Hello and welcome to another great edition of Beyond the Hype. I'm your host
Alfred Eman Junior, senior vice president and executive editor of Black Enterprise
and you know how we do. I always have great guests, great topics. We're always about getting beyond the hype
Now listen, this episode of Beyond the Hype is being brought to you by New York Life
Listen, we got a whole new class of college graduates coming out of school
HBCUs in particular, but in general, um, Gen Z is in full swing
If you're between the ages of 11, we're not probably going that young and let's say mid-20s
26, 27, you are in that generation that is um entering life
facing real life for the first time maybe where you're coming straight out of high school and going into the workforce or coming out of
college and going into the workforce, or maybe you've been in. The workforce for the first few years and finding out what life is really
like in real life now that you're out in the world. So listen
what we want to talk about today is what are the challenges and issues that Gen Z are
are facing and what are their goals financially, you know, Black Enterprise is about wealth for life and wealth building doesn't begin when you're my
age. I'm a baby boomer or, you know, when you're 40, it really should be beginning
um, you know, really as early as. Junior high school, but certainly coming out of college
getting into the workforce, starting your, your life, whether that's as an entrepreneur or professional
is really the time to really get serious about wealth building. However
Gen Z is facing a number of major financial goals from the lack of avail availability of affordable homes
high rents as well as high mortgages, um, student loans, um, listen
I'm not the Gen Z expert, but I brought a Gen Z expert here to be our special
that talk about these challenges and others. My guest today is Sarah Buckner
AKA Sarah Lee on air, the founder and CEO of Set Up for Success
host of the new Set Up for Success podcast. Uh, I'm now I always do my disclaimers about how I know people on my show
Um, she's also one of my mentees. Um, I'm very, very proud and excited to have her on the show because she was a member
of the latest cohort of Pharrell Williams' Black Ambition. Um, prize program that is really doing a great job of supporting um
black entrepreneurs including those coming out of HBCUs, and she was part of my cohort of entrepreneurs that I was proud to mentor this year
um, in the latest round of the Black Ambition Prize. Listen, I won't say anymore because she could tell you more about herself than I
can tell you, but please welcome to the show, Sarah Buckner. Thank you
Alfred. I appreciate that amazing intro. Listen, Sara, I mean, you, you're
you're obviously. You know, I don't want to make it sound like you're totally ahead of the curve
but in the way you are. You've been recognized by, you know, AT&T's rise
you've been obviously selected for black ambition, um, you are someone who who who's accomplished a lot already
yet you're, um, you know, just finishing college yourself. Talk about um your experience as a graduate of the real HU Hampton University
It's been an amazing experience. It's been surreal. It's been a moment in my life that it really does fly by
I feel like I heard a lot of people say that to me uh while I was going through school and now that it's over
I'm like, it's over already, like I can't believe it that I'm already here in the real world and actually doing the work that I
I was doing on campus, but now it's the real world. Now there's money involved
Now I have to really go hard for what I believe in and what I do and Hampton really shaped me and it made me
so much more confident. It allowed me to have so many opportunities that I never would have had had I stayed back in my hometown
in the Midwest. So transitioning to Hampton during my junior year allowed me to really just spread my wings and allow
me to interview some amazing talent, people that I never thought that I would speak to at just 21 years old
like at 19, that's when I came in uh to Hampton my junior year and having those experiences like with the Michael B
Jordan and with a Pharrell and Uh, Ruth E. Carter, who's our alum
those people have shaped me, those experiences have made me and being highlighted with AT&T and Black Ambition and these other amazing organizations that advocate
for the young black youth are things that I am in alignment with and it just makes me proud uh to say that I'm in
that I was born in a time frame where I can exude my full potential early in life rather than having to wait because I
lack the resources. Yeah, talk about exuding your full potential. I mean
if, if you go to Sarah's website, um, Sarah Lee on Air
and you see the people she's interviewed and I mean other than the fact that you're obviously very youthful
you would see look like somebody who has had a veteran media career. Um
talk about your ability to get such a, I don't want to call it a head start
but but really I've accomplished a lot already. Ready in terms of not only being a media personality and a media professional
a media entrepreneur with set up for success, but also um really um leaning into becoming an emerging voice for the challenges facing
your generation. I think I've had this hunger and this drive ever since I was young
I never wanted to wait. I've always wanted to have impact now
and I believe that truly because I'm so clear on my vision and my mission and my purpose on what I want out of life
and what I want to contribute. I, you know, I'm born in 2002
so a lot of the things that I got to experience, I, you know, the legends who I know now
I've experienced them later on in life, like the Oprah Winfreys and Steve Harvey's
like those are the people that I admire, Jay Shetty. And I've, you know
ran across their content now and being able to see it and embody it
I feel like because I've had a natural gift, it doesn't feel like something that makes me feel like I have to wait or that
I have to uh You know, pause my growth. I feel like if I got it
why not do it now? Why not lean into my talent now because I just feel like the generations previous have laid down the foundation
and it's there. So I feel like it's my duty to continue to utilize all the tools that are right in front of me
There should be no reason as to why if young people have the gifts that they have
They should be utilizing it. They shouldn't wait because waiting only leads to procrastination and doubt and those are things that I've had to fight
throughout my journey and being able to actually foster the type of life I want
