learning is celebrated. Transparency demystifies AI and reduces apprehension when it comes to implementation.

As Gen X leaders, we’re uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between the past and the future, ensuring that our organizations are not just keeping up, but setting the pace in this new digital landscape. Let’s embrace the challenge and lead with confidence into the AI-powered future…. (until the robots take over and we’re all reporting to an AI called Skynet…)

Reach out to Kabloom, the Association ROI Agency to unlock new revenue streams for associations.