Daniela Oliboni, CEO of Hermes Consulting, and Michela Melchiori, Managing Partner of Hermes Consulting, for the editorial feature in Harvard Business Review Italia
There comes a moment when work, instead of opening doors, becomes a wall.
An invisible boundary separating those already inside from those who genuinely want to enter.
It is the moment a young person raises their hand, puts forward an idea, asks for space, and receives in return a silence that weighs heavier than outright rejection. Or, worse still, a phrase that sounds like a tired mantra:
“You should just be grateful to have a job”.
What happens in these circumstances?
Many leave, because they find no place for themselves.
In this and many other cases, young people are portrayed as a problem because “they do not adapt”, “they have no desire to do anything”. These are refrains heard time and again in organisations, framing everything purely as a problem. What if, instead, they were opportunities?
Every generation brings a new energy, a fresh perspective on the world. For this to find expression, it is not enough to say “we need talent”. We must create a genuine connection.
Organisations should therefore recognise people, their values, and what they have to offer. To achieve this, real listening is essential.
On one side lie organisational needs; on the other, the natural calling of those stepping into the world of work.
How can we create this meeting ground?
To address this question, at Hermes Consulting we created Inner Light: a three-day experience designed to transform relational distances between generations into mutual understanding and fresh generative dialogues.
Inner Light stems from the integration of years of work in personal and organisational development: from relational systemic thinking to NLP, from neuroscience to bioenergetics.
An approach that engages mind, body, and relationships, creating a safe yet practical space where each participant can recognise themselves, find fresh direction, and connect with the organisational system more authentically.
Those who take part in Inner Light:
- Recognise and harness their potential, approaching the world of work with greater confidence;
- Define their core motivators, shaping a path truly aligned with their goals;
- Cultivate authentic leadership, turning their role into an opportunity for mutual growth alongside the organisation.
The young professionals emerging from this experience bring not only greater self-awareness into the organisational setting, but also a renewed capacity for relating and putting forward ideas.
In turn, organisations begin to see new joiners through fresh eyes: no longer as people “to integrate”, but as individuals to connect with.
A mutual commitment that says: “We, the organisation, take responsibility for offering you a place to grow and express your value; and you, the young professional, take responsibility for bringing your energy and your drive to build something new”.
This programme enables organisations to strengthen their longevity through genuine listening across generations.
It is within this listening that a bridge is built between the needs of the system and the personal aspirations of individuals.
It is not about retaining young people at all costs, but about creating the conditions where they want to stay, because they feel their contribution is truly welcomed, not merely appraised.
When this happens, work becomes once more what it ought to be: a threshold, not an obstacle.
The result is doors opening, and walls slowly disappearing.
Inner Light is the starting point to make this happen.