the type of experiences that I want. I've had to craft a lane that's unique to me
and I've had to do things that people are not willing to do. I mean, at 19
I ran on the court and Grabbed Michael B. Jordan and interviewed him, and I'm sticking my microphone in everyone's face that I can because
I'm hungry and I'm determined. So I think you have to have that level of determination and ambition to really be that voice and lead
in a way that is thought provoking and that's just some some things and traits that some young people just haven't developed yet
You know, when you, you said some very important things just in that, in that
uh, you know, that. That explanation of what drives you and what motivates you to
to have accomplished what you've accomplished and it leans into some of the things that that that makes set up for success a resource for
Gen Z and an emerging voice for Gen Z, especially with your new podcast
You know, we talked a lot um during our, our sessions both one on one and in our mentoring sessions through Black Ambition about from
an entrepreneurial standpoint, learning to identify with. And lean into the pain points of the
the audience you're serving in this case, Gen Z in general and HBCU graduates in particular
um, and you talked about how those pain points are your personal pain points. I know we get to talk about some of that on
the show, but you, you talk about, you know, anxiety about, you know, how you're gonna get your career started
um, where you going to live. Um, how you're gonna finance, um
you know, everything from your first home to, to where, how you're gonna build your career
I mean, you, you talked about a lot as we got to know each other when we first met about the challenges and anxieties that
even you were facing as someone who was coming out of school, um, and then also talk about how you leverage that to
to, um, Help really guide those who follow you and listen to you
uh, because you're facing the same problems like I'm trying to figure that out too. I don't know the answer
but I am willing to go and help find those answers and share them with you. So talk about how your your ability as a
member of Gen Z to to take what your challenges that you're facing on a personal level and then use that to kind of help
serve and, and, and meet the needs of those in the cohort of people you're trying to serve
For sure. I mean, I feel like all of us in this generation are going through the big three
That's what I like to call it in my brain is how much money am I gonna make
where am I gonna live, and how am I gonna grow mentally
spiritually. Those are all those areas in our life that We're focused on
and I believe that for me it's pivotal that even though I don't have all the answers
I'm willing to seek and search for the answers. My dad often tells me that a question is a quest and that was something that
always like stuck with me like. A quest is a journey. It's never over
Like you always are asking questions because you want to learn more, you're seeking the knowledge
you're trying to find a way. And that's where I feel like for me, being that voice and and basically saying like
hey, I I, I have knowledge, but I don't know all the answers
but I'm willing to ask more people and find out and make this so much easier for you guys to have the access that you
need and that's what Gen Z is lacking. Gen Z is a very lonely demographic and even if you look at the podcasting space
there's not a lot of successful podcasts that specifically target Gen Z
A lot of the um content that we consume comes from entrepreneurs
uh, leaders, thought leaders who have crafted pod. Podcast from like 2017 and the reason that they're so successful is because they were the first
to do it. So I feel like my role is literally that I study Earn your leisure and a lot of these great podcasters who
are successful and what makes them stand out is because they attacked an issue
Nobody was interviewing entrepreneurs during that time, so there was no content for that
So there's no one attacking Gen Z problems. There's no one discussing how we feel about our future and asking
the questions that are gonna lead us to a more successful path so that we're not so lost or we're not just reiterating the same
conversation over and over again. And I also feel like I have to tap into what are the things I need
what are the things that I'm seeking for? And I feel like that comes with asking yourself those questions
especially when you're living in the time and you're able to actually see what's going on
what are the problems, and not more so worried about the entertainment of it all
Yes, I love Entertainment and I know it all goes hand in hand and I always wanna make my content entertaining
fun, but also makes you feel like a sense of inspiration and motivation that you too can craft your destiny and basically change your life
and craft the life that you want because our society now, there's so much accessible to us
there's no reason that we can't tap into the resources, but specifically for young people
we need to have the conversations. You know, you, you, you really sound so much like
I mean, I, I would remind people uh that Earl Gray is our founder was only 35 when he started Black Enterprise
That's still older than the Gen Z demographic today, but he was a young man
um, and one of the things that he used to drill into us, um, as I came and I was around your age when I
did come to Black Enterprise. I was 26 turning 27. Um, I was
I again, I was in the age cohort of what we Gen Z, um
today, um, but one of the things that he always drilled into us
that's our man today is that if we're not telling people how to do it, we're not doing our jobs
And so it's not just enough to say, oh look at that successful person, look at that star
look at that entrepreneur, look at what they're doing, isn't it great? The next step that we all want to know is that
well, how did they do it because I, I'm not experiencing that success in my own life
I'm not experiencing that financial success in my life and, and so I
I see you, you know, what you're doing with set up for success is almost part of the legacy of what our founders
drilled into us that it's not enough to showcase. It's OK to showcase entertainers
like you said, entertainers, athletes, you know, success in all areas has their place
but it's what can be duplicated, what can be taught so that people are saying
listen, that's great that she's doing that, but I'm here trying to figure out
like you said, how much money am I gonna make, where I'm going to live, what am I going to do
