Gen Z is getting talked about a lot right now — especially at work. But instead of just complaining about this generation, this episode asks a better question: what’s actually going on, and what do we need to do differently?

In this conversation, Dr. Andrea Mata shares why many Gen Z employees are not broken, but under-equipped, and how that changes the way leaders and parents should respond. We get into the impact of parenting, the cost to companies when young employees are unprepared, and how managers can do a better job setting expectations, giving feedback, and building the skills Gen Z needs to succeed.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why Gen Z may be struggling with professionalism, communication, and accountability at work
• The idea that young employees need skills development, not just criticism
• What high expectations and high support actually look like in leadership
• Why parents need warmth and connection plus clear expectations and consequences
• How businesses can better support, coach, and retain Gen Z employees

If you lead people, parent teens, or are just trying to make sense of what’s changing in the workplace, this one is worth the listen.

Chapters

00:00 Why Gen Z is getting fired so fast

04:57 What leaders are getting wrong

06:33 High expectations + high support

08:10 Professionalism, dress, and showing up

10:09 The entitlement conversation

12:02 Why coaching beats firing

15:07 How long to give someone to improve

16:03 Advice directly for Gen Z

20:43 Building a better Gen Z personal brand

23:13 Phones, distraction, and lack of awareness

27:28 What parents need to do differently

34:49 Final advice for managers and parents

Links:

Dr. Andrea Mata

Fortune Article: Bosses are Firing Gen Z Grads just months after hiring them