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Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Some Gen Zers are swapping the corporate ladder for entrepreneurship
A growing number of workers in the early innings of their careers are beginning to sour on the idea of the traditional nine-to-five. Gen Zers, the oldest of whom are turning 28 this year, represent the majority of these workers losing interest in the daily slog of corporate life and seeking deeper meaning in their work. To that end, these Gen Zers are starting their own businesses. According to LinkedIn data provided to NBC News, about 18% of business founders in 2024 were Generation Z, compared with 14.5% in 2023. Francesca Albo, 28, and her best friend-turned-business partner Lea Burbidge Izquierdo, 29, swapped their traditional jobs for a life of entrepreneurship. 'I was working in a corporate cubicle, depressed, not feeling very good,' Albo told NBC News, describing how she spent several years stuck with mundane tasks while managing a research team at a biotech lab. Burbidge Izquierdo, who also felt the weight of corporate burnout in her fintech and marketing career, met Albo at a dog park in October 2021. The two said they bonded over their shared professional experiences and love of dogs, and they decided to start a business together. They quit their jobs and launched Puppy Sphere, a wellness space that hosts puppy-filled yoga classes across North America. 'I put every dollar from my corporate job into Puppy Sphere. I actually moved home with my mom, took out a $50,000 loan, and I was in turmoil, but with the delusion that this business would take off,' Albo said. Puppy Sphere's most popular events are 45-minute yoga sessions led by a certified instructor. They have partnered with Animal Planet, Netflix and pop singer Sabrina Carpenter for classes and pop-ups. The co-owners say the dogs offer serotonin boosts for their clientele, but it also provides the puppies with socialization skills. Today, Puppy Sphere is a multimillion-dollar business with over 13 locations and more than 200 employees. Albo and Burbidge Izquierdo are far from alone as young professionals opting out of working for someone else. About 59% of millennials and Gen Zers reported having a traditional job before starting their own company, according to a 2024 American Express survey. A survey by CNBC and SurveyMonkey found that some Gen Z workers report wanting more meaningful work, and find their jobs uninspiring. Nearly half said they are just 'coasting' on the job, which was higher than older generations. Wendy Smith, a senior manager of research science at SurveyMonkey, said the desire for purpose among some Gen Z workers can be seen in various studies. 'We do find that they're motivated ... but what they're craving in the workplace is a little bit different from the other generations. They're really craving connection and creating meaning in their work,' Smith said. A QuickBooks survey found that more young workers are considering starting a business compared with older generations. Gen Z respondents led the pack at 28%, followed by 26% of millennials, 20% of Gen Xers and 10% of baby boomers. Ariana Nathani, 28, worked as a project designer at Johnson & Johnson for five years before she quit and turned her attention to her podcast and in-person social events business, Drinks First. 'I basically waited until my company was financially feasible for me to jump ship from my corporate job,' Nathani told NBC News. Nathani said she credits technological advancements for some of Gen Z's entrepreneurial success. 'I think that has been accelerated with social media and TikTok and AI and all of these tools that help make things that used to feel inaccessible, more accessible,' she added. Drinks First's events allow young folks in major U.S. cities to meet in person and grow authentic relationships, Nathani said. 'Is making money from a typical nine-to-five the only viable option when you graduate college? I think it's becoming clear to most people that the answer is no,' she said. Jake Aronskind, 28, left his job as a proprietary stock trader in 2021 to create his own company. 'I ended up quitting to chase my dream, and it was one of the hardest things I had to do, because I actually loved my job, and I love the people there, but my heart wasn't in it because it wasn't 100% mine and it wasn't something that I felt like I was building,' he told NBC News. Aronskind took his passion for cooking and launched Pepper, an interactive food-centered social app that lets home cooks swap and show off their culinary creations. 'After our first couple months, we ended up scaling to tens of thousands of downloads, got cast on a Gordon Ramsay show, got to a million downloads,' Aronskind shared. 'And then over the last eight to 10 months, we've been scaling a premium subscription … and we'll be breaking through a million in annual recurring revenue the next month.' 'I think the typical corporate nine-to-five does not work for everyone, and a lot of people look to entrepreneurs thinking, 'Wow, that is the way out,'' Puppy Sphere's Albo said. But the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Albo reflected on the sacrifices she and her business partner have made to keep their dream alive. 'Lea and I work 24/7. It is so stressful. It is so hard,' Albo said. 'Even though we are truly living the dream business, it is incredibly difficult. … It definitely isn't the easy route out, but it's definitely very fulfilling.' This article was originally published on