and if you don't tell me or give me some tools to help me do that, then it becomes a little bit frustrating when I'm
seeing all this around me and I start thinking something's wrong with me, which is one of the challenges that
you know, Gen Z will start thinking, oh, maybe something's wrong with me because everybody else is balling out
looking at TikTok and Instagram, everybody's balling out and I'm not, so what
and the truth is nothing is wrong with you, but like I said, we need voices like yours and others to earn your leisure and
others to share information so that we can unlock the keys to success and achieve our goals
I, I wanna hit on something else that you said that That uh sometimes Gen Z is criticized for
I'm one of the ones that says no, you need to let them be who they are and that is you are not trying to
wait, you know, my generation was taught, listen, just get a, get a job
pay your dues somewhere down the line, you will be rewarded, um
you know, um, you know, Gen Z is more. Yeah, I get paying my dues
but if I actually can perform today, why do I need to wait 10 years before I get that shot
get that opportunity, and if I, if you won't give me that opportunity
I'll go where somebody will give it to me or I'll create it myself
you know, and you know, you know, there are many people, I won't say all people
you know, that's that are older than eugenics and older that says, oh man, they're too impatient
they're too impatient. But here's the deal for, for Particularly for women and black and brown people
The main reason we are underpaid in our careers is because we generally don't ask
like, take away, if you take away discrimination in the in the in the systemic racism and sexism that exists in in organizations in
our society. The biggest reason why, for example, men get paid more than women or white men get paid more than women
um, is that white men will ask. They will like they will ask for the top salary range
They don't have a problem. No, I want that and, and that's not always been the case and I say Generation Z
particularly Black Gen Z is the first generation that's like, Nah, I want it now
I want what I'm worth. I know how much this role pays. I don't see why I should accept less
So talk to me about that element of Gen Z that in my opinion
I won't speak for you, is the first generation that really is saying no
I may not get everything I'm asked for. But I'm damn sure gonna ask
I'm so glad you raised this question because it's something that I battled straight out of school was because a lot of these companies
they see you, they see the work that you're doing and they want you, but they're not willing to pay what you're worth
And I've gone through the experience and and many uh in my generation have gone through this experience where we know we have the talent
we know this climate, we know social media, we know what's trending
we know what's happening happening. We know that you need us. So I feel like there's this stigma around age
and I, and I don't like it, and I feel like it's something that has to stop because you have to look at the person's
work ethic, their talent. I feel like sometimes they put age as the definer as to why they you feel as though
well, you're inexperienced and but the thing is, life gives you experience on top of the coursework
on top of our degrees, and that's a Another thing that I have to advocate for as well
many of us do have college degrees. Many of us uh have put in the work or even if they didn't do the route
that's a college degree, they've put in X amount of hours to learn this career
to learn this craft, and I'm always big on asking. I've gone through negotiation after negotiation and I'm like
this is not the number, OK, come back to me when you do have a number because I'm gonna continue to build on my own
And then I feel like A lot of these organizations, they realize they cannot miss out because once they do
this generation is able to craft their content, their lane, their businesses on their own and blow up overnight
And it might not seem overnight because of course it takes so much work
It takes repetitive, uh, you know, constant work ethic and behaviors to craft the life that you want and to Simplify
why you're the greatest at what you do and why these big businesses should pay you
So it does factor into that, but at the same time, asking is the key
I ask everyone in my network. When I did not have a job after graduation
what I did was I tapped back into my network, my HBCU network and that network alone
I feel like my contact list is a million dollars, probably billion dollar contact list because I position myself with the heavy hitters
I'm in their face, I'm pitching to them, but not only am I asking
I'm providing. So I'm not just asking to my benefit. I'm asking how can I benefit you
how can we benefit each other, and that's just the role that you have to play
But I always feel like a part of having your network and your having your network as your net worth
it's all about as well how you contribute to that network and the The way you guys bounce off of each other
that's what creates the money. And I feel like had I not asked
had I not built relationships, had I not continued to just check in and just continually do my best to show why
I am qualified, why I am worthy, but also never settling. And I feel like with this generation
we're never afraid to say, hey, if you can't meet me here in 2023
I have to, I have to pass, you know, there's, there's a study that shows that 35% of Gen Z right now
they already have a business plan made. They already are in the process of creating their own businesses
So we're not waiting, we're not, you know, asking for handouts. This is a a Generation that is open to being um entrepreneurs and crafting
their own businesses, but they also do want to collaborate. They just don't wanna be shortchanged because of their age and because of whatever other
stigmas or stereotypes that is surrounded by the generation. You know, um
you know, I always have to look at the lens because again, let me speak again. I am not a Gen Z
obviously this is not my expertise, but what I tend to do is I
I try to wind back to where I was when I was, you know
21, 22, 23, and again, I was, I was 26 when I first joined Black Enterprise
And you, you're operating, your generation is operating with some significant advantages
particularly around um taking a stand for your value in the marketplace that that I didn't have access to
Like I had no idea. You know, what, what a good salary was like what
you know, you know, for those of you who, who are, you know, of a certain age
