Last weekend I watched the 2015 movie “The Intern” starring Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway. For those of you who haven’t seen it, consider this a warning for spoilers ahead…
Directed by Nancy Meyers, the film follows Ben Whittaker (De Niro), a 72-year-old widower, who takes a position as an intern at a successful online fashion startup after deciding that retirement isn’t for him. The position is part of an experimental senior intern program at the company.
This isn’t just fiction; it’s based on a real trend. According to Pew Research, one in five American workers were 65 years or older in 2023, almost double the proportion from 35 years ago. These workers are also, on average, working longer hours and earning higher wages than their predecessors.
Ben is a quick learner compared to the rest of his fellow interns, which include two other senior citizens and one “regular age” intern (the character’s words, not mine). He transitions from struggling to start his MacBook to teaching his colleagues how to use theirs in just a few scenes.
The dynamic between Ben and Anne Hathaway’s character, Jules Ostin, is the most interesting aspect of the film. Jules is the high-energy yet down-to-earth executive and founder of Ben’s new workplace. They develop an informal mentor-mentee relationship, with Ben offering Jules insightful advice on both work and personal matters.
I wasn’t expecting to see an example of reverse mentoring from my couch on a Sunday afternoon, but I was intrigued. It’s rare to see CEOs and interns with that type of dynamic. (Side note: A Forbes article refers to Ben as a “Manic Pixie Dream Grandpa,” which I love. And it’s sort of true.)
The film’s depiction of Jules and Ben’s relationship serves as a light-hearted but impactful example of mutual learning and reverse mentoring. Moreover, Ben’s journey from confused intern to trusted advisor demonstrates that valuable insights can come from any level of an organization, regardless of position or age.
As Pew Research highlights, older workers are contributing more significantly to productivity and organizational success than in previous decades. While the workforce continues along this demographic shift, challenging outdated notions of being “retirement age” and underscoring the importance of curiosity, learning leaders are in a great position to help foster an environment of continuous learning and mutual respect across a multi-generational workforce.
I would have loved to see a chief learning officer as a character in the film, but I had a great time connecting the film’s plot to the industry that I cover every day. If anyone has a recommendation for a film with a subtle lifelong learning theme, please send it my way!
