As entry-level jobs shrink and AI reshapes the workforce, leaders from Amazon, Walmart, McDonald’s, and beyond say success is still within reach for young workers willing to adapt.
For millions of Gen Z college graduates, 2025 has delivered a harsh reality check. Entry-level hiring has cooled, competition for junior roles has intensified, and the long-held belief that a degree guarantees a stable career is rapidly eroding. For many young people, especially those classified as NEETs (not in employment, education, or training), the path forward feels more uncertain than ever.
Adding to the anxiety, prominent business leaders have issued stark warnings. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and Ford CEO Jim Farley have publicly cautioned that AI and automation could eliminate large swaths of entry-level work, fundamentally changing how careers begin.
Yet amid the gloom, a different message is emerging from some of the world’s most influential executives — one that reframes the crisis as a moment of opportunity rather than defeat.
“Run Toward the Hardest Problems”
AMD CEO Lisa Su has become one of the most vocal advocates for a challenge-first mindset. Instead of avoiding difficulty, she urges young professionals to actively seek it out.
“Run towards the hardest problems — not walk, run,” Su has said. “That’s where you find the biggest opportunities, where you learn the most, where you set yourself apart, and where you grow.”
In a labor market defined by disruption, Su’s advice reflects a broader shift: resilience, adaptability, and problem-solving are replacing credentials as the most valuable career currency.
Curiosity as a Competitive Edge
Accenture CEO Julie Sweet offers a similar perspective, emphasizing curiosity as a defining leadership trait. Sweet’s own career defied expectations — she didn’t follow the traditional executive blueprint, nor did she resemble the firm’s past leaders.
Her rise to the top, she says, was fueled by a willingness to ask questions, learn continuously, and step outside conventional career paths. In a world where job roles evolve faster than job titles, Sweet argues that curiosity isn’t optional — it’s an advantage.
You Don’t Need a Perfect Plan
For Gen Z workers feeling pressure to have their entire future mapped out, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy delivers a reassuring message: you don’t need all the answers right now.
In an economy shaped by constant technological and economic shifts, Jassy believes rigid career planning can actually be counterproductive. Careers today are built through experimentation, iteration, and unexpected pivots — not linear ladders.
This philosophy is echoed across industries, from retail giants like Walmart and McDonald’s to tech and consulting firms, where leaders increasingly value learning speed over long-term certainty.
The New Career Playbook for Gen Z
Despite ongoing turbulence — and more likely ahead in 2026 — executives agree on one central point: opportunity hasn’t disappeared; it’s just changed form.
For young workers trying to break in or move up, the emerging playbook looks different than it did a decade ago:
- Embrace difficult and unfamiliar challenges
- Stay relentlessly curious
- Stay relentlessly curious
- Take ownership of skills development
Remain flexible as roles and industries evolve
The era of guaranteed career paths may be over. But according to today’s top CEOs, those willing to adapt, learn, and lean into uncertainty may find that the most unpredictable job market in decades also offers the greatest potential for growth.
In short, Gen Z’s employment crisis isn’t just a warning — it’s an invitation to redefine what success looks like in the modern workforce.
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