if you were born in 1960 like I was, when you came out of college
people were barely using computers as a daily, you know, a daily part of your work
The internet really hadn't been invented for widespread use. It had been invented
but it had. for public use yet, um, and so I always tell people
you gotta understand Gen Z is armed with more information, more data
so when you tell them I'm only gonna offer you or they never say only they make it sound like they're doing your favor
I'm gonna offer you $50,000 for this role, but you know based on the research you've done that it's really a $65,000 role
That was information that wasn't available when I was the age of today's Gen Z
So in addition to not me not coming from a tradition, and particularly as a black person to know to ask
to know even, I wouldn't even know what to ask and I always tell people in my peer group
you're, you're not talking to you're talking to a much better informed um generation because of the availability of information and technology
including around what does the like this typically pay and are you really offering me a fair position
Also, obviously it's easy to find other positions, you know, you know
back in back in my day, which I hate saying but it's true, you know
you look at classified in the newspaper, you, you, you didn't like go online and say Uh
you know, uh, software developer and it gave you everything you want to know about where the jobs were
There was no LinkedIn, obviously back in those days where you could do that kind of research
So talk about Gen Z actually being better equipped than any previous generation
particularly any previous generation of of black people in America to really leverage the case for the individual work in the marketplace and
and for, you know, their work as consumers, they work as investors
etc. Yeah, so we're growing up in a time where uh the previous generation
um, some of, some of our parents are baby boomers, some are millennials, some are combined as both
Mine are a baby boomer and a millennial. So together, you know
that's a a definite difference. So I've seen both worlds. I've seen and it's funny because when you
when you grow up in the era of the 2000s, in the early 2000s
we've experienced the merge of technology, millennials, they still didn't really have
they, it was kind of coming but it wasn't all the way there yet. Baby boomers, definitely not
So as we've experienced it firsthand. We've also experienced seeing our parents struggle financially
We've also experienced the millennials who, you know, are more into renting and
you know, they have their own way of doing things with uh finances and the way that they move throughout society
So we've had We had two generations to watch. We've seen the errors
we've seen the mistakes, so we know what where we're heading. We know um the type of lifestyle that we want to have because we've
seen the errors. So we're very, we're a very cautious generation. Uh
we're not big on debt, we're not big on, uh, a lot of loans
uh, even really 21% of Gen Zs take out student loans, so we're really trying to reduce debt
Um, credit building is a thing that, you know, is, is kind of shaky with Gen Zs because you have to have some sort to
build credit to be able to buy a home and you know
all these other purchases and investments that you wanna do, but in terms of investing with Gen Z as well
we're open because we have technology at our hands. We're so used to mobile banking
we're so used to doing everything online and we have a better standing on trust in this society because we're able to differentiate what is
honest, what's not. We can see right through anything that seems kind of shady
so we're open to doing investing, but it has to be on our terms and it also has to be uh definitely low cost
so it's not hurting our pockets too much because we're still very young and very new to investing
but we're definitely open and um It's not something that we're trying to shy away from
A lot of Gen Z as well, you know, we're looking to buy homes within the next 5 years or so
So we're not trying to necessarily rack up so much debt and we're not necessarily into renting as much
um, but there are still things that are off on the number scheme that I feel like our generation
Probably just doesn't know about what it truly costs. It's not as far off as maybe other generations have been in the past
but in that, you know, range of buying a home, you're looking at the $300,000 range
but Gen Zers might think $200,000 is probably that lame, but it's not
So but the good thing about it is is we're, we have the resource
is to be able to move cautiously. So we don't have this barrier to where we don't understand the moves we're making
We have YouTube, university, we have, you know, the previous generations errors and even for myself
I've had to make sure that I'm updated on this knowledge because like I said
my parents, you know, are In that baby boomer millennial generation, so a lot of us lean on our parents for advice because a lot
of us still live with our parents. So a lot of that information can be outdated as well
So I feel like it's our obligation and duty to also like kind of tread lightly on outdated information and try to like see what's
actually happening now so that we won't revert back to the past
You know, uh, you know, first, let me do this disclaimer. I always do this for every
every time I have someone on who is a voice for a particular cohort where it's a voice for black people
a voice for women, you know, whatever the cohort, you, you're or an emerging voice for Gen Z
And, and, you know, and and very credible one, but I always tell people every advocate will tell you that the
the, the cohort that they're speaking for is not monolithic, you know
there's, there's diversity in Gen Z, there's diversity in Black Gen Z
so you're not saying that everything you say is every Gen Z's experience at the same time
Um, you are really well positioned both based on your own experience and your
your, your, uh, your, your position as a resource for others, as someone who will go get the answers if you don't have the answers
um, to really talk about the things that this generation is facing, um
you know, something you said about, about, uh. You know, credit and access to information in that way
Um, I, I, I always tell my kids, my youngest um adult children are Gen Yer
So I got Gen Y between Gen Y and the oldest is probably Millennial borderline millennial Gen X
but they're, they're, they're, you know, like a generation ahead of you. But I tell them they were the first generation born with access to