NBC News
29-05-2025
- Business
- NBC News
Some Gen Zers are swapping the corporate ladder for entrepreneurship
A growing number of workers in the early innings of their careers are beginning to sour on the idea of the traditional nine-to-five. Gen Zers, the oldest of whom are turning 28 this year, represent the majority of these workers losing interest in the daily slog of corporate life and seeking deeper meaning in their work. To that end, these Gen Zers are starting their own businesses. According to LinkedIn data provided to NBC News, about 18% of business founders in 2024 were Generation Z, compared with 14.5% in 2023. Francesca Albo, 28, and her best friend-turned-business partner Lea Burbidge Izquierdo, 29, swapped their traditional jobs for a life of entrepreneurship. 'I was working in a corporate cubicle, depressed, not feeling very good,' Albo told NBC News, describing how she spent several years stuck with mundane tasks while managing a research team at a biotech lab. Burbidge Izquierdo, who also felt the weight of corporate burnout in her fintech and marketing career, met Albo at a dog park in October 2021. The two said they bonded over their shared professional experiences and love of dogs, and they decided to start a business together. They quit their jobs and launched Puppy Sphere, a wellness space that hosts puppy-filled yoga classes across North America. 'I put every dollar from my corporate job into Puppy Sphere. I actually moved home with my mom, took out a $50,000 loan, and I was in turmoil, but with the delusion that this business would take off,' Albo said. Puppy Sphere's most popular events are 45-minute yoga sessions led by a certified instructor. They have partnered with Animal Planet, Netflix and pop singer Sabrina Carpenter for classes and pop-ups. The co-owners say the dogs offer serotonin boosts for their clientele, but it also provides the puppies with socialization skills. Today, Puppy Sphere is a multimillion-dollar business with over 13 locations and more than 200 employees. Albo and Burbidge Izquierdo are far from alone as young professionals opting out of working for someone else. About 59% of millennials and Gen Zers reported having a traditional job before starting their own company, according to a 2024 American Express survey. A survey by CNBC and SurveyMonkey found that some Gen Z workers report wanting more meaningful work, and find their jobs uninspiring. Nearly half said they are just 'coasting' on the job, which was higher than older generations. Wendy Smith, a senior manager of research science at SurveyMonkey, said the desire for purpose among some Gen Z workers can be seen in various studies. 'We do find that they're motivated ... but what they're craving in the workplace is a little bit different from the other generations. They're really craving connection and creating meaning in their work,' Smith said. A QuickBooks survey found that more young workers are considering starting a business compared with older generations. Gen Z respondents led the pack at 28%, followed by 26% of millennials, 20% of Gen Xers and 10% of baby boomers. Ariana Nathani, 28, worked as a project designer at Johnson & Johnson for five years before she quit and turned her attention to her podcast and in-person social events business, Drinks First. 'I basically waited until my company was financially feasible for me to jump ship from my corporate job,' Nathani told NBC News. Nathani said she credits technological advancements for some of Gen Z's entrepreneurial success. 'I think that has been accelerated with social media and TikTok and AI and all of these tools that help make things that used to feel inaccessible, more accessible,' she added. Drinks First's events allow young folks in major U.S. cities to meet in person and grow authentic relationships, Nathani said. 'Is making money from a typical nine-to-five the only viable option when you graduate college? I think it's becoming clear to most people that the answer is no,' she said. Jake Aronskind, 28, left his job as a proprietary stock trader in 2021 to create his own company. 'I ended up quitting to chase my dream, and it was one of the hardest things I had to do, because I actually loved my job, and I love the people there, but my heart wasn't in it because it wasn't 100% mine and it wasn't something that I felt like I was building,' he told NBC News. Aronskind took his passion for cooking and launched Pepper, an interactive food-centered social app that lets home cooks swap and show off their culinary creations. 'After our first couple months, we ended up scaling to tens of thousands of downloads, got cast on a Gordon Ramsay show, got to a million downloads,' Aronskind shared. 'And then over the last eight to 10 months, we've been scaling a premium subscription … and we'll be breaking through a million in annual recurring revenue the next month.' 'I think the typical corporate nine-to-five does not work for everyone, and a lot of people look to entrepreneurs thinking, 'Wow, that is the way out,'' Puppy Sphere's Albo said. But the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Albo reflected on the sacrifices she and her business partner have made to keep their dream alive. 'Lea and I work 24/7. It is so stressful. It is so hard,' Albo said. 'Even though we are truly living the dream business, it is incredibly difficult. … It definitely isn't the easy route out, but it's definitely very fulfilling.'
