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Amanda will giving the talk at TEDxFargo

March 31, 2025

Breaking the Workplace Mold: How Gen Z is Redefining Work for Everyone

ThinkLab’s Amanda Schneider delivers a TEDx Talk that challenges generational stereotypes and calls for a universal workplace shift.

By: Dinky Asrani

Amanda Schneider, visionary founder and president of ThinkLab, the research division of SANDOW, recently took her groundbreaking research and insights to a global stage. Her TEDxFargo talk—now highlighted on TED’s official website— challenges conventional workplace narratives and repositions Gen Z not as disruptors, but as pioneers shaping the future of work.

This milestone marks the first time a TEDxFargo speaker has been recognized on TED’s global platform, reinforcing Schneider’s role as a thought leader in workplace research.

Amanda Schneider and the thinklab team at TEDxFargo event

Beyond the Generational Divide: Rethinking Workplace Norms

So what makes Schneider’s research so pivotal in today’s evolving workplace landscape?
In her TEDxFargo talk, she argues that the push for flexibility, inclusivity, and work-life balance is not merely a generational issue, but a universal challenge that has long affected employees.

Her insights offer a refreshing narrative that dispels stereotypes, viewing Gen Z not as a mere demographic, but as “workplace prototypes”—pioneers testing and refining new work approaches that could reimagine work in a way that is better for everyone. Schneider argues, “We often frame Gen Z’s workplace expectations as radical or entitled, but the reality is, they’re simply vocalizing needs that have existed for decades.”

Schneider’s data-driven approach is the key for organizations navigating the complexities of talent retention and hybrid policies. Her talk suggests that addressing these challenges with flexible, employee-centric strategies can yield significant benefits that are not only valued by Gen Z, but across all generations. Her perspective illustrates how businesses can transform challenges into real-world practice to foster a more inclusive and effective workplace.

Schneider’s presentation and insights from TEDxFargo talk can be viewed on the TEDx YouTube channel.

Dive deeper into the forward-thinking research and insights at thinklab.design.

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