A Gen Z’er Ready for Work

LAST FRIDAY WAS my daughter Carly’s college graduation, and she is spending time with us before moving to DC in July to begin her career at Bank of America as a government regulations analyst! Her first night, she asked me to help clean up her room, etc…

So I made her a deal: I do your work. You write my column! — D.S.

Different Perspective, Same Message…

As a 2026 graduate from the University of Florida, I’m preparing to enter the “real world” with a B.S. in Marketing and a Master’s of International Business. Many times throughout my academic career, I’ve been on the receiving end of an ominous comment: “You’re running out of time.” Family, friends and supervisors galore have indoctrinated me with tales of the “good-ol-days,” the do’s and don’ts of the corporate game, and most eerily, the realization that college is as good as it gets. I have many thoughts about that cumbersome mindset, and its inherent wrongness, but first, I’ll walk you through some of my thoughts as a 20-something preparing to face what most have described as a harsh reality.

Seasonality Is a Good Thing: How Lucky Are We?

My first thought is about the seasons of life, and how so often we live in a state of nostalgia, tearing us from present and expectant joys. For months, I’ve wrestled with the idea that I’m leaving a carefree season of life for a potentially bitter unknown. It was here I learned a hard lesson about intentionality: If you allow your mind to dwell in the past without using it as an opportunity for gratitude and motivation, you will certainly miss out. What good does it do for me to long for Christmas in 2008, or life before AI, if I only allow it to dim the current joy around me? Seasons are meant to be lived, loved and experienced to the fullest.

An Empty Cup, An Empty Leader

My next food for thought is the idea of an empty cup. While not a foreign concept to most, this notion has inspired me every day to pursue my dreams tenaciously. I believe that if you lead but are empty, you will resent the thing you once hoped for. I implore you all that, no matter your title, you must seek out experiences that make you human. Becoming a better person is how you become a better leader. Furthermore, you cannot develop your leadership independent of developing your emotional intelligence and self-assurance. Leadership is never made in a vacuum, and enjoying simple pleasures, hobbies and intellects is what makes us whole again!

“Becoming a better person is how you become a better leader.”

Mentorship: A Necessity Not Found in EBITDA

Tied into the theme of being shamelessly human is the foundation of business: mentorship. As a Gen Z, I realize this may be a naive opinion; I am not lost to the concepts of balance sheets, employee morale and what makes the world go ’round: money.

My point is that without someone “pouring into” the CEOs of the world, leadership may become void of the relational passions that create trust within an organization. Continue to seek out mentors who are bold enough to challenge you just as often as they inspire you; you’ll only be better for it.

I understand this may be wildly unrelated to the sign business, but I’ve only been in the “real world” for three days. Cut me some slack!

I hope some of this sticks and I assure you none of this is AI slop. These are simply the genuine thoughts and whims of a 20-something, who is determined to never believe the best has already happened, to never stop celebrating her birthday, but instead will choose to live intentionally and authentically, in a world of hollow automation.