Florence (Flo) Potter receives Wesley College’s 2025 Young Alumni Foundation Medal for her leadership in breaking down barriers in multigenerational workplaces
At the College’s annual Foundation Medal dinner, Flo (Fr 2016) was presented with the award for championing cooperation and understanding between generations in the workforce since leaving Wesley College in 2018.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Sydney, Flo had a storied career path before finding her niche in cross-generational workplaces while working as a consultant at Deloitte, a company specialising in procurement, design and project management.
“At Deloitte, I repeatedly had discussions around people management and hearing the frustration of working with different generations especially Gen Z,” Flo said. “The unproductive ‘they’re annoying’ or ‘entitled’ comments… overpower discussions rather than having an open, curious chat [about rethinking] our ways of working...”
Flo began reading, researching, and Zooming experts from Stockholm to Michigan how the generations from Z to the Silent Generation could work cohesively together, by asking the question: “What if we stopped judging and started listening?”
“I decided the best way forward is to create a space where teams can come together and I can share the latest research and facilitate interactive sessions that spark curious conversations, ‘ah-ha’ moments and find fresh perspectives,” she said.
“So, in January 2024, I started my business, No Umbrellas, “a business built to spark curious conversations between generations at work.”
Her workshops were “part TED talks [presentations by motivational speakers], part group therapy, part, ‘Wait, that’s actually genius’.” Her sessions have helped teams rethink hiring, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and “how to actually talk to each other.”
An article for the Australian Financial Review in November last year reported: “Potter says the workshops encourage employees to reserve judgment and be curious about why their older or younger colleagues do things differently. One participant told her the session taught him to accept and accommodate generational variations in working styles, rather than automatically viewing them as inherently problematic.”
Flo was quoted: “[The workshops are] driven by meaningful conversations, unique ideas and the co-creating of actionable solutions that improve team culture, retention and motivation – most of which cost nothing to implement.”
She now runs workshops with government, not-for-profit, private companies and health care, not, as she stresses, to present solutions but to “co-create” with the participants.
“This intergenerational discussion is one that is already improving workplace harmony in North America and Europe,” she said.
“I believe Australia and New Zealand are next and I am planning to lead the charge. The opportunity to run the program in every team in Australia is a big goal but one we’re driving towards.”
As well as running No Umbrellas, Flo works for Superhero, an investment platform operated by Fintech, a global investment specialist. With Superhero, she runs their employee experience.
Wesley College Foundation Medals are awarded to Old Collegians, friends of the College or Foundation members who have made an extraordinary contribution to Wesley College, to society, or to both, through their academic, professional, philanthropic, sporting or cultural endeavours.
Adapted from Malcolm Brown’s citation from the 2025 Foundation Medal Dinner
