At the recent FEI 2024 conference, held this past June, All Things Innovation set the stage for a lively conversation at a special panel to gain intelligence on Generation Z, as we explored their thoughts on corporate innovation, their ideals and culture, what they see currently working and what is currently turning them off.
To explore this, FEI hosted a panel with three accomplished Gen Z leaders—Samantha Johnson, Founder & CEO, Tatum Robotics; Bodhi Patil, UN Ocean-Climate Solutionist; and Kyne Santos, TikTok Math Queen, a math communicator, influencer and author. We paired them with three corporate insights leaders: Cherie Leonard, Head North America, Insights, Colgate-Palmolive, NA; Michael Nevski, Director, Global Insights, Visa; and Oksana Sobol, Vice President Insights, The Clorox Company.
Check out the session’s video from FEI 2024 as the Gen Z panel dove deeper into embracing change, their motivations, aspirations and careers; what brands can do better to speak to and understand Gen Z; the innovations occurring in their respective fields; and their future goals and more.
Key Takeaways
- Gen Z is accelerating innovation
- Harness your superpowers
- Find your passion
- Democratization of knowledge—innovation is more accessible
- Make an impact
- Design and learn quickly
- Gen Z cares!
- Intergenerational collaboration is key
Finding the Voice of the Gen Z Consumer
All Things Innovation explored Generation Z further in, “Shaping the Next Generation of Innovation.” Generation Z is in a unique position as they are often viewed as one of the first to be shaped and influenced by technology such as the Internet, social media and smartphones. This generation, often labeled digital natives, has embraced change, adopted and interacted with tech from an early age. Gen Z comprises people born between roughly 1996 and 2010. This generation’s identity has been shaped by the digital age, climate anxiety, a shifting financial landscape, the war on terror and COVID-19, among other things. Yet, despite that, Gen Z is super comfortable with tech, giving them a unique impact on shaping technology trends, the future of work and play and the challenge of societal norms. In other words, Gen Z may be perfectly suited for innovation.
All Things Insights also looked at Gen Z in, “Connecting with Generation Z.” As brands grapple with the challenges and opportunities of marketing to Generation Z, it becomes crucial to learn more about the preferences of this tech-savvy demographic. With substantial buying power, which is only expected to grow in the future, Gen Z presents significant potential for marketers but it’s important to balance traditional strategies with fresh ideas to capture their interest. These are truly digital natives, who are mobile and tech-savvy, value-driven, and appreciate authenticity, who have grown up with technology, social media and connectivity.
Video courtesy of Streamly
