Why boards in the non-profit and public sector are rethinking leadership profiles — and what hybrid, commercially capable leaders bring to purpose-driven work.

To overcome the challenges of talent shortages and demographic shifts, we need to look to all untapped resources in our labour market. Based on the numerous dialogues we have with company owners and senior executives, it becomes clear that the success and growth we wish to see in our organisations and economies demand both longevity and a significant portion of adaptability. Employers have a responsibility to revisit not only who they hire, but also how they make hiring decisions. Because it's not job seekers who decide who gets hired, it’s employers.

While this article focuses specifically on the exclusion of older professionals from the labour market, we fully acknowledge that age-based discrimination affects all generations — and that younger jobseekers also face significant barriers to inclusion.