Working with Gen Z

Hosted by Nikhil Raval

Business

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Episodes

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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EN-US

About the show

What if the next big disruptor isn’t a what but a who? Yes we are talking about The Gen Z. They are starting to enter the workforce, shaping tastes and disrupting whole industries. A generation that is really coming of age who has seen so much of the change the world has experienced in their brief lifetimes. Gen Z is the future of the global economy and that future is already at your doorstep. Welcome to “Working with Gen Z”. This podcast will unveil simple and lucid explanations to decoding ‘Gen Z’ (post-millennial generation). My aim is to help listeners gain a deep understanding of this newest Generation with aspects to Work-Life, Brands, Learning, Money, and more. The podcast decodes actionable solutions to the following important questions:•How can firms leverage talent in a continuously volatile environment effectively? •What specific strategies can you use to attract, retain and develop Gen Z, thereby transpiring a win-win situation in a multi-generational workforce?•What motivates Gen Z when it comes to a career and how do they decipher learning?•What are the similarities and differences between Gen Z and Millennials – and what is driving these differences?•What are the implications of changing expectations and behaviours between the two generations•What are the Gen Z views when it comes to money, entrepreneurship, relationship, purpose, values and much more.With more than 25 years of experience across multiple continents and a strong perspective to talent challenges and solutions I will bring first hand insights to these questions and more. Additionally the podcast will bring Global experts who work closely with Gen Z in their respective domains to bring a unique perspective on the various facets of Gen Z life. So, whether you are a Boss managing young talent, an Educator in school or college, a Marketer creating brands or simply a Parent of Gen Z, this podcast unleashes the necessary wisdom to knowing your Gen Z better.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 14, 2026Episode 1058 min

Too Young to Lead, Too Old to Learn? How Are Firms Rethinking Ageism at Work?

We often talk about generational differences at work—but what happens when those differences become assumptions, stereotypes, and eventually barriers? Is a young professional dismissed as “too inexperienced” to lead, while an experienced professional is quietly seen as “too old to learn” or adapt? In this episode, Working with Gen Z , Veejay Madhavan and I explore ageism from both ends of the generational spectrum: where these biases come from, how they show up in hiring, leadership, development and everyday workplace interactions, and what we can learn when we challenge our own assumptions. Most importantly, we look at what organizations can do differently to create workplaces where contribution matters more than birth year—and where different generations don't simply coexist but learn from and strengthen each other. Best Gen Z Podcasts You Must Follow in 2026 Best Gen Z Podcasts You Must Follow in 2026 Find Us Online Veejay Madhavn : LinkedIn , Website Nikhil : Website , Linkedin , Youtube & Book

July 8, 2026Episode 943 min

The Automation Dilemma – Eliminating Busy Work or Building Blocks of Expertise” Who Teaches Gen Z When AI Does the Work?

For years, we've been told that automation and AI will make work faster, smarter, and more efficient. And for a generation that has grown up with technology at their fingertips, removing repetitive work seems like an obvious win. But what if, in automating routine tasks, we're also removing the very experiences that build judgment, intuition, resilience, and expertise? In this episode of Working with Gen Z , Jeff Arnold joins me to explore what I call the Automation Dilemma . Together, we examine whether AI is simply eliminating busywork—or unintentionally widening the experience gap for the next generation of professionals. We'll discuss how expertise is really developed, why "learning by doing" still matters in an AI-enabled workplace, the changing role of managers as coaches, and whether our assumptions about who embraces—or resists—AI reveal hidden generational biases. If AI is transforming work, then perhaps the bigger question is: How do we continue to develop future leaders? Best Gen Z Podcasts You Must Follow in 2026 Best Gen Z Podcasts You Must Follow in 2026 Find Us Online Jeff Arnold : LinkedIn , Website Nikhil : Website , Linkedin , Youtube & Book

July 1, 2026Episode 834 min

Growing Up Online – Is Social Media Helping or Hurting Gen Z? Are we Raising or Breaking a Generation?