their own credit scores, you know, you know, you, you know, I wasn't born with that even though of course I've lived long enough to
be able to get access to it and my parents who, who
you know, It wasn't until during my lifetime that you could even know what your credit score was that they had to let you give
you access to that, so you could be denied for credit and never know why because they wouldn't tell you
They just say no, we're not going to accept that. So, so your generation is not only better equipped from the standpoint of the way
society has changed in terms of putting more financial information and for more more financial responsibility on individuals than on
you know, than just on institutions. But also your generation, and we know this from recent studies
your generation, meaning um Gen Z African Americans or Gen Z Black Americans are the first generation that is actually leaning into Wanting
to know more in terms of investment and financial education. When previous generations
depending on how far you go back, we're very, you know, I'm not, I don't trust
I'm not really trying to learn that stuff. I don't want to admit what I don't know. Um
you look at the phenomenon of earn your leisure, you look at, um
so many, um, on Instagram young um financial um experts and gurus and mavens talk about everything from investing in real estate to credit
to, you know, managing credit to Investing in the stock market, you got our man Ross Mack
who we've interviewed and featured on Black Enterprise many times out of Chicago. You got this groundswell of young people
When I say young, you know, Gen Z, Gen Y, to some degree
um, you know, millennials who are, who are like, no, I don't know what my
my, my mom and dad was, was on, but I'm gonna learn this stuff. We want to know this stuff
We want to make money, we want to build wealth. This is something that we're about, um
at the same time. You come out uh post COVID, you're graduating in
in the job market that is still healthy but challenging in many ways for you
and then that impacts what you think is possible for you financially
So let's let's do kind of a deep dive into what is Gen Z's attitudes around
Uh, financial education and financial planning, um, where, where do you tend to seek your information
What, how do you choose what to trust and not trust, um, where
where does that sit for you and your generation right now? Um
yeah, so I feel as though when it comes to our financial learning and where we're seeking this knowledge from
you know, uh, for me from a college standpoint, a lot of the things that I've had to learn was literally hands-on information
dealing with loans, dealing with, you know, these new purchases that I'm making that will determine a lot of the things that happen in our
in our future. So I feel like we get the hands-on experience
Um, Gen Z definitely leans on the Internet. We're leaning on social media
We're leaning on the, the devices that are on our phone that we can literally look up and Google this information with the emerge of
AI, you know, we're using AI tools now to to learn and seek more knowledge at a faster rate
Um, you know, being able to use prompts and learn and that's where we're going
you know, the AI is here, uh, different platforms for us are emerging
uh, for us to have the access, um, and I feel like a lot of these corporations as well
they're willing to meet Gen Z where they are, they're willing to
you know, help us and guide us in a way and, and help us in this new era and this new um season of life
that we're going through because it is challenging. Um, you mentioned with
you know, post-COVID, coming back to schools, some people not having jobs after graduation
I know a lot of students who graduated who are not studying
um, doing work that they've done with the degree that they've earned
They're doing something completely different, or they do have to work a 9 to 5 job just to be able to find a position that
they can live off of. So I feel like We are in this stage where it's healthy but we're recovering as well
Like we're trying to find our way, we're trying to find um that that season for us to really go in and get those jobs
because a lot of them, I, I will say, not everyone has a story like mine
you know what I mean, or a network pool that they can lean on. So a lot of them are leaning on these platforms like
LinkedIn and word of mouth and internships, and I feel like that's where the frustration
is coming from is because a lot of us, you know, are able to secure an internship or
you know, get an opportunity from someone that we know, but it doesn't always lead to um something that will set us up financially that
will be successful. It's always just the opportunity, you got the experience
but you know sometimes Experience doesn't always lead to income. It doesn't always lead to a result for money
So it can be defeating when you continually are trying and you have the the resources available
but you're just not being able to secure the job. And I feel like a lot of uh Gen Zs are just trying to
number one, You know, get themselves together post graduation or even if they haven't graduated from college
they're trying to build their businesses, they're trying to find investors that are willing to invest in young people
so I feel like that's kind of where we are, but it's
it's still an OK place to be in. It's not terrible. But you know
still there are ups and downs with the economy, with trying to find an apartment
trying to find a home, um, that are still challenges for us that make us have to be way more cautious so that we don't
revert to past patterns that ultimately ruin the next generation once again
Are there, I mean, obviously you're, you're a black woman, you're a graduate of HBCU
um. Are there differences in the financial concerns and challenges of Black Gen Zers that may not apply to the
Gen Z population in general? For sure, I feel, I mean, look
black Gen Zers, young black people in general, we're still always We're still always on the back burner
That's why we always have to push and always have to exude excellence at the highest degree
to be seen, to be heard, to be noticed, to get the The tools that we need to be able to keep up with our
other counterparts. So I always feel like there is a divide, but I feel like the the black youth in this generation
we're so determined, we're so hungry, we're so motivated to not wait for a handout
We're we're motivated to crafting our own destiny and leaning on each other and leaning on
