How Gen Z Is Preparing to Tackle Global Challenges

Babson Summer Study
Listen

With modern-day connectivity, Gen Z got the whole tree of knowledge, not just the apple.

These bright minds have big feelings—as they should—about big problems like income inequality, racial injustice, and climate action. They place strong value on authenticity and pay close attention to how businesses speak about and take action on social values. But, how can that values-driven passion get channeled into sustainable, positive social impact?

Gen Z isn’t waiting for their turn to drive change.

This generation of young people is standing up for their beliefs, speaking out against injustice, and harnessing their creativity to claim the future they want, reports Globespan.

These findings ring true for the Babson Youth Impact Lab, where one-third of the 2019 Summer Study high school student cohort opted in to earn a digital badge in social innovation.

UN Global Goals as a Universal Framework for Change

The Babson Youth Impact Lab designed the Social Innovation Badge to further develop the mindset of a solution creator for positively impacting their community.

Using the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) as a common language, students selected one or more goals that reflect their personal moral values for a better society. This helps students create a sense of purpose behind their actions.

During the badging process, high school students were asked to reflect on ways these global problems affect them personally.

Some students, like Ela Gokcigdem, already are creating social impact at home, “I (opted into the) Social Innovation Badge to learn how to implement my environmental honor society idea into my community. I’m starting an environmental honor society that I plan on branching out to three different high schools in Virginia. Earning a Social Innovation Badge gave me the information I needed to get going.”

The Social Innovation Badge was designed to map to core career readiness competencies, so students walk away with transferable career skills.

An Entrepreneurial Mindset for Building Resilience

As Gen Zers step into adulthood in today’s digital age, they are “experiencing both boundless creative possibilities as well as near epidemic levels of anxiety and stress.”

So what are the character-building qualities that can fortify Gen Zers as they navigate an uncertain future? Many of the soft skills practiced throughout the process of building an entrepreneurial mindset have been shown in studies to help youth to build resilience. They:

  • Connect their core values to UN SDGs to inspire purpose behind action
  • Build confidence by identifying and reflecting on personal strengths
  • Practice empathy through understanding the true needs of people and communities
  • Sharpen creative problem solving skills through design thinking
  • Reframe failure into entrepreneurial learning opportunities

Mireille Ngamije from Kigali, Rwanda, found it most inspirational to hear directly from local entrepreneurs about what passions motivated them to build their businesses. “It helped me to understand that’s it not all about how much you have or how big your venture is, but how big of an impact you can have on society.”

How Gen Z Can Make Social Impact Now

Critical problem-solving and design-thinking skills create impact when they are followed by action.

When completing their Social Innovation Badge, each student walks away with concrete next steps. These steps can be large or small, and start by encouraging students to identify and engage their personal networks.

Andrea Torres, a rising high school senior in Mexico, has big plans for her new entrepreneurial mindset: “When I return to Mexico, I hope to start changing things and influencing the decisions being made in the government. I’m aiming for fair, noble, and equal treatment for all citizens.”

Not every student who passes through the Babson Youth Impact Lab will become an entrepreneur, but every student will leave equipped with a resilient entrepreneurial mindset.

By connecting the dots between passion, purpose, and action, high school students can build an overall awareness of what it means to be a true agent of change in their communities and the world.

After all, there can be no greater social impact than raising a new generation of leaders who place diversity, equity, and inclusion at the center.

Posted in Insights

More from Insights »

Latest Stories

Two people sit next to each other in a classroom
As Workforce Needs Evolve, Babson Expands Its Commitment to Professional and Executive Education To better support organizations and professionals in rapidly changing times, Babson launches an expanded Professional and Executive Education portfolio, offering courses that are online, flexible, and urgently needed, while investing in a new lodging and conference center on campus.
By
John Crawford
Senior Journalist
John Crawford
A writer for Babson Thought & Action and the Babson Magazine, John Crawford has been telling the College’s entrepreneurial story for more than 15 years. Assignments for Babson have taken him from Rwanda to El Salvador, from the sweet-smelling factory of a Pennsylvania candy maker, to the stately Atlanta headquarters of an NFL owner, to the bustling office of a New York City fashion designer. Beyond his work for Babson, he has written articles and essays for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Notre Dame Magazine, The Good Men Project, and other publications. He can be found on Twitter, @crawfordwriter, where he tweets about climate change.
June 23, 2025

Posted in Community, Entrepreneurial Leadership

Andrew “Zach” Zacharakis applauds while sitting at a table during a BCERC dinner
Honoring Andrew ‘Zach’ Zacharakis for 20 Years as BCERC Director As the 45th annual entrepreneurship research conference returns to Babson’s campus, BCERC pays tribute to Professor Andrew “Zach” Zacharakis for two decades of service. Zacharakis shares reflections of BCERC and its impact.
By
Eric Beato
Editor / Writer
Eric Beato
Eric Beato is the Editor of Babson Thought & Action and Babson Magazine. A native of Chicago and a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, Eric has worked as an editor and writer at newspapers across the country, including the Chicago Sun-Times and Boston Herald. Eric joined Babson College in 2019 after working as the communications director for a private educational travel company and as the managing editor of six regional sports publications.
June 16, 2025

Posted in Community, Entrepreneurial Leadership

Public safety dog surrounded by students.
It’s All in the Name: Hero the Dog Brings Safety and Smiles to Babson Trained by the state police, Babson’s newest Public Safety dog comes with unique skills to boost campus safety and community engagement.
By
Hillary Chabot
Writer
Hillary Chabot
Hillary Chabot is a writer for Babson Thought & Action and Babson Magazine. An award-winning journalist, she is known for her insightful reporting and dedication to detailed storytelling. With a career spanning over two decades, she has covered a wide range of topics, from presidential campaigns and government policy to neighborhood issues and investigative series. As a reporter for The Boston Herald, Hillary earned a reputation for tenacity and integrity. Her work at Babson College fuels her passions—to learn something new every day and conduct thoughtful, empathic interviews. She’s thrilled to be at Babson College, where students, faculty, staff members and classes provide compelling copy daily.
June 12, 2025

Posted in Community