💬 SummaryIn this episode, we speak to Austin Okolo – founder of Gen Z Recruits and a leading voice for Gen Z in the world of work – about turning lived experience into lasting impact.Austin shares how his entrepreneurial journey began with selling football boots at school and how it evolved into a mission to fix a broken job market. We talk about building confidence from the ground up, creating opportunities where none exist and why visibility and vulnerability are powerful tools for career growth. Austin opens up about the loneliness of leadership, what most people get wrong about Gen Z and why effort still beats everything else.💡 TakeawaysYour audience might be you – build what you wish you hadConfidence comes from repetition, not personalityGen Z aren’t lazy – they’re just unwilling to settle for outdated normsRecruitment doesn’t have to be transactional – it can be transformationalVisibility leads to opportunity – show up even when you’re nervousDocument your journey, don’t wait to be ‘an expert’Working in isolation can damage your mental health – community mattersPersonal branding works best when it’s grounded in lived experienceEmployers and employees both need to define their non-negotiablesThe future of work needs to include flexibility and connection🕒 Chapters00:00 – Who is Austin Okolo and what does he do?01:43 – From football boots to fashion to founding a business03:50 – The rise and fall of Clubhouse and building a real-life community06:16 – Becoming “Mr Gen Z” and launching Gen Z Recruits08:57 – Why he started a recruitment agency with no corporate background11:39 – Starting from scratch: mentorship, prep and long-term thinking13:15 – The real problems Gen Z face in the job market16:13 – Are Gen Z expectations really that unrealistic?17:56 – Rethinking traditional work models and expectations20:43 – Meeting in the middle: flexibility vs reality22:48 – The hardest part: loneliness as a founder24:10 – Why we need to build our own communities after school26:05 – The hidden cost of working from home28:15 – How Austin got into the media – and why visibility matters31:04 – Building confidence by doing hard things33:35 – Personal branding tips for early-career professionals35:14 – What not to post online (and how to avoid being cringe)38:13 – Why Austin didn’t post about Coldplay – and how to stay in your lane41:08 – What’s next for Gen Z Recruits42:46 – Austin’s signature advice: reverse engineer your dream role44:31 – Where to find Austin online🔗 Follow AustinLinkedIn – Austin OkoloInstagram – @austinokolooTikTok – @austinokolooFollow Favourite Positions on LinkedIn and Instagram, connect with Alex here.

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