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Meghan Markle Has One Piece of Baby Name Advice for Expecting Parents
Meghan Markle has one tip for expecting parents who are deciding on a name for their baby: keep it private. 'I will say this to every woman in the world, every person in the world who's going to have a child,' Markle advised on this morning's episode of her podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder. 'If you have an idea about what you are going to name that baby, you keep it so close to your heart until that baby is born and it's named.' The mom-of-two said the process was 'not dissimilar' to naming a business, remarking on how her guest, Spanx founder Sara Blakely, came up with her company's unique name. 'I love that at the beginning of Spanx, you held [the name] close, because it becomes like SurveyMonkey,' Markle, 43, told Blakely, 54. She explained that choosing a name for a business (or a child) can trigger a fear of 'not getting everyone's approval.' Her advice on naming either: 'Don't ask anyone's opinion!' For the Sussexes, the two processes might feel especially similar, considering their foundation, Archewell, shares a first syllable with the name of their six-year-old son, Archie. Shortly before launching Archewell in 2020, the couple explained in a statement that they connected to 'the idea of 'arche'—the Greek word meaning 'source of action,' which they interpreted as a call 'to do something of meaning, to do something that matters.' That idea became the inspiration for naming both their son and their foundation. Harry and Meghan made waves when they revealed their son's first and middle name, Archie Harrison, shortly after his 2019 birth. While Harry's relatives in the direct line of royal succession, including his parents, grandparents, and brother, have typically chosen baby names from a small pool of existing family monikers, both of Archie Harrison's names were new additions to the family tree. The name defied many British oddsmakers, who had predicted the Sussexes would opt for something more traditional, like Arthur, James, or Philip. Though the couple has never shared the exact origins of their son's middle name, the connection is more obvious: the name 'Harrison' means 'son of Harry.' Ironically, the Sussexes didn't practice Meghan's baby naming advice when choosing a name for their daughter, Lilibet Diana. Instead, before their daughter's birth, they privately revealed her name to the late Queen Elizabeth II, as 'Lilibet' was her nickname among family. Shortly after Lilibet's birth in 2021, a spokesperson for the Sussexes told People that the queen was the first family member with whom Harry shared the name idea, and that 'had she not been supportive, they would not have used the name.' Queen Elizabeth II passed away the following year. Meghan also ran into trouble over her once-named brand 'American Riviera Orchard' after her application for a trademark was denied. Turns out the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office does not let people trademark geographic locations. She encountered more problems after relaunching her lifestyle brand with the name 'As Ever', which forced the clothing brand of the same name to put out a statement saying it was 'not affiliated' with the duchess' company.