you know, You know, the older generations that have experienced those things
I feel more so even though that the playing field is not always level
we try to lean on the baby boomer generation, Gen X, Gen Y
you know, I mean, we have Gen Alpha coming, you know, that's, that's the baby generation now that's coming behind us
So we are now those emerging young adults, so we always have to lean on
On, you know, our community, but we also have to make sure that our voices are being elevated
That's why I'm so big on diversity, equity, inclusion because those are the people that really help us transform and get us to the next
level because if if they don't see us, we're not gonna be seen
and if we're not seen, we're gonna have to create our own lane and our own platforms for ourselves to be successful
What, what do you think that that major corporations need to understand um about Black Gen Z
Um, both as sources of talent for their, for their workforce, as consumers
um, what do they need to understand in order to successfully relate to
um, to, to you and your generation, uh, that maybe they don't get, they don't understand
I feel like the the corporations have to understand that first of all
Black Black Gen Z, we understand. Number one, money. We understand how to make money
we understand what each other are looking for, we're entertaining, we're funny
we're, we just exemplify excellence in all areas and I feel that most of us look for opportunity and I feel like There has to
be more opportunity because there can't always just be that one Black Gen Z or that one voice
I feel like that's the issue is that there's always the conversation about a seat at the table
but it just always seems like there's just one seat. There's not like You know
a lot of seats for us to sit at. So there's always just like that one person who I feel like is crowned or gifted
or, you know, presented as like that token person, and it shouldn't be like that
I feel like we have to, corporations have to listen to our generation as a collective
You have to really understand our struggles. But to understand our struggles
you have to talk to the people, you have to be able to bring in consultants and bring in those who understand this generation who
craft content or who are on the grounds advocating through many factors
I can name so many diversified um Black Gen Zers in the influencing space who I believe
you know, are generating uh and who are A to actually meet Gen Zers where they are
That's the thing, you can't force this generation to do the things that the previous generations have done because we are totally different
Like the way we consume content is different, the hours we consume content is different
The type of stuff we engage with is different. How you market to us is completely different
um. A lot of us are on our phones all the time
A lot of us lean on our peers or people who we admire
and it can be an individual who might not have the biggest following or the richest home
but they're authentic, and I feel like that is the key is authenticity with this generation
You can't fool us, you can't, you know, put a mask on and 10 because we see right through it
So I feel like the best way is to definitely lean on the Gen Zers who are authentic
who are genuine, and who they can trust because trust is a big thing in our generation and I feel that if you're not able
to build the trust and if you're not able to keep the trust
you've lost us. You know, I I I tell people all the time that Yeah
young people, first of all, black people in general, because it's been part of our survival
we we're good at recognizing bullshit. Like we like we just, we may not be able to call you on it
but it's been part of our survival over the generations to be able to recognize that doesn't sound right
you know. But young people, you know, young black people are, are really good at it
you know, they can, they can just feel when you're just being inauthentic or you're being
you know, deceptive. They may not know what you're really trying to do, but if it doesn't feel right
and I the difference is that with Gen Z. And I, I
I would say Gen Y too, but Gen Z, now you got a generation of people that are willing to call you on it
you know, that's what corporations are finding out, you know, they're like, no
that don't, that don't sound right. That isn't right, and I'm going to say it's not right
And whereas again, when I was your age, it was, it was like, well
it may not be right, but you should be respectful and not. You know, not actually say it
you know, uh, and I think that's a big part of understanding you now have a generation of young people in general
and when I say young people, I don't mean kids, I mean young adults who now are willing to say what they're thinking and they
say that that product, I don't like that. I don't like the way you marketed that
I think that what that and that's both a in a way it's making corporations have to adapt
but smart corporations saying, well, at least I don't have to guess. They're gonna tell me that they don't like this or that they do
like this and smart companies, you know, pay attention to that stuff, you know
talk to me about you know the financial goals that You know
like you said, if you, if you're, you know, if you're between the ages of say 22 and 26
you are now, hopefully you've gotten your career started, you, you, you're out of school
you're, you're trying to, you know, whether you've been out of school for 8 years because you went straight into the workforce out of high
school or 44 or 5 years because you came out of college
Now you start thinking about things like family and marriage and retirement planning
which, you know, you know, we're always stressing that the earlier you start
the better, but also that's easier said than done if you're, again, you're, you're looking at limited income and you think
well I, I can push this retirement savings down the road, um
to me about, about the mindset that even now that you're, you're facing as a young woman
um, you know, beginning your career, building your business, uh, but you
you have personal goals, things that you want to achieve that cost money that require you to start thinking about what your financial future is
gonna look like. Talk to me about that uh both for your generation and for you
Uh, yeah, for myself, I feel that I have become just as a young woman
more selfish with my time, um, just because I know the type of lifestyle that I want to build
I know the type of career that I wanna have, and it requires time and now there's more resources out there
If I want to wait, I can wait for certain things. Um, whether that's pregnancy or marriage
