Some of the leading keynote speakers on Generation Z include Ryan Jenkins, Jason Dorsey, Lindsey Pollak, Jonah Stillman, Kim Lear, Hannah Ubl, and Corey Seemiller.
Explore seven leading Generation Z keynote speakers who help organizations understand younger employees, strengthen multigenerational collaboration, and improve Gen Z recruitment, leadership, engagement, and retention.
Each brings a different perspective on Gen Z, from workplace expectations and leadership to consumer behavior, education, generational research, and the future of work.
The right speaker depends on whether your organization wants to better understand, attract, engage, lead, retain, or market to Generation Z.
Why Hire a Gen Z Keynote Speaker?
Gen Z is reshaping the workplace and marketplace.
As younger generations enter the workforce and gain purchasing power, organizations must reconsider how they lead, communicate, recruit, retain, market, and sell.
But understanding Gen Z isn't about criticizing younger employees or declaring that one generation is better than another.
Generations are clues, not absolutes.
A great Gen Z speaker should help audiences understand the experiences, technologies, economic conditions, and cultural shifts influencing Gen Z's expectations and behaviors. More importantly, they should translate those insights into practical strategies.
Here are seven speakers worth considering.
1. Ryan Jenkins: Leading, Engaging, and Connecting With Gen Z
Ryan Jenkins is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Certified Speaking Professional, and generational expert with more than 15 years of experience studying and speaking about generational differences.
He is the author of The Generation Z Guide and The Millennial Manual, and has worked with global organizations including Coca-Cola, Salesforce, The Home Depot, Delta Air Lines, and State Farm.
Ryan helps organizations understand what motivates Gen Z and how leadership, communication, engagement, and retention strategies need to evolve to meet the expectations of emerging generations.
His approach emphasizes that every generation brings value. Rather than encouraging generational stereotypes or finger-pointing, Ryan helps audiences recognize the strengths of each generation and build stronger connections across age groups.
He also explores how Gen Z provides clues about the future of work, including changing expectations around technology, leadership, collaboration, and workplace relationships.
Best for: Corporate conferences, HR events, leadership meetings, and organizations seeking practical strategies to attract, lead, engage, connect with, and retain Gen Z talent.
2. Jason Dorsey: Gen Z Research and Consumer Behavior
Jason Dorsey is President of The Center for Generational Kinetics and co-author of Zconomy: How Gen Z Will Change the Future of Business and What to Do About It.
His work draws on extensive generational research to help organizations understand Gen Z's behaviors, expectations, purchasing decisions, and workplace attitudes.
Jason's presentations often explore how generational trends influence both employees and consumers.
Best for: Organizations seeking research-driven insights into Gen Z employees, customers, sales, marketing, and business strategy.
3. Lindsey Pollak: Multigenerational Leadership and Career Development
Lindsey Pollak is a New York Times bestselling author and multigenerational workplace expert known for helping people navigate generational differences at work.
Her book The Remix: How to Lead and Succeed in the Multigenerational Workplace explores how organizations can adapt leadership and workplace practices to support different generations.
Lindsey's approach emphasizes practical communication strategies, career development, and helping employees and leaders find common ground.
Best for: HR conferences, leadership development programs, professional associations, and organizations looking to improve collaboration and career development across generations.
4. Jonah Stillman: A Gen Z Perspective on the Workplace
Jonah Stillman is a Gen Z speaker and co-author of Gen Z @ Work, written with his father, generational expert David Stillman.
Jonah brings the perspective of someone who belongs to Generation Z while also drawing on research into the generation's workplace expectations.
His presentations explore what Gen Z wants from employers, how younger employees approach work, and what organizations should understand about the next generation of talent.
Best for: Organizations seeking a firsthand Gen Z perspective on recruitment, workplace expectations, leadership, and generational differences.
5. Kim Lear: Generational Research and Future Trends
Kim Lear is a generational researcher, keynote speaker, and founder of Inlay Insights.
Her work explores how generational shifts influence workplace culture, leadership, consumer behavior, and broader social trends.
Kim combines research, cultural observations, and storytelling to help organizations understand how expectations are evolving and what those changes could mean for the future.
Best for: Leadership conferences, industry associations, and organizations interested in understanding how Gen Z and broader generational shifts will influence the future workforce and marketplace.
6. Hannah Ubl: Gen Z and Workplace Culture
Hannah Ubl is a workplace culture researcher, author, keynote speaker, and co-founder of Good Company Consulting.
Her work examines generational differences alongside broader questions about leadership, employee expectations, organizational culture, and the human experience at work.
Hannah helps organizations better understand younger employees while encouraging more effective communication, empathy, and people-first leadership practices.
Best for: Organizations focused on Gen Z engagement, employee experience, workplace culture, and leadership across generations.
7. Corey Seemiller: Gen Z Research, Education, and Leadership
Dr. Corey Seemiller is a researcher, educator, author, and speaker whose work focuses on Generation Z, leadership, and student development.
Her research and publications explore Gen Z's characteristics, motivations, communication preferences, and approaches to learning and leadership.
Corey's perspective is particularly relevant for organizations working with students, emerging professionals, and younger generations entering the workforce.
Best for: Higher education conferences, educational institutions, student leadership programs, and organizations seeking research-based insights into Gen Z development.
What Should You Look for in a Gen Z Keynote Speaker?
Before hiring a Gen Z speaker, consider three important qualifications:
1. Credible research and experience. Look for speakers who have written books, conducted research, or spent significant time studying generational behavior.
2. An approach that avoids generational shaming. The goal shouldn't be to blame Gen Z for workplace challenges or suggest that older generations need to abandon everything they know. The best speakers help generations better understand and appreciate one another.
3. Practical strategies for your audience. Understanding Gen Z is useful, but knowing how to adapt leadership, communication, engagement, recruiting, retention, or marketing practices is where that understanding becomes valuable.
Ultimately, the best Gen Z speaker should help organizations move beyond generational labels and better understand the people behind them.
Looking for a Keynote Speaker on Gen Z?
Ryan Jenkins helps organizations better understand, lead, engage, connect with, and retain Generation Z.
His presentations combine research, real-world examples, engaging stories, and practical strategies that help organizations navigate generational differences without stereotypes or finger-pointing.
Explore Ryan's Generational Keynotes
Or contact Ryan’s team directly:
ashley@ryanjenkins.com
770-695-7204 | Call or text