Miami Herald
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Meghan Markle shares advice she gives expecting parents picking out a baby name
When it comes to picking out a baby name, Meghan Markle says she lives by one hard and fast rule. During the May 27 episode of her 'Confessions of a Female Founder' podcast, Markle spoke with her friend, Spanx founder Sara Blakely. As Markle and Blakely discussed the ins and outs of owning a business and how much the outside world had influenced Blakely when it comes to starting Spanx, the friends talked about failure and the need for approval. Blakely explained how her own father changed how both she and her brother looked at failure. For Blakely, failure was encouraged. Calling that mindset 'huge,' Markle applauded Blakely for how she tackles the big picture head on by taking risks and not being afraid to do so. 'I love that,' Markle told Blakely. 'I mean, everyone is so scared, especially as we get older. You're so scared of making a mistake, you're so scared of doing it wrong, you're so scared of not getting everyone's approval. And I love equally, that at the beginning of Spanx, you held that close because it becomes like Survey Monkey at the beginning of a business. You're like, 'What do you think?'' Markle continued, saying it's something she warns expecting parents about, especially when it comes to choosing a name for their baby. 'I will say this to every woman in the world, every person in the world who's gonna have a child. If you have an idea of what you're gonna name that baby, keep it so close to your heart until that baby is born and it's named,' Markle explained. 'Don't ask anyone's opinion.' The Duchess of Sussex admitted that it's 'not dissimilar to naming your company.' Earlier this year, Markle launched her own brand, revealing that she had made the decision to rebrand after announcing the 'American Riviera Orchard' in March 2024. Now known as 'As Ever,' Markle explained what went behind that decision in an April podcast episode. 'There are tons of twists and turns—even with the name,' she originally told People in an interview. 'I was figuring it out in real time.' 'I said, 'I like American Riviera as an umbrella,' and then to be able to have verticals beneath it and maybe have Orchard really small,' she explained in the podcast episode. 'Suddenly, it became this word salad. I didn't love that so much. I said, 'OK, well, let's go back to the thing that I've always loved.'' Markle revealed she 'had secured 'As Ever' as a name in 2022.' 'Let's use the name that I had protected for a reason, that had been sort of under wraps,' she ultimately decided. 'Then, we were able to focus in the quiet and put our heads down and build on something that no one was sniffing around to even see about.' Much like her advice on naming a child, Markle said it was 'really, really helpful' to have rebranded her company privately.
Time Business News
23-05-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
Market Research's Enduring Role in 2025 Business Strategy
In 2025, real estate investing demands precision, and market research services remain the backbone of smart business strategy. By turning raw data into actionable insights, Market research surveys and services empower investors to make decisions that drive cash flow and growth. Here's how market research shapes impactful real estate strategies this year. Market research services provide deep insights into local economies, rental yields, and property appreciation trends. Tools like BiggerPockets' Market Finder or CoStar analytics help investors identify high-potential areas, from up-and-coming neighborhoods to stable cash-flow markets. For example, a 2024 study showed that investors using market research services were 20% more likely to choose markets with above-average returns. Research ensures you're investing where demand is strong. Market research surveys are a landlord's secret weapon. By collecting tenant feedback on preferences—like proximity to transit or demand for smart home features—you can tailor properties to maximize occupancy. A quick survey via platforms like SurveyMonkey can reveal what keeps tenants renewing leases, reducing turnover costs. In 2025, tenant-centric strategies are critical as renters prioritize value and convenience. Market research services help investors spot trends early, such as the growing popularity of co-living spaces or eco-conscious rentals. By analyzing consumer sentiment through social media or industry reports, you can pivot to meet emerging demands. For instance, markets with rising remote work trends may favor properties with dedicated office spaces, a shift research can uncover. Blind investments lead to costly mistakes. market research services validate assumptions about property values and rental demand, while surveys highlight potential deal-breakers like poor neighborhood perception. Before buying, use data from Redfin or local housing reports to confirm your strategy aligns with market realities. Use Market Research Services : Platforms like Zillow or CBRE offer free and paid insights into market trends. : Platforms like Zillow or CBRE offer free and paid insights into market trends. Run Market Research Surveys : Send tenants simple questionnaires to understand their needs. : Send tenants simple questionnaires to understand their needs. Stay Informed: Follow real estate forums and news to track shifts in demand. In 2025, market research turns insights into impact, guiding investors to smarter, more profitable decisions. What research tools are you using to shape your strategy? Share below! TIME BUSINESS NEWS
