Why are senior creatives so desperate to impress their Gen Z interns? At the recent All Flows conference in Milton Keynes, Nada Hesham, founder of 40MUSTAQEL, highlighted this interesting phenomenon. She described how younger colleagues like Tasnim represent an unbothered coolness that Gen Z aspirants secretly crave.

From my perspective, Gen Z workers entered the workforce with collective nerve, rejecting traditional work attitudes and embracing a more balanced approach to career and life. Meanwhile, many creative directors in their 30s and 40s, shaped by toxic workplace cultures of the past, are eager not to repeat those mistakes.

Gen Z’s ability to call out what isn't working has become a measure of managerial success. It's not just about being liked or feeling young; it's more profound. They want confirmation that the freedom and authenticity they hold so naturally were worth waiting for – something many older creatives only wished for.

So, if you’re a creative over 30, prepare to be scrutinised by those who might just validate your existence much more keenly than you could ever imagine.