Kristina Markos

I've been in the communications industry for 20 years and in higher education for about 15 or 16 years. I worked in the field and became a professor while doing both at the same time. My journey started when I was on the student newspaper in high school, did morning announcements on broadcast TV in the early 2000s, and was on the yearbook committee. I went into journalism, specifically investigative reporting, but found it very competitive when I got out of college. Instead, I got a job in advertising in downtown Chicago and learned that the skills in reporting, acting, journalism, and broadcast news all combined into a multi-layered skill set in the communications industry. I was so disgruntled at my undergraduate experience and the guidance I got about the field - about the value of networking, professionalism, and understanding that a lot of people in the communications field have parents with connections. Coming from Cleveland, Ohio, with my background, I had to make my own way. So I decided to get my master's degree and become a professor because I wanted to change the dialogue for undergraduates who maybe don't have a parent at home in the field or are unaware that even if you have talent, you can switch out disciplines - you can go into public relations, advertising, marketing, reporting, or content creation. I launched my consulting business, Gen Spark Solutions, last summer with my business partner. We did extensive research on the Gen Z generation and how they view the culture of work, meaningful work, values-based work, pay structures, and flexibility. It's remarkably different than Millennials, Gen Xers, or Boomers. We help companies integrate Gen Zers into established hierarchies and workplace cultures. My biggest achievement is taking my own experience where I felt my college education prepared me academically but not for the real world, and becoming almost like a mentor, guide, and consultant for this next generation that gets a horrible rap. Businesses depend on young people, but the way Gen Z operates mentally is different than any other generation before us.