Executive’s ‘daddy tips’ aim to boost Gen Z soft skills in the AI era

Gen Z soft skills: a senior exec’s cheat‑sheet for the AI age

When Richard Roper, president of Marsh People and Investment (Hong Kong & Macau), saw his two eldest daughters step into the workforce, he handed them a one‑page “daddy tips” list. The guide, distilled from three decades, zeroes in on Gen Z soft skills – punctuality, politeness, enthusiasm and the ability to add value in a meeting.

“Being enthusiastic, being polite, being respectful to your bosses… always bringing value to a meeting,” Roper told the Fortune Leaders Forum in Macau on Sept. 8.

Research from the Reuters shows ↑ 65% of Gen Z workers admit they struggle to start conversations with colleagues, while ↓ 20% bring a parent to a job interview. The post‑pandemic cohort is twice as likely to lack confidence in office chatter.

Employers increasingly prize the “old‑fashioned” etiquette Roper preaches. Companies are rolling out etiquette workshops and soft‑skill bootcamps to bridge the gap, a trend echoed by Bloomberg’s coverage of talent shortages in the tech sector.

Roper’s daughters now hold entry‑level roles, and he argues the basics he taught are more valuable than any AI tool. “Influence, storytelling, presence – that’s the new currency,” he said.

Other leaders are following suit. Grindr CEO George Arison plans to let his ten‑year‑old twins shadow his 12‑hour days, hoping to instill grit alongside technical know‑how.

Analysis by: Nathaniel Reed

Wealth Management Correspondent