you know what I mean, there's not a rush that I feel just because I've experienced and seen
you know, women who have successful careers and they can do everything
they can do it all. There's no limit to our potential and there's no limit to um the choices that we make because there's options
for us. So I definitely try to lean on that and always remember that there's no rush because I feel that building a successful business
does take time and energy, but at the rate that I want to go
I have to be extremely locked in, extremely focused, extremely disciplined to be able to get those things done
Um. On our generational aspect, you were asking about um how we feel as a whole
and I, I believe that many of us want those things. I feel like many of us want marriage
I feel like many of us, some people want kids, some people don't. Some people are good with just having their dog and living a
comfortable life in a condo and and that's fine, you know what I mean? So
everyone has their own, but I do feel that our upbringing matters and the things that we have been taught from an early age
I come from a two-parent household, um, so I've seen a healthy long marriage
So those are the things that I want in my life and I feel like many of us
you know, lean into the things that we were raised on, what we've seen as children
what's nostalgic to us, what we want to have for ourselves, and I feel like our generation wants to replicate the things that we see
And then also there's a chance for us now with mental health advocacy that even if you didn't grow up in a healthy home
even if you didn't have have the resources. If you didn't see um someone in your life that exemplifies a life that you wanna have
there's resources for you now to get help, you know, for you to get therapy
for you to talk to people, for you to get exposed to a different way of thinking or a different way of life and actually
comb through all this generational trauma. That's stuff that I go through now on a spiritual aspect is
you know, I have my own here and, you know, I embrace peace and I embrace um My spirituality and it's definitely different from what
I grew up on and I feel like a lot of us, you know, we've grown up maybe even with with a religious background that
probably doesn't really resonate now, you know. I saw a, this is kind of funny
but I saw a post that, you know, it was the millennial generation joking on Gen Z and how we would be from
our even our language, the way that we talk, the way we interact with each other like It it's crazy that that it's a difference
now, but you know, I feel like at the end of the day every generation goes through that
Every generation has their own ideals, their own language, their own values
um, the way that they grow up, the things that we see, but I feel like I'm just so excited and I'm
I'm honestly glad to be born in the, the generations that I'm in because I'm just feel like I'm able to just see so far
back and see how far we've come and just look at the future and say like this is where I'm heading
this is where I wanna go, this is the life I want to have for my children and this is the life that I wanna
um exemplify through my legacy and and I'm a deep thinker, so I feel like a lot of Gen Zs
we are really deep thinkers and I think that goes over people's head because they underestimate us because we're so young
But this generation is extremely um intellectual and we're very smart and we're very aware
Self-awareness is something that I've noticed throughout all of us and I think that self-awareness is gonna show um through our spirituality
through our mindset with money, through our mindset with just our overall lifestyle and well-being
You you you hit on another major advantage that your generation have has that I did not have when I was your age
And this is again, this is also borne out by research on the, on the labor force
When I came out of college and started working. It was the maximum number of generations in the workforce or in a company
maybe 3, you know, let's say I was a baby boomer, maybe the oldest people in the company like post World War 2
and then there, you know, I forgot there was a generation, there was a small generation in between
So let's say there were 2.5 generations in any given company. Now it's not uncommon and it's true of black enterprise to have 6 generations
like the youngest people being Gen Z. Um, and this is including Black Enterprise and the oldest people being baby boomers and you got millennials
Gen X and Gen Y in between and so now you got 5 and 6 generations working together and this is one of the challenges
that, um, you know, organizations, corporate America, including black enterprise, it's an advantage if you leverage it
but you got to understand that now it's not this kind of generational monolithic
Workforce anymore, there could be 5 or 6 different generations having to work together and be productive
but you're right, it is a benefit that now you are surrounded by people, maybe 2 or 3 generations of people who came before you
where you can learn from what went well with them and you can learn from their mistakes and that wasn't my case
you know, it was like I have one. You know, generation maybe to look up to and like most young people
we're like, yeah, I respect you, but. There's some other things that that that I'm not trying to do
So that that's a really, really good point to understanding this cohort. Um
I, I don't want to end this conversation we're starting to kind of come down the home stretch of the conversation without you talking to
and for the, the, the, the cohort, the generation that you represent in your survey um through set up for success
um, you are really leaning into I want to help you succeed
I got the same frustrations, so you're not just getting the answer for Sarah and then go on about your business being successful
You are passionate about all other people need to know this, and I know that's a big reason why you
you started your setup for Success podcast. you know, I, I want to stress to my audience
Sarah could easily just say, listen, I got my media career going
I'm interviewing people. Um, good luck, everybody, but I know that she has a real passion for this idea that other people need to know
this, that I, you know, other people are facing the same frustrations that I'm facing
need to know this. So, so talk to me about the kinds of things that people who listen to your podcast
where I would say, let me do a shameless plug for you, should be listening to your podcast
