Our recent forum investigated the rise of Generation Z

To coincide with The Age Issue, we held a forum at our Studio 2 space exploring The Future of Age: Generation Z.  A carefully chosen panel of ambitious young professionals discussed all aspects of youth from the rise of teen entrepreneurs to the loss of innocence.    

Kicking off the debate was freelance writer and stylist Harriet Verney, who reasoned that Gen Z is not only a definitive age group, but also a modern mentality. “This generation is experiencing a sort of renaissance, we're able to do lots of things at once,” said Verney. “There is lots of pressure to be successful.”  

The Supa Academy founders, Liam Tootill and Bejay Mulenga, were next to take to the stage. Having launched an organization that takes 18-24 year olds into the world of enterprise and employment, the pair discussed ways of supporting the new generation and the powers of the Internet.

Also speaking was James Anderson, who at the age of 15 (just two years ago) founded Thinkspace; introducing tech and coding to the next generation of student thinkers. “I am no different from anyone else, I am not talented I just had opportunities and decided to take risks,” Anderson explained. “You can never undervalue experience.”

When it came to the turn of Head of Programme for The School of Life, Vassili Christodoulou, the panelist vehemently went against the message of the forum – teen spirit. “I can’t accept that it’s a healthy burden that’s put on young peoples shoulders today - that they have to mop up the mistakes of their parents.”

Watch this space for video footage of all our speakers presentations.