In this episode of Contributor Wednesday, Cara Silletto, President and Chief Retention Officer of Magnet Culture, shares a timely update on how the workforce has evolved and what leaders must understand to retain employees today. Drawing from over a decade of experience in generational dynamics and retention strategy, Cara walks listeners through updated workforce demographics heading into 2026, highlighting the shifting influence of Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z.

Cara introduces a powerful new leadership analogy, trees vs. houseplants, to help leaders rethink how they support and retain today’s workforce. While long-tenured employees may be deeply rooted and stable, new hires require individualized care, communication, and flexibility. She challenges one-size-fits-all leadership models and encourages leaders to “water their plants” by adapting their support to each team member’s needs.

Key Ideas:

1. Why retention strategies must evolve with the workforce
2. Millennials and Gen Z expectations at work
3. The end of the workaholic era
4. “Trees vs. houseplants”
5. Individualized employee care vs. equal treatment

Meet Our Contributor

Cara Silletto

Learn more about the Employee Retention Ecosystem

employeeretentionecosystem.com

magnetvault.com

Sponsored by Aline, NIC MAP, Procare HR, Sage, Hamilton CapTel, Service Master, The Bridge Group Construction and Solinity.

Produced by Grit and Gravel Marketing.

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Contributor Wednesday is officially back on Bridge the Gap, and Lucas McCurdy and Josh Crisp are kicking off an exciting new chapter for the BTG Network. In this episode, we cover why the Contributor Wednesday series was so impactful in the past, why listeners asked for its return, and how it will evolve in 2026. Unlike the traditional Monday episodes that focus on high-level thought leadership, Contributor Wednesday episodes dive deep into the operational, marketing, sales, and leadership realities facing senior living operators today. These monthly solo episodes feature respected industry voices delivering actionable insights leaders can take straight back to their teams.

Key Topics:

1. Why Contributor Wednesday is returning in 2026
2. How Contributor Wednesday differs from Monday episodes
3. The value of solo thought-leader episodes
4. Featured contributors and what listeners can expect

Meet Our Contributors

Cara Silletto: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carasilletto/

Christy Van Der Westhuizen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christyvdw/

Watch More BTG

https://www.btgvoice.com/shows

Sponsored by Aline, NIC MAP, Procare HR, Sage, Hamilton CapTel, Service Master, The Bridge Group Construction and Solinity.

Produced by Solinity Marketing.

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In this episode from recruiting expert Chris Heinz, learn how to make next year the best year ever!

Join Bridge the Gap in thanking Chris for his outstanding contributions this year as a Contributor Wednesday host.

Meet the BTG Contributors.

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Tune in each Wednesday for a new episode of the Contributor Wednesday series! Visit our website for more episodes and information at BTGvoice.com.

Produced by Solinity Marketing.

Mentioned in this episode:

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