Social media has become one of the defining forces of this generation. It shapes how Gen Z learns, creates, shops, connects, builds communities, and even discovers purpose. Yet the same platforms that inspire creativity and opportunity can also contribute to anxiety, comparison, misinformation, and digital fatigue. The conversation is no longer about whether social media is good or bad—it is about how we create a healthier and safer digital ecosystem for young people. In this episode of Working with Gen Z , Guest Alise Marshall helps us to take a balanced look at the opportunities, responsibilities, and challenges of growing up online. We'll explore what platforms can do to promote digital well-being, how parents, educators, and organizations can play their part, and perhaps most importantly, what Gen Z themselves can do to build healthier digital habits while continuing to benefit from the incredible opportunities the online world offers. Best Gen Z Podcasts You Must Follow in 2026 Best Gen Z Podcasts You Must Follow in 2026 Find Us Online Alise Marshall : LinkedIn Nikhil : Website , Linkedin , Youtube & Book

May 8, 2026Episode 735 min

Gen Z and the New Hiring Equation. What do Employers look for - Credentials or Is Skills the New Career Currency?

What matters more today—a degree, or the ability to actually do the job? For years, we’ve treated degrees as the ultimate signal of capability—the safer bet, the proven path. But Gen Z is stepping into a very different world of work. A world where skills evolve faster than syllabi, where portfolios sometimes speak louder than pedigrees, and where employers say they want “ready-to-perform,” not just “qualified-on-paper.” So is the value of a degree declining—or are we simply redefining what it represents? In this episode, HR Leader and Entrepreneur Manisha Goel helps us to unpack the tension between degrees and skills, cut through the noise, and explore what truly drives employability for Gen Z—without dismissing either side. 45 Best Gen Z Podcasts You Must Follow in 2025 Find Us Online Manisha Goel : LinkedIn Nikhil : Website , Linkedin , Youtube & Book

May 1, 2026Episode 649 min

From Burnout to Balance – How is Gen Z rewriting the Hustle Culture

For years, hustle culture was sold as the golden path to success—work harder, sleep less, sacrifice now, and someday it will all pay off. But a new generation is challenging that script. Gen Z is asking deeper questions about ambition, boundaries, mental health, and whether success has to come at the cost of well-being. Are they rejecting hard work, or are they redefining what sustainable achievement really looks like? In this episode, Guest Bhasker Jaiswal helps us to explore the tension between the old grind mindset and the emerging search for balance, purpose, and a healthier relationship with work. We’ll unpack why hustle culture is being questioned, what leaders need to understand, and how Gen Z may be creating a smarter model of success for the future. 45 Best Gen Z Podcasts You Must Follow in 2025 Find Us Online Bhasker Jaiswal : LinkedIn , Instagram Nikhil : Website , Linkedin , Youtube & Book

April 17, 2026Episode 536 min

Gen Z and Meta Stereotypes. How Does Gen Z Sees itself at Work?

What if the biggest obstacle to your growth at work isn’t what others think of you—but what you assume they already do? For Gen Z, those hidden assumptions can shape confidence, communication, trust, and behavior long before real relationships are built. In this episode, Author and Leadership Expert Merry Brown will help us explore the difference between stereotypes (the labels others place on a group) and meta-stereotypes (the beliefs we carry about how others see us). We’ll unpack how these patterns show up in the workplace, how they can become self-fulfilling, and how Gen Z can use self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and intentional action to move beyond labels and build credibility with impact. 45 Best Gen Z Podcasts You Must Follow in 2025 Find Us Online Merry Brown : LinkedIn Nikhil : Website , Linkedin , Youtube & Book

March 6, 2026Episode 447 min

From Retention to Relevance – Why is Engagement becoming the New Currency for Gen Z?

