The Original Millennial: Lessons in Leadership for the Millennial Generation

Slackers, narcissists, entitled - the infamous cliché known of a generation born around 1980 or so. This special breed of individuals, debunking myths and assumptions, will lead a cultural shift to represent a full 75 percent of the U.S. workforce by the year 2025 thus changing the face of leadership.They are millennials who are more ambitious to see cultural change than to gain personal wealth and advancement. They are millennials with a distinctly original quality that debunks the labels of slacker or narcissist. They are creative, innovative, enterprising, influential, bold, unapologetic, and ready to solve the world’s problems. They are called the original millennial.You probably know an original millennial. You may even feel you are one. Contrary to what has said or perceived, the original millennial is not lazy and selfish lacking motivation and creativity. The original millennial is a servant, an innovator, a go-getter - a leader.Here inside this book, you will discover how original millennials are impacting and influencing key areas of culture. You will meet original millennials who are dispelling the myths and stereotypes of the ＂Me＂ generation. You find the stories of millennials like me who knew early in life that they were destined to lead. You will discover that original millennials are valuable, loyal, high-performing leaders. You will find six defining areas that original millennials must master in business and community. The six lessons are: 1 - All of Us Are Entrepreneurs (Career, Entrepreneurship, Intrapraneurship); 2 - Seek to Solve A Problem (Problem Solving, Disruption, Innovation): 3 - Waiting for Permission (Ambition, Decision Making, Goal-Setting); 4 - Reflect or Direct (Influence, Access, Creativity); 5 - Profit to Fund Purpose (Profit, Passion, Purpose); 6 - Empowerment is Essential (Faith, Mindfulness, Empowerment).You will learn lessons of leadership for your own life and career. Most of all, you will take away inspirationand hope that future is in good hands with an original millennial at the helm.

Aerial Ellis is a gifted speaker and strategist who launched her first public relations firm as a young millennial at the age of 22. Since, she has become sought-after for her ability to help organizations transform culture, improve diversity, enhance communication, navigate change, build community and drive innovation. Recognized nationally as one of PR News 15-to-Watch and listed among Young HBCU Alum to Watch by The Huffington Post, Aerial is co-founder of the Nashville Women of Color in Communications Network and serves as secretary of the national committee on diversity & inclusion for the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). She holds an executive leadership certification in workforce diversity and inclusion awarded by UCLA Extension and the National Organization for Workforce Diversity and is a fellow of the Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations. She has been a speaker/facilitator for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), US Army Corps of Engineers, National Urban League, National Diversity Council, National Coalition of 100 Black Women, National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC), and CABLE Women’s Leadership Academy among others. She has also been featured as an expert source in media outlets such as Fortune, Ebony, National Journal, along with several online radio programs. She teaches university courses in public relations, strategic planning, cross-cultural communication and leadership at Lipscomb University. A native of Memphis, she holds a bachelor’s degree from Tennessee State University and master’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University. She is based in Nashville.