Youth is a mindset. When you apply it to business, see how it transforms the world around you.
The following contribution is from Inc.com, a leading medium for small and medium-sized businesses in the United States. The author is Michael Tennant, the author of «The Power of Empathy: A 30-Day Guide to Personal Growth and Social Change» and founder of Curiosity Lab, an empathy-based learning product and consulting studio. His work has received funding from Facebook, PayPal, Amazon, and Pharrell Williams’ Black Ambition Award. Michael explores how empathy acts as a strategic amplifier in business, philanthropy, and life. Through research, interviews, case studies, and personal stories, he helps entrepreneurs harness empathy to generate profits and achieve fulfilling lives.
«Shark Tank» star Daniel Lubetzky led a commencement ceremony at the University of California, Berkeley, discussing the four superpowers of youth.
I’ve seen Daniel Lubetzky in action as a member of his nonprofit, Builders. He commands the room with boundless energy, unwavering purpose, and a unique obsession with building bridges. As a Mexican Jew descended from Holocaust survivors, his life exemplifies what happens when tenacity meets empathy.
At the University of California, Berkeley’s 2025 commencement ceremony, on a campus synonymous with civic discourse and amid a global backlash against basic rights, Lubetzky held a mirror up to the graduates.
He mentioned four «superpowers of youth» that entrepreneurs can leverage to succeed in business and build a better world.
- Tenacity: Your «Extra Strength»
«Having tenacity is waking up earlier and staying up later to achieve your dreams,» Lubetzky said.
He described it as «hard work, that positive energy… extra strength, resilience, never giving up.»
Whether your team is iterating on a prototype at midnight or making 100 cold calls when momentum stalls, you need to find that extra strength.
Tenacity is the unexpected energy you discover when you’re in the flow, fully committed to your goals. There’s both courage and romance in facing that challenge.
Empathy Tip: Ask yourself:
– How is tenacity reflected in your leadership style?
– Where might tireless effort be exhausting your team?
– Where might greater tenacity yield surprising results? For your team, schedule a monthly «tenacity check-in» to discuss a complex issue and commit to a small, measurable improvement.
- Courage and Reflection
Lubetzky tells the story of a mentor from his youth who showed him the immense blind courage he possessed. He then told the audience, «The generation that will break the chains of hate is here.»
He added, «Be courageous in your impulse to act, but combine it with self-reflection. This is how you’ll find and fulfill your dreams.»
Startups become unicorns by taking bold bets.
Imagining worlds and solutions never before dreamed of and bringing them to life, one beta test at a time.
You have to embrace failure to build a great business; entrepreneurship takes courage.
However, if you don’t stop to ask yourself, «What surprised me? Where did I overstep my bounds?» you risk repeating mistakes.
Empathy Tip: Channel your courage by aligning business goals with a higher purpose.
Lubetzky’s Kind Bars, for example, sells snacks to «be an engine of kindness and create a better world, one snack and one action at a time.»
That clarity of purpose focuses group reflection and helps teams overcome difficult times by uniting around a shared mission.
Take a moment to review your mission statement and remember the times it enabled you to act courageously.
Gratitude for past achievements builds confidence for future challenges.
- Creativity as a Bridge Builder
“Thinking with the ‘and’ is not only good for business, but also for bridging divides,” Lubetzky explained.
“The best solutions come from listening, accepting challenges, and choosing to support each other.”
He added that, in times of conflict, “we instinctively don’t feel empathy toward them, as if recognizing their humanity weakens our affirmation.”
Creativity isn’t just about innovative ideas.
It’s about building bridges. Entrepreneurs and marketers are natural activists because both commercial and purpose-driven activities require ingenuity to bring millions of people closer to their worldview.
Transformative creativity demands uniting diverse voices, fostering constructive conflict, and co-creating solutions.
It’s a concept that this generation of young people is deeply passionate about.
Conclusion on Empathy
When customers point out a flaw in the user experience (UX) or teammates question the strategy, you have to intervene.
Emotionally competent leaders use tension as fuel for innovation. Identify a sticking point, pause to extract value from it, and assemble a diverse panel to answer:
– How can we understand this perspective more deeply?
– Who else might benefit from solving this challenge?
– What is lost if we ignore the problem?
– What is the smallest step we can take to begin overcoming it?
- The Power to Love and Forgive
“Love and forgiveness are based on empathy. We all have the power to love and forgive without holding a grudge,” Lubetzky stated.
She then invited the graduates to recall times they felt judged and times they judged others.
Putting yourself in someone else’s shoes takes practice. A good way to start is to review the challenges they have witnessed firsthand.
Before the graduates left, each received two Kind Bars, one for a mentor and one for someone with whom a bridge had been broken, accompanied by this instruction: “Reach out and rebuild that bridge.”
Unresolved tension hampers even the most focused people.
In business, a sincere apology or thank-you note can build connections faster than any memo or press release.
Bottom Line on Empathy
Love and forgiveness are maxims to aspire to in business.
Bitterness and resentment subtly drain energy, creativity, and culture.
Schedule a quarterly «Turning Scarcity into Abundance» workshop where your team brainstorms the threats that keep them up at night and transforms them into opportunities.
On the interpersonal front, hire a coach to mediate differences, showing employees that love and forgiveness are healthy, mandatory practices worth investing in for the organization’s culture.
Youth as a Mindset
In conclusion, Lubetzky revealed the key insight of his talk: «Youth is not an age, it’s a mindset.»
Curiosity, resilience, and compassion aren’t tied to a birth date; they are practices that can be strengthened and refined daily.
You, founders, executives, or changemakers, are among the «young and wild» who will build the future.
Incorporate determination, fearless reflection, bridge-building creativity, and empathetic forgiveness into your project with intention.
The tools are already within you. Implement them and watch your business and the world transform around you.
Use Your Superpowers to Boost Your Career
The following contribution is from Abhijit Bhaduri, a talent development expert, former Global General Manager of L&D, author and speaker, and executive coach.
Do you have superpowers? Of course you do! We all have natural talents and abilities that make us unique and valuable.
But how do you use them to shape your career?
How do you find the right opportunities, challenges, and rewards for your superpowers?
In this post, I’ll share some insights and tips on how to do just that. Whether you’re a dreamer, a unicorn, or something in between, you can use your superpowers to forge a fulfilling
and successful career.
What are superpowers?
Superpowers aren’t just comic book fantasies. They are real skills and qualities that you possess and excel at.
They are the things you do effortlessly and with joy that set you apart from others and add value to others.
Superpowers aren’t fixed or static. They can evolve and grow over time as you learn new things, gain new experiences, and discover new passions.
Some examples of superpowers are:
– Creativity: You have the ability to generate original and innovative ideas, solutions, products, or art.
– Communication: You have the ability to express yourself clearly and persuasively, in writing or orally, to different audiences and contexts.
– Leadership: You have the ability to inspire, motivate, and guide others toward a common goal or vision.
– Empathy: You have the ability to understand and connect with the feelings, needs, and perspectives of others.
– Problem-solving: You have the ability to analyze complex situations, identify root causes, and design effective strategies.
– Adaptability: You have the ability to adapt to changing circumstances, cope with uncertainty, and seize new opportunities.
These are just a few examples of superpowers. You may have others that aren’t on this list. The important thing is to recognize and appreciate your own superpowers and use them to your advantage.
How to Find Your Superpowers
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One way to find your superpowers is to ask yourself these questions:
– What do I enjoy doing most?
– What am I best at?
– What am I praised or recognized for?
– What can I do for hours without getting bored or tired?
– What makes me feel alive and energized?
The answers to these questions will give you some clues about your superpowers.
You can also ask other people who know you well, such as friends, family, colleagues, mentors, or coaches. They may see something in you that you don’t.
You’ve discovered your superpowers, now put them to use.
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Hobbies and development projects help you discover your superpowers.
Here are 5 easy-to-implement, yet powerful, ways to use your superpowers in your career:
Find your niche: Identify the areas where you can use your superpowers most effectively and uniquely.
Look for the intersection between your passions, skills, and market demand.
For example, if you have a talent for writing and a passion for technology, you could become a tech journalist or a content marketer for a tech company. If you have a talent for design and a passion for social impact, you could become a user experience (UX) designer for a nonprofit or social enterprise.
Build your brand: Showcase your superpowers to the world by creating a personal brand that reflects your values, personality, and experience.
Use social media, blogs, podcasts, or videos to share your ideas, stories, and opinions with your target audience.
Be consistent, authentic, and engaging in your content. For example, if you have a talent for public speaking and a passion for leadership, you could create a YouTube channel where you share tips for becoming a better leader.
Network Strategically
Connect with people who share your interests, values, and goals and who can help advance your career.
Attend events, join groups, or participate in online communities where your superpowers are valued and appreciated.
Be generous, curious, and respectful in your interactions.
For example, if you have a talent for problem-solving and a passion for entrepreneurship, you could attend startup meetups or join an online forum where founders share their challenges and solutions.
Continuously Learn
Continue enhancing your superpowers by learning new things, gaining new experiences, and seeking feedback from others.
Take courses, read books, attend workshops, or work on side projects that allow you to develop your skills and challenge your assumptions.
Be open, humble, and reflective in your learning.
For example, if you have a talent for empathy and a passion for healthcare, you could volunteer at a hospital or shadow a doctor to understand the patient’s perspective.
Contribute generously
Use your superpowers to make a positive impact on others and society at large.
Volunteer, mentor, donate, or advocate for causes that align with your values and mission.
Be compassionate, ethical, and responsible in your actions. For example, if you have a talent for creativity and a passion for education, you could design an art program for underprivileged children or create an online graphic design course.
You have the power to shape your career to fit your strengths, passions, and goals. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Use your superpowers to create a career that makes you happy and proud.
What skills do young people need to succeed in the workplace?
The following contribution is from the Generation portal, a global nonprofit network that supports people in achieving economic mobility and a better life. Authored by the team.
In an ever-evolving global job market, it is crucial for young people to cultivate a multifaceted skill set to stay competitive.
These essential skills fall into three main categories: technical skills, soft skills, and digital skills.
Let’s delve into each of these and analyze how today’s young people can best develop them.
Technical Skills: The Backbone of Career Success
Technical skills are the practical abilities required to perform the tasks of a job.
These skills can be acquired through formal education, employment programs, certifications, or on-the-job training.
Technical skills are typically industry-specific, measurable, and directly applicable to specific tasks or positions in the labor market.
For example, engineers need mathematical modeling skills, while marketing professionals need proficiency in market analysis.
It’s important not only to have a solid foundation of technical skills but also to keep them up-to-date as technologies and processes evolve.
The World Economic Forum reports that “1.1 billion jobs could be radically transformed by technology in the next decade.”
Keeping up with relevant technical skills and competencies as they evolve is crucial to staying competitive and succeeding in the industry.
Behavioral Skills and Mindsets: The Cornerstone of Teamwork
Often overlooked, behavioral skills and mindsets are just as vital as technical skills. These include interpersonal and communication skills, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and adaptability.
They are the cornerstone of successful teamwork and collaboration, increasingly valuable in today’s interconnected work environments.
Below are some key behavioral skills and mindsets that are important to develop:
– Leadership: This involves