Navya Naveli Nanda believes Gen Z has more advantages but faces a different kind of struggles: ‘There is uncertainty’

Every generation grows up facing its own set of challenges, shaped by the world around it. For Gen Z, rapid technological change has transformed how young people study, work and plan their futures. At the launch of Arundhati Bhattacharya's memoir Aparajita, published by HarperCollins, Navya Naveli Nanda reflected on whether her generation has lost some of the resilience of those before it. Her answer highlighted a very different kind of uncertainty.

Navya Naveli Nanda on whether Gen Z has lost resilience

At the launch, Avinash Kaul posed Navya with a pointed generational question. He asked whether Gen Z, having grown up with greater advantages and awareness than previous generations, had lost some of the resilience that women such as Arundhati Bhattacharya and Halan had needed to navigate their careers. Navya did not suggest that her generation has had an easy ride. Instead, she acknowledged that some of the hardships faced by older generations may be less common today because of technology and greater awareness.

However, she argued that this does not mean young people are free from pressure. According to Navya, Gen Z is simply dealing with a different set of challenges.

Gen Z faces a different kind of uncertainty

Navya pointed to geopolitical uncertainty as one of the major concerns facing young people today. She also highlighted growing anxiety around artificial intelligence and its potential impact on jobs and future careers. While previous generations may have faced challenges that required a different kind of resilience, Navya believes Gen Z has its own difficult questions to navigate. The rapid development of AI has created uncertainty around the future of work, leaving young people wondering how technology could reshape their careers and opportunities.

For Navya, this uncertainty forms an important part of the generational experience and should not be dismissed simply because Gen Z has grown up with more technology and awareness.

Navya says Gen Z is moving beyond profit

Amid these uncertainties, Navya identified another shift in how young people approach their careers and ambitions. She said what keeps people her age moving forward is increasingly a desire to work for purpose rather than simply for profit. According to Navya, this emphasis on purpose is something she has heard echoed almost unanimously among people from her generation. That purpose can take different forms depending on the individual.

For some, it may mean contributing to the nation or society. For others, it could involve working towards issues concerning women. It could also simply mean pursuing something meaningful to themselves.

Why purpose matters to Gen Z

Navya's comments suggest that financial success is not necessarily the only measure of a fulfilling career for many young people. With uncertainty surrounding geopolitics, employment and AI, having a sense of purpose can provide another reason to keep moving forward.