A Message from Our CEO – August 2025

“Cruel to be kind in the right measure”

— Shakespeare/Nick Lowe

Juice. Just juice.

The stories we’ve chosen for you this month are juicy. All of them. For those who read my missive dribble musings upfront—you’d be eating the cherry on top of a serviceable hot fudge sundae. But the real meal, the meat, the juicy beef tenderloin… that is the articles below. 

The articles speak for themselves. But let me weigh in anyway, boorishly, on the top story of the day: Stricter parenting is making a comeback. No more coddling. Won’t eat the lasagna? You’ll survive until breakfast. Scrape your knee? Wipe up the blood and put on a band aid. “No, I’m not going to the job interview with you.” They’re calling it FAFO parenting—F*ck Around and Find Out. Every action has a consequence. 

Employers can hardly wait till these kids get to the workplace. In the meantime, managers need to navigate managing a generation they are wholly unfamiliar with. “Soft in the spine” is how some are describing Gen Z. So, where do you start? First, I’d recommend “meeting them where they are.” Understand their priorities and what motivates them. Generally, Gen Z likes to know that their particular task is tied to a bigger purpose. They want to know why their work matters. Innovation? Customer impact? Sustainability? 

Second, their time horizons for feedback are much different than yours. Their world to this point is instant feedback on nearly everything they do. I know this sounds crazy, but for the first month of their employment, you should check in with them every day for 5-10 minutes. Celebrate small wins and course correct slippage in real time. 

Third—and this is where you need to be in loco parentis—the strict parent… set clear guardrails. Set performance expectations that are clear and detailed. Really clear and detailed. 

Finally, Gen Z craves mentorship. They want an authority figure that is looking out for their best interest. They want a “coach” not a “boss.” If you’ve spent all this money hiring them and getting them trained and onboard, the least you can do is invest in their professional and career development. They love skill building, and contrary to conventional wisdom, they are high achievers, not slackers. They just need direction. So, congratulations, you are the new parent of your Gen Z staff. You don’t need to be gentle, necessarily, but you do need to look out for their best interest. 

Discipline. Direction. Development.

- Warren