Engagement is often misunderstood as satisfaction or happiness at work, but in reality, it’s about emotional commitment, discretionary effort, and the willingness to go beyond the bare minimum. For organizations, engagement drives productivity, innovation, retention, and ultimately long-term performance. And when it comes to Gen Z, the stakes are even higher. This is a generation that evaluates work through the lens of purpose, growth, feedback, flexibility, and authentic leadership. So what does it truly take to engage Gen Z — not just attract them, but inspire them to stay and contribute at their best? In this episode Leadership expert and Author Hanna Hesl Kelchner we’ll explore what engagement really means, why it matters strategically, and what companies must rethink to get it right. 45 Best Gen Z Podcasts You Must Follow in 2025 Find Us Online Hanna Hesl Kelchner : LinkedIn , Book Nikhil : Website , Linkedin , Youtube & Book

February 27, 2026Episode 337 min

How is Gen Z Consuming Media: The Tension between Virality vs. Verification

Gen Z doesn’t just consume media — they live inside it. In a world where the feed is the front page and algorithms shape attention, this generation is redefining how news is discovered, trusted, shared and challenged. Traditional gatekeepers no longer hold exclusive control over information. Today, creators, influencers and everyday users compete with journalists for credibility and cultural influence. In this episode, Journalist Janvi Sonaiya helps us to explore how Gen Z engages with media differently: their relationship with trust and truth, the rise of short-form storytelling, the role of identity in shaping narratives, and the tension between virality and verification. Are they disengaged from traditional journalism — or simply rejecting outdated formats? Is misinformation the real threat, or is it declining institutional trust? And what happens when the audience is no longer passive but participatory? Through the lens of media and journalism, we unpack how Gen Z is not just reshaping content, but reshaping the very structure of influence. As institutions struggle to keep pace with platforms, this conversation asks a bigger question: Is Gen Z changing media — or revealing what media needed to change all along? This episode is for leaders, educators, journalists, and anyone trying to understand how the next dominant generation interprets the world — one scroll at a time. 45 Best Gen Z Podcasts You Must Follow in 2025 Find Us Online Janvi Sonaiya : LinkedIn , Instagram Nikhil : Website , Linkedin , Youtube & Book

January 23, 2026Episode 241 min

From Followers to Founders – Why is Gen Z building Communities – the New Currency for Eco Systems

We often hear that Gen Z lacks loyalty—to companies, institutions, even careers. But if you look closely, there’s one thing they’re deeply committed to: community . Across the world, Gen Z isn’t just joining networks or following influencers—they’re actively building spaces where people belong, learn, collaborate, and grow together. In today’s episode, Guest Toni Mckee who is a Corporate Communication specialist helps us to explore why community matters so deeply to Gen Z and how they are creating powerful ecosystems around shared purpose—whether it’s climate action, mental health, learning, careers, or creator-led growth. From global movements to micro-communities on platforms like Discord and WhatsApp, Gen Z is quietly redefining influence, leadership, and success. The big question is— what do they understand about community that the rest of us are still catching up on? 45 Best Gen Z Podcasts You Must Follow in 2025 Find Us Online Toni McKee : LinkedIn , LinkedIn Nikhil : Website , Linkedin , Youtube & Book

January 16, 2026Episode 153 min

Compensation Reimagined – What Gen Z expects and What Leaders need to Rethink?

Few topics generate as much emotion, debate, and expectation as compensation—and Gen Z is bringing a very different lens to this conversation. Having grown up amid economic uncertainty, rising costs, and constant comparison in a digital world, this generation views pay not just as income, but as a signal of respect, security, and growth. For Gen Z, compensation is deeply tied to questions of fairness, transparency, and long-term opportunity. In this episode, HR Leader Shreya Bhagwant helps us to explore how Gen Z is redefining compensation and benefits at work. What matters more—salary or stability? Perks or purpose? Speed of growth or work-life boundaries? We’ll unpack what organizations need to understand about Gen Z’s expectations, where traditional reward models fall short, and how leaders can design compensation strategies that genuinely resonate with the next generation of talent. 45 Best Gen Z Podcasts You Must Follow in 2025 Find Us Online Shreya Bhagwant : LinkedIn Nikhil : Website , Linkedin , Youtube & Book