you know, Gen Zs and people who love them. Um, Black Gen Zs and people who love them
What are the things that you try to reinforce in terms of messaging to your audience
to give them hope, to give them resources, uh, and it talks specifically around financial concerns
financial anxiety, um, like you said, where am I gonna make money, how much am I gonna make
Can I have the life that I want? What, what is it that you that you are that you're hoping to bring
And to give to those who are looking to you for guidance
resources, connections, um, and reassurance when all is said and done. I believe I want them to have a mindset of abundance
for sure. I, I believe that having the mindset that you can have these things
that they are yours, it's your birthright to have that. I feel like Gen Z has to understand that they are worthy and they are
more than capable. Of having this lifestyle, having the things that that make them fulfilled and make them happy
and I feel like for me personally because I've experienced the lack of not having a job
I emphasize with them so much because now that I'm in a better situation
I it makes me even more determined to say I, I know there's so many of you guys that don't have the connection that
that don't have the resource to continue on and, and create the life that they want and so set up for success is really like
that lifeline. It's really like that, that pick up, you know, they can listen
they can hear and they can see that everyone who I'm interviewing and I'm talking to
it's not just an interview where it's just questions. Like this is a real dial
This is something that strips away from the, just, hey, I have these questions planned out
this is really authentic and I lean more into different aspects so that it's not just one-sided
Yes, I definitely want to talk about financial and and how we're able to to do these things with specific individuals
and I feel like that's the thing is talking to the individuals that makes sense for this generation
So I often lean on Young people, I often lean on those who have garnered success
but asking them questions in a way that they've never been asked before and I feel like that is the determining factor that makes this
content so unique is that if you've never been able to ask uh someone who you've seen in the spotlight or someone who you know
who has a successful business, this is your chance to really hear from them from a different
Perspective that hones in on the early twenties, hones in on things that you can do now
the mistakes that they've made early so that you can learn, especially I try to diversify each guest based on their occupation because
I feel like if you interview the same type of person, it kind of gets repetitive
it gets redundant. So I like to diversify my portfolio of people that I talk to
so it's not. It's not, it can be celebrities, it can be HBCU alum
it could be young people who are doing it and doing it big now, influencers
there's no limit to the conversation, and I also want to emphasize that I want to be of service and that's why I'm
I'm big on giving and serving because I know in the long run that's what's gonna be sustainable for me
Uh, I could not ever let my ego just continue on and just self
do anything for myself because it just would not be fulfilling for me at all
And I feel like when you have a bigger purpose in life, no matter how much money you make
even if you get to the point where you feel like you quote unquote
made it, there's still gonna be a sort of emptiness if you know that you're having this drive and this push to serve
to educate, to lead, to empower, and I feel like that's just what I want and I'm not gonna stop until I have success story
after success story, and I'm already getting that great feedback now, but I'm just excited for the future for Setup for success because I know
that this generation will benefit from it and I want it to be stamped. I want it to be in the history books
I want it to be something that people can say like when I was young
I listened to this podcast and it helped me. It helped me to plan for my future
Sara, you, I mean, that, that's a great word. It's a whole word
And it's one of the reasons I was like, yeah, you would be a perfect person to have this conversation with
Um, listen, you know, we need people to keep up with what you're doing
Obviously, we want people to check out your podcast, but what's the best way for people to
to, to follow what you're doing, um, to keep track of your business
to keep track of your podcast, um, your social media handles? What's the best way for people to stay in touch
Yeah, Instagram is, is my go to, that's my main source platform
So Instagram at Sara Leon Air, that's S A R A H L E on Air
My website is uh SarleOair.com. My YouTube is also Sarle on Air
I have an ebook out for those. I get tons of questions on becoming a media personality in the podcasting space and how to monetize
and how to grow a platform um. Um, so I definitely, you know
want to push that as well so you could check the ebook out, uh
and there's so much in store like for the future. 2024 is almost here
Alfred, so I'm so excited to just continue to lead and to contribu but definitely follow me on my journey on Instagram
YouTube, wherever you listen to your podcast is also there for setup for success
and that's pretty much it. OK, everybody, again, you heard that. I got to know Sarah because she was part of my mentee cohort
my mentee pod for the latest class of black ambitionists. Um, so I
you know, I got to say it, my mentees are better than yours. This is more further evidence
Sarah, I am so glad you could make time, especially on such short notice, to join us for Be beyond the hype
and you know, I'm personally, you know, I'm going to be following your, your, your, your success going forward
But, uh, you know, I wish you all the best and thank you for being my guest. Thank you
This is an honor. Beyond the hype is it. Like these guests
I'm honored to even just be amongst these great individuals who I admire
who I follow, so I am so grateful and you're a legend, Alfred, so it's a
it's a blessing to have you as a mentor. Oh, I'm a legend
OK, people tell me that I never, I don't know how to digest that
but I thank you. I appreciate that and I appreciate you, you know, you and I
we're gonna be talking, so this, this is just, see you later for us
but again, another edition of Beyond the Hype. This edition was brought to you by New York Life
I'm Alfred Junior, senior vice president, executive editor of Black Enterprise. Thanks for listening
Take care of yourself. We'll see you next time