- How the next generation will shape the ‘new normal’
By Nethmi Dissanayake
For members of Generation Z (Gen Z), especially those between the ages of 18 and 23, the Covid-19 pandemic is poised to be a generation-shaping event. This generation is coming of age in the midst of dramatic socio-economic tumult. The pandemic has highlighted the dire need for the kind of transformational change the younger generation yearns for – a shift from the mental co-ordinates of a world that no longer exists. As a generation, today’s youth has been consistently disregarded or discouraged by elders, or been called an impatient or entitled generation. Yet, in the face of this pandemic, Gen Z is the generation best poised to reimagine our world and transform it for the better.
Recently at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, the popular Korean boy band BTS coined the term “the welcome generation” and envisioned hope for the future with a moving and encouraging speech. This, of course, took the internet by storm.
Taking to the stage in upcycled and regenerated clothing to make a statement on environmental issues, BTS leader RM said: “I’ve heard that people in their teens and 20s today are being referred to as Covid’s lost generation. I think it’s a stretch to say they’re lost just because the path they tread can’t be seen by grown-up eyes.”
Jin, another BTS band member, said: “Rather than calling this Covid generation a ‘lost generation,’ the term ‘welcome generation’ is more suitable. We are a generation that walks forward rather than being feared by changes.”
“We thought the world stopped, but it continues to move forward,” RM said, concluding his speech, and stressed that they should say “welcome!” to each other at the beginning of a new world, which is not the end of the world.
Following the sentiments shared by BTS, Brunch decided to explore how young entrepreneurs and the new generation in Sri Lanka are envisioning and shaping our own “new normal”.
If they see things the way they are, they’ll know the ‘kids’ are actually right: Amega Wickramasinghe
“People have tried to offend me countless times by saying things like ‘what a Gen Z’, ‘you’re just a kid’, and ‘you’re so young’. It doesn’t actually offend me, though, because being young is not wrong and being a Gen Z is something I’m proud of. I personally think the new generation is better at unlearning things and accepting new things compared to previous generations,” Amega said.
Amega also mentioned that while the previous generations were hesitant to accept the internet and everything that came along with it, Gen Z and millennials have decided to embrace the internet and use it to their advantage.
“My generation is more excited than suspicious when it comes to new things, and while it’s scary for anyone to change, we love to just give it a shot. One of my favourite things about the new generation is the way they are much less judgmental than the earlier generations. It’s amazing how most of the younger generations just let people be the way they are without feeling the need to judge people based on their appearance, gender, sexual preference, mental health, education, or just the way they live,” Amega shared.
With climate change becoming one of the defining issues of our generation, Amega shared that the new generation will have to bear the burden of climate change and of making a difference, because if change doesn’t happen, the generations after us won’t be able to survive on Earth.
“As someone who supports circular economy and climate action, it has become very clear to me that if the people who are ‘in charge’, like the directors and CEOs of multinational companies and world leaders, accepted what’s happening to the environment and decided to make necessary changes, everything could get much better.
“Most of Gen Z would definitely accept change for the better when they are older and are in charge. Being in their teens and early 20s hasn’t stopped them from doing whatever is in their power to make a difference. All I can wish for is for the Earth to be still habitable until the next generation takes charge of things and makes changes for the better,” Amega said.
Younger generation’s thought process has reshuffled entire employment fraternity: Udaya Wickramage
For many of these new entrepreneurs, starting their own businesses was necessary. Some were laid off; some had to face pay cuts as well as many other hardships during the pandemic that forced them to rethink employment and whether they want to be working for somebody else. This was especially true for the younger generations that saw their seniors, their parents, and other friends and family struggling to find and keep jobs.
“I would like to put it as the people have had a ‘conscious awakening’. These companies that people have slaved their lives away to earn money decided to lay off employees as soon as they faced a few months of hardship. So the people have finally raised the question: Is it really worth it?” Udaya shared.
Udaya, who is also an Executive Committee Member of the Sri Lanka Entrepreneur and SME Network (SLESN), shared that last year’s sudden growth in small businesses saw a lot of food and beverage (F&B) outlets coming out, as well as a lot of mobile car stalls.
“You can’t exactly call it entrepreneurship – it was more of a way for them to put food on the table, but we can look it as entrepreneurship because if there were 100 people, at least five or six of those people would have looked it from an entrepreneur’s point of view, or along the way would have realised what more they can do. And yes, there have been entrepreneurs who built their own brands during this period as well,” he explained.
A millennial himself, Udaya talked about how he built his own company and shared advice with aspiring young entrepreneurs. “I started my business almost right before the pandemic, right after the Easter Sunday attacks. And I’m in tourism. As you can imagine, the numbers went down drastically and it affected the business severely. It has been two hard years, but my team and I have been very resilient and we have come this far without the help of any government funds or anything. If I didn’t believe in myself and my work, I wouldn’t have been here. You should know why you started something, and that would help in the sustainability of your brand. You should be passionate about what you do and believe in your work,” he shared.
Speaking on how the resilient Gen Z and Millennial business owners will help shape the world after the Covid-19 pandemic, Udaya shared that the younger generation’s thought process has reshuffled the entire employment fraternity. This is a really good awakening for the companies as well to try out new interesting ideas, because in a few years, we might see an entire generation who is not ready to act as corporate robots.
Also, the more entrepreneurs there are, the easier networking will be and our ability to create synergies, where different firms help each other with different aspects of their businesses, marketing, travelling, social media management, etc., he added.
The post-Covid-19 era will require immense creativity and resilience. Young people have a chance to help restructure societal norms as a new paradigm is being built. We are at the helm of the most powerful tools for connection in modern-day history – social media. Therefore, we have a responsibility to use these platforms to speak in favour of equitable healthcare and equality for all minority groups, and hold our leaders accountable to higher standards than before.