Struggling to recruit, manage, or retain Gen Z? You're not alone, and you're not imagining the shift.

In this episode of The Ascended Workplace, Rebecca Burtram sits down with HR leader Jack Foust to break down what’s REALLY happening with Gen Z talent and what the most effective HR leaders are doing to adapt.

Drawing from years of recruiting, onboarding, and developing young professionals across multiple industries (including the accounting field), Jack reveals:

• Why Gen Z is actually the most honest and authentic talent pool

• How hybrid onboarding models outperform handholding and sink-or-swim approaches

• The 30-60-90 day structure that forces soft-skill growth

• The weekly feedback cadence Gen Z requires to stay engaged and on track

• How to prevent “promotion expectation shock” with clear development pathways

• Why celebrating departures can improve retention

• How to bridge cross-generational conflict with simple structural changes

• What HR leaders consistently misunderstand about Gen Z

Whether you’re a CEO, HR Director, Talent Manager, or firm owner, this episode gives you practical, system-level strategies to develop Gen Z into high-performing, loyal contributors.

If your organization is struggling with:

• Gen Z communication issues

• Soft skills gaps

• Unrealistic promotion expectations

• Turnover or disengagement

• Frustration between younger and older employees

• Ineffective onboarding

…this conversation will give you immediately actionable solutions.