Alex Atherton is the ex-secondary school headteacher who heard the word ‘snowflake’ once too often to describe his former students. He spent 25 years in secondary schools, and half of it as a headteacher.

Alex is a consultant, speaker and author of The Snowflake Myth: Explaining Gen Z in the Workplace and Beyond. He works with senior leaders, HR teams, learning and development specialists within organisations across the UK. He is also a qualified (ILM level 7 diploma) and accredited (EMCC Senior Practitioner) leadership coach and leadership team coach.

He is a generations specialist and his work includes training, workshops, keynote talk and consultancy on leading multi-generational workforces. Whilst Alex has a particular interest in Gen Z, it extends across the full range of the workforce.

Alex’s approach is evidence-led and deliberately inclusive. The goal is to build the understanding, and implement practical strategies, that enable intergenerational workplaces to make the most of the full range of age diversity on offer.

That means strong collaboration, increased levels of innovation, more authentic cultures, clearer career pathways and leaders who ask better questions.

The impact is better retention, stronger recruitment and teams that get the best from everyone in them.

Book: The Snowflake Myth: Explaining Gen Z in the workplace and beyond

Award: Speaker Awards 2025