They are Gen Z too: Sridhar Vembu praises two employees for working hard, saving money amid ongoing debate over youth protests

Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu has questioned the relevance of defining people purely through generational labels, arguing that values such as hard work, financial responsibility and simplicity are not limited to any particular age group. Sharing examples from his interactions with young employees, Vembu said he continues to see these “timeless” attitudes among Gen-Z as well.

Check full text of Sridhar Vembu's post:

I come across a large number of people of various age groups, and I don't find categorizing generations based on age all that meaningful.

A 19 year old employee told me last week that she works hard to earn money so that her parents can repay their loans and support her younger siblings. That is her foremost priority in life. She buys only low cost clothes, she mends her broken footwear and so on because she wants to save every rupee. I told her I would visit her parents and tell them how proud they should be of their daughter.

Recently two marriages happened among our employees (ages around 25) and both told me they took my advice to keep the wedding simple and not spend too much money.

These attitudes are timeless. I find them equally in Gen-Z.

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By 2030, Gen Z will comprise 27 per cent of India's population and will command USD 1.3 trillion in consumption, reshaping consumer markets with a focus on experiences, sustainability and digital convenience, according to a report by Redseer Strategy Consultants.

The report, titled "Gen Z: Defining Trends, Influencing Spends," analyses how this demographic, born between 1997 and 2012, is prioritising value-driven choices.

"Gen Z will occupy a greater share of the population, and command USD 1.3 trillion in consumption by 2030. This generation shuns labels, valuing inclusivity, self-expression and authenticity. Through this phase of self-discovery, they prioritise aesthetics and new experiences -- all of which reflect in their behaviour as consumers," the report noted.

Gen Z's emphasis on aesthetics is evident in their engagement with the beauty and personal care (BPC) sector. By 2030, this group is projected to account for nearly USD 19 billion share of India's BPC market.

One in two Gen Z women allocates more than 20 per cent of their disposable income to BPC products. The average number of products used by this demographic has doubled, with separate routines for skin, hair, and body care.