by Allain Dumon Fonte

“Millennials are entitled. They’re narcissistic. They’re spoiled and they’re lazy.” Stacey Lastoe wrote in her article at The Muse, as the most common feedback she hears every time she asks about millennial employees in organisations. Probably, everyone heard the same comments about their millennial colleagues and millennial staff. However, are they really that entitled, narcissistic, spoiled and lazy? Or, are we just in an era where there is a massive generation gap between baby boomer executives and millennial staff?Many executives complain about working with millennials and their issues on behaviour, attitude towards work, and their sense of professionalism. Yet, Jay Gilbert, a professor in organisational management and vice-president for strategy and operations in OrthoEvidence Inc., believes that it is not the millennials that should change their ways; but, the boomer executives must learn how to adapt the fast-changing business systems and constantly developing global political economy. Gilbert argues in his article “The Millennials: New Generation of Employees, a New Set of Engagement Policies” (2011) that millennials are born in an environment where everything is almost automated. He further explains that the influence of technological advancements defines the behaviour, attitude, and thought process of millennials; thus, they work faster, results focused, more creative, prefers for more dynamic work places, works best in flexible systems, and technology-oriented. Hence, they easily get bored with repetitive work, manual and slow procedures, and time-bound types of work.

While many human resource managers may be challenged in dealing with millennials in the workplace; Paul Gilmore Ymbong, HR practitioner for 15 years, believes that employee engagement is the key to work best with millennials and to retain them in the organisations. Ymbong explains that engagement strategies should be diversed and HR practitioners should learn to identify key engagement drivers and also the threats that will impact the workforce. Although Gilbert advises that the boomer executives must change and adapt with the millennial staff to go with the current business trends, Ymbong argues that employers must still be very sensitive to the needs of every employee, must learn to bridge the gap between generations, and must be able to connect their differences between their work behaviour, attitude, and ethics. After all, in the end, it is the success of the organisation that both generations are working for.

With all these talks about millennials and work, the author interviews a group of Cebuano millennials who can be the next generation of business leaders. Even with their successful family businesses, these millennials still opted to work and engage in activities far from the nature of their families’ business empires. In this feature series entitled “The Millennials in Profession and Passion: What We Need To Know”, let us meet these young leaders and understand from their standpoint what is it like to be a millennial in an era dictated by boomer executives.

In today’s article, the author features JT Gullas.

John Tristan “JT” Gullas is a 19-year-old biology student at Cebu Doctors’ University, and aims to be a physician. With his towering height, chiseled features, perfectly-toned physique, hazel-colored eyes, and charming smile, he can surely turn heads in an instant. He is the only son of a high-profile media executive, John Vicente Gullas, and former supermodel and entrepreneur, Trisha Rivera-Gullas. Hence, it is without a doubt that his wit and good looks come from the best genes. Yet, with all the success in the family enterprise, JT works as a ramp and commercial model under the flagship of Cebu’s elite modelling agency, Models Association of Cebu (MAC).

As one of Cebu’s most sought faces, JT may have been juggling his schedule between work and university; but, it seems that he is handling both very well. JT is always complimented by his peers in the fashion industry to be the most professional…always on time, and always prepared. On the other hand, his classmates praise him as a very dedicated student, and he has never disappointed his professors.

In this interview, JT answers questions on what for him are the ideal workplaces and work environment, and his investment and life plans.

Allain: Hi JT! How are you?
John Tristan: I am good, thank you…and you?

A: Good to hear that you’re doing well. Okay, here are the questions. Shall we start?
JT: Okay. Shoot! I hope they are all easy. (laughs)

A: (laughs) Just relax. Promise, I will not get you in trouble. At work, do you prefer fixed schedule or flexible schedule?
JT: Although I am one for spontaneous laags (outings), I would prefer that my schedules be fixed all the time when it comes to work. That way my friends and family will know when I get off work, or when I have a break that way they can contact me.

A: Do you like working closely with the boss, or do you prefer to work independently?
JT: Yes, I believe that working close with the boss is a must.

A: Why do you believe so?
JT: For me, this helps you get to know your job better and make it easier, more opportunities are bound to happen with you if you are close with your boss.

“Five factors that would make me stay at work would be: Job security, work relationship, potential for growth in terms of learning, salary and location of work in terms of distance from home and school.” -JT

A: What if your boss is your dad?
JT: (laughs) Of course! I learn a lot from my dad.

A: Do you prefer to work in an office, or do you favor work from home?
JT: An office is the best place to work, although I am still a student, I find it hard to study in the house since my bed is just right there and the couches are so comfortable. Unlike when you are out in the open, you have to make yourself proper; and this is the best way to get work done.

A: Wow! A lot of millennials find reporting in the office on fixed schedules challenging. Anyway, since you prefer to work in the office, can you please enumerate 5 factors that will make you stay at work? Start with the most important to the least important, for you.
JT: Five factors that would make me stay at work would be: Job security, work relationship, potential for growth in terms of learning, salary and location of work in terms of distance from home and school.

Photo taken from JT Gullas’ Instagram account @jtgullas

A: I understand that even as young as you are, you are already earning as a ramp and print model, where would spend most of your money?
JT: I would spend most of my money on investing in big time businesses, that way I know that my money is safe and earning as the business grows bigger. I’d say I would spend most of my money on cars and fashion, but you have got to play it smart.

A: That is great to hear you talk about investments; and, Cebu has become the newest investment hub for businessmen, especially on real estate. So, what is your opinion on property investments?
JT: I see property investments as a way of earning money easily; well, that is of course back in the time when lands or properties weren’t as expensive as they were now. However, buying and selling properties is easy business, yet based from what I have learned, it was much easier to do such investments back then.

A: So, do you think that the millennials are too young to invest in properties or be involved in property investments and management?
JT: Not at all…An age of 21 wouldn’t be a bad age to start investing in properties since you would have already finished your college degree by then. I also feel like I would be mature enough to know how to handle properties when negotiating and investing.

A: How about millennials being aggressive in starting their own business? What is your opinion on starting your own business?
JT: Starting your own business means a lot of responsibility, you may not be on your own since you’ll have a lot of help but there will be a lot in your hand. But starting your own business will also mean that you will be able to do something that’s mainly your idea, you will be able to handle everything just the way you want it.

JT graced the pages of Zee Lifestyle magazine for the first time in its December 2017 Style Issue as one of the young personalities featured in “Generation Next“.

A: How about you? If you will start your own business, what type of business will you start?
JT: If ever, I would open up a restaurant business. I’ve figured this out already during my down time. A restaurant downstairs and a bar upstairs. I’m very interested in cooking movies, my favorite is Burnt. And I also enjoy cooking since one can get creative in many ways with many ingredients.

A: Wow! So, you will soon be the next Dr. David Eisenberg? I love him…well, he is a neurosurgeon and a Michelin star chef, who founded the Healthy Kitchens.
JT: (smiles) Maybe. Hehehe! I really hope so.

A: Well, I cannot wait to dine in your restaurant. So, for my last question. Please rate the following with 1 as the highest priority and 10 as the lowest priority in your life, right now: Career, House/Property Investment, Starting a Business, Health Insurance, Car, Entertainment, Travels, Branded Clothes, Shoes, Gadgets.
JT: Right now, I think my number one shall be Travels because traveling gives you a lot of experiences and lessons to learn, followed by cars. Then, for my number 3, that would be a house or a property investment, and entertainment will go next because I like watching movies. My number 5 priority is career, and then may be starting a business. Number 7 shall be clothes, hehehehe! My number 8 shall be shoes because shoes should match my clothes. Number 9 in my priority are the gadgets; I may need them for my travels, and last will be the health insurance investment because if you keep yourself healthy by eating right and resting enough, you will need less of the health insurance.

A: Well, that’s it. Thank you for your time and for opening yourself to us. I have learned about millennials, even from listening to just one millennial like yourself.
JT: The pleasure is mine. Thank you.

So, like any other young soul, JT has the passion for adventure and learning through his travels. He may be in to clothes and shoes; well, why not? He is the IT boy in Cebu’s fashion after all. Yet, as young he is, he has set his eyes on the prize by becoming the next doctor/chef. Plus, he thinks and speaks maturely on his plans for business and investments. A lot of people may say that millennials are hard to teach and impatient; but, not this guy, as JT is very eager to work in the office and wants to work closely with the boss to learn and gain opportunities.

In the next feature, we shall meet a millennial who did not only collect beauty titles, but also collected all the “A” grades in her university; a strong environmental activist, and even represented the Philippines this year to the ASEAN Youth forum on environment and climate change in Singapore.