I've often wondered why we celebrate "40 Under 40," but rarely celebrate "40 Years of Impact."

 




Don't misunderstand me. The individuals recognized as "40 Under 40" are often exceptionally talented and deserving of recognition.

But it does make me wonder what message we send about experience.

We celebrate potential.
We celebrate rising stars.
We celebrate rapid achievement.

Those things matter.

But what about the leaders who have quietly spent decades mentoring others, solving difficult problems, preserving institutional knowledge, and helping organizations succeed year after year?

Their contributions may not be as headline-worthy, but they are often the foundation upon which future leaders build.

Perhaps the question isn't whether we should recognize young professionals, we absolutely should.

Perhaps the better question is why we don't place the same value on sustained excellence, long-term service, and the wisdom that comes from decades of experience.

In a time when organizations are struggling with leadership transitions, succession planning, and the loss of institutional memory, maybe experience deserves a little more celebration too.

Leadership Reflection: How do we recognize not only potential, but also perseverance?

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

#LeadershipEducationImpact #PracticalLeadership #LeadershipThatWorks #InstitutionalMemory #LeadershipDevelopment #LifelongLearning #WorkforceDevelopment

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