For the generation of young Europeans who have grown up immersed in digital technology, social media is far more than a source of entertainment. By democratizing the way we communicate, social media has helped shape and empower a new breed of employees and citizens across Europe: Generation Direct…
REPORT KEY FINDINGS
WHAT ARE EUROPEAN LEADERS SAYING?
N Chandrasekaran
CEO & MD
Tata Consultancy Services
“Generation Direct, the first generation to innately understand the true power of social media”
CEO & MD
Tata Consultancy Services
“Generation Direct, the first generation to innately understand the true power of social media”
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Alexander De Croo
Deputy Prime Minister
Federal Government of Belgium
“Social media has become pervasive in empowering young Europeans”
Deputy Prime Minister
Federal Government of Belgium
“Social media has become pervasive in empowering young Europeans”
Xavier Estéve
Career Office
College of Europe
“Social media is playing a growing role for students to find a position or to start with a new enterprise.”
Career Office
College of Europe
“Social media is playing a growing role for students to find a position or to start with a new enterprise.”
Patrick Thomas
Chairman and CEO, Covestro
Germany
“Young people want to feel part of the company they work for.”
Chairman and CEO, Covestro
Germany
“Young people want to feel part of the company they work for.”
Eva Paunova
MEP, Bulgaria
“I believe that social media can boost our businesses and improve the economy throughout Europe”
MEP, Bulgaria
“I believe that social media can boost our businesses and improve the economy throughout Europe”
Mary Kunnenkeril
Director, Three Hands
UK
“Business and young people can learn from one another.”
Director, Three Hands
UK
“Business and young people can learn from one another.”
Gavin Perera-Betts
Executive Director, NEST
UK
“Social media is increasingly a core way of… doing business”
Executive Director, NEST
UK
“Social media is increasingly a core way of… doing business”
Peter Todd
Dean of HEC Paris
France
Dean of HEC Paris
France
“Young entrepreneurs… are heavily leveraging social media to expand their businesses and create economic growth”
Philippe Vanrie
CEO
European Business & Innovation Centre
“Policy makers have now realised that entrepreneurs and innovators are the best people likely to create jobs and growth the economy needs”
CEO
European Business & Innovation Centre
“Policy makers have now realised that entrepreneurs and innovators are the best people likely to create jobs and growth the economy needs”
Ilhan Kyuchyuk
MEP, Bulgaria
“For new start-up companies, SMEs and entrepreneurs.”
MEP, Bulgaria
“For new start-up companies, SMEs and entrepreneurs.”
Markus Beyrer
Director General, BUSINESSEUROPE“New digital professional profiles are needed at all levels.”
Director General, BUSINESSEUROPE“New digital professional profiles are needed at all levels.”
Susan Danger
MD, AmCham EU
“We are certainly seeing this potential to use online training.”
MD, AmCham EU
“We are certainly seeing this potential to use online training.”
Paul Feldman
Chief Executive of Jisc
UK
“The key point here is that it’s important for university staff to work with students to use social media.”
Chief Executive of Jisc
UK
“The key point here is that it’s important for university staff to work with students to use social media.”
Martina Dlabajová
MEP, Czech Republic
“…there is often a mismatch between the needs of employers and the skills being delivered by the education systems. Again, social media can help to fill such gaps”
MEP, Czech Republic
“…there is often a mismatch between the needs of employers and the skills being delivered by the education systems. Again, social media can help to fill such gaps”
Sara Mella
Executive Vice President
Nordea Bank, Finland
” …it is notable how many think [social media] has a strong impact for actually improving skills”
Executive Vice President
Nordea Bank, Finland
” …it is notable how many think [social media] has a strong impact for actually improving skills”
Jesper Tække
Professor of Media Studies
Aarhus University, Denmark
“It is young people who use new media to improve opportunities and increase the efficiency of their workflow”
Professor of Media Studies
Aarhus University, Denmark
“It is young people who use new media to improve opportunities and increase the efficiency of their workflow”
Bill Liao
Co-founder
non-profit CoderDojo clubs
“Young people do need to develop an awareness of the risks and a social sensitivity (when using social media)”
Co-founder
non-profit CoderDojo clubs
“Young people do need to develop an awareness of the risks and a social sensitivity (when using social media)”
Mikko Vastela
CIO, LähiTapiola Group
Finland
”Social media is rapidly gaining traction in professional use.”
CIO, LähiTapiola Group
Finland
”Social media is rapidly gaining traction in professional use.”
John Higgins
Director General
DIGITALEUROPE
“Business leaders aren’t yet using social media enough.”
Director General
DIGITALEUROPE
“Business leaders aren’t yet using social media enough.”
Marc Lhermitte
Partner
Head of EY’s ILAS European Network
“There is greater wariness on the part of Europe’s business leaders as to social media”
Partner
Head of EY’s ILAS European Network
“There is greater wariness on the part of Europe’s business leaders as to social media”
Neena Gill
MEP, Vice-Chair
Delegation for Relations with India
United Kingdom
“[Social media is] a means for politically engaged youth to connect and become a force for democracy”
MEP, Vice-Chair
Delegation for Relations with India
United Kingdom
“[Social media is] a means for politically engaged youth to connect and become a force for democracy”
Tommi Laitio
Youth Affairs
City of Helsinki, Finland
“For the young, it’s about being in the same place as everyone and everything that matters”
Youth Affairs
City of Helsinki, Finland
“For the young, it’s about being in the same place as everyone and everything that matters”
Jussi Mekkonen
Executive Vice President
Nordea Bank, Finland
”Organisations can and should use social media more – particularly for sharing ideas”
Executive Vice President
Nordea Bank, Finland
”Organisations can and should use social media more – particularly for sharing ideas”
Ismo Riitala
Managing Director
K-Plus Oy, Finland
”It is making many intranet platforms redundant.”
Managing Director
K-Plus Oy, Finland
”It is making many intranet platforms redundant.”
Caroline Jenner
CEO, JA-YE
”The study also shows the value of self-driven learning.”
CEO, JA-YE
”The study also shows the value of self-driven learning.”
William Akerman
Founder and MD
MyKindaFuture, UK
”I believe that social media can boost our businesses.”
Founder and MD
MyKindaFuture, UK
”I believe that social media can boost our businesses.”
Andrea Gerosa
Founder of ThinkYoung
Belgium
“The Internet has brought us closer, made us more open, and given us new social, family, and business opportunities. Young people are at the forefront of this”
Founder of ThinkYoung
Belgium
“The Internet has brought us closer, made us more open, and given us new social, family, and business opportunities. Young people are at the forefront of this”
Claus Hjorth
Head of Children & Youth Department
at Danish Film Institute, Denmark
Head of Children & Youth Department
at Danish Film Institute, Denmark
“We need a better understanding of how young people are using the Internet and digital services – for the good and the bad – in order to strengthen the innovation and growth potential for all of us.”
