COMMENT
Sage survey indicates five millennial personas
The opportunity to foster a new economy , triggered by young entrepreneurs has never been greater , says Anton Van Heerden , EVP and Managing Director , Sage South and Southern Africa .
Young entrepreneurs are driven by a desire for independence , a belief in social good and a commitment to employee happiness . That ’ s according to Sage ’ s Walk With Me report which examines the key characteristics , attitudes and behaviours of millennial entrepreneurs around the world . Despite sweeping generalisations about how this generation behaves , the study shows that these business leaders have diverse traits which align them with five workplace personality types .
The Principled Planners , extremely methodical in their approach to work , they enjoy carefully planning for success . With an ambitious streak , they never take anything at face value and always ask a lot of questions .
The Driven Techies , love their work and cannot bear the thought of sitting around twiddling their thumbs , they trust in the power and efficiency of innovative technology to keep them one step ahead of the competition . They have a strong belief in its ability to accurately target their existing and future customers .
The Instinctive Explorers , cavalier , they love the unknown , as well as exploring uncharted territory . They trust their gut instincts and stick to their guns . A modern image is extremely important to them , as is leaving a legacy behind to be remembered by .
The Real Worlders , resourceful , but likely to say they rely on technology in order to succeed . When it comes to their approach to work and making decisions , they tend to alternate between going on gut instinct and taking a more methodical approach .
The Thrill-Seekers , easily bored and always on the lookout for the next challenge , they could not care less about appearances . They work best around others and believe that making a social impact is overrated .
More general trends from the study include a desire to make a difference .
Doing social good is especially important to young entrepreneurs in South Africa and Nigeria , both 80 % compared to other countries . Respondents in South Africa 30 % and Nigeria 46 % say that the way their business reflects their personal success is what gets them out of bed in the morning .
Millennial entrepreneurs have a huge role to play in the start-up economy and are shaping the modern workplace at great pace
24 INTELLIGENTCIO www . intelligentcio . com