Gen Z Redefines Success With Focus on Financial Stability and Entrepreneurship

The American Dream is being redefined by Gen Z, a generation marked by resilience, ambition, and a rejection of traditional status symbols in favor of purpose, stability, and financial independence. As a venture capital founder and mother of five Gen Z children, the author has conducted a series of listening sessions with over 50 young adults to better understand their aspirations and the obstacles they face. These conversations reveal a generation that is not passive or entitled, but deeply aware of the challenges ahead and actively seeking solutions to rewrite the rules of success.

Unlike the negative stereotypes often portrayed in media, Gen Z is characterized by curiosity, inclusivity, and resourcefulness. They juggle part-time jobs, side hustles, and academic responsibilities while navigating a digital environment that often seeks to distract rather than inspire. Their drive is not for wealth alone but for control over their financial futures and the ability to live without constant stress. As one 20-year-old participant explained, success is defined by the ability to save, even if only a small amount, and to avoid the cycle of living paycheck to paycheck.

The challenges they face are real and growing. Inflation has dramatically increased the cost of housing, groceries, insurance, and transportation, making it harder for young adults to achieve basic financial stability. A Bank of America Better Money Habits report highlights that despite being more financially self-aware than any previous generation at their age, more than a third of Gen Z individuals feel financially stressed due to low income and macroeconomic instability. The rising cost of living has also made it difficult for them to engage in relationships or pursue traditional markers of success, with many opting to delay dating or marriage in favor of career advancement and personal savings.

The barriers to Gen Z’s success are not just personal but structural. As the U.S. population ages, the economy will increasingly depend on this generation’s productivity and innovation. By 2030, a $30 trillion generational wealth transfer is expected, with women and Gen Z at the center. Given that Gen Z represents the largest generation in U.S. history, it will account for all consumer spending growth over the next decade. Their success is not optional—it is essential for sustaining economic growth.

Gen Z is also redefining what it means to be successful. Half of them aspire to start their own businesses, not necessarily to become billionaires, but to gain independence and control over their lives. This entrepreneurial spirit must be supported through mentorship, early capital, and access to opportunities beyond the traditional college degree or Silicon Valley startup model. Vocational training, micro-credentialing, and alternative career pathways could help bridge the gap between their ambitions and the current economic landscape.

As artificial intelligence and automation reshape the workforce, the author argues that Gen Z must be equipped not only to adapt but to lead the transformation. Thinking like an entrepreneur does not require a pitch deck or a tech incubator—it requires grit, agency, and ambition. The solution lies not in underestimating this generation but in investing in the systems and support structures that allow them to thrive.

The American Dream is not broken—it is being rewritten by a generation that refuses to wait for change to come to them. It is now up to policymakers, investors, and society at large to ensure that the pathways to success are accessible, inclusive, and aligned with the realities of a rapidly changing world.

[1] Source: [1]I’m a VC founder and mother to 5 Gen Z kids. My listening tour of 50 young adults shows a hunger to work hard and rewrite the American Dream (https://fortune.com/2025/08/10/gen-z-rewriting-success-playbook-american-dream-venture-capital-founder-mother/)