New Year vibes, from the newest thought leaders on the block

This was the year Gen Z stepped up to seize the moment as societies worldwide grappled with geopolitical and environmental disruption. With a resounding declaration of readiness, they triggered change in governments, upended politics, altered spending patterns and set the standard for work and play across the globe. Born between 1997 and 2012, these youngsters are now indubitably fashioning the digital era in their own image.

Their choices, preferences, dislikes and expectations are the dominant leitmotif of our times, evident in the entertainment on offer to clothes, careers, leisure, wellness, food, drink, money, commerce and more.

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In India, the Gen Z cohort of more than 380 million is estimated to see its ‘influenced spending’ grow from about $660 billion to $1.4 trillion by 2030 and $2 trillion by 2035. Their ambition for a bigger, better and bolder future is resonating across the country as we enter the second quarter of the Indian century.

In this era of innovation led by artificial intelligence (AI), the burgeoning pool of data generated by these digital natives will stoke the creation of ever more unique generative AI applications. India’s ambition to emerge as the fulcrum of an AI-led world anchored around people, planet and progress will hinge on the contributions and motivations of its Gen Z population.

To decode this interconnected web of enterprise, aspiration and innovation, ET sought out views, opinions and data from leaders and doers, including prominent Gen Zs, in sectors from technology to healthcare, government, banking, entertainment, digital commerce and more.

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While some have written exclusively for this special edition, others have shared their thoughts with ET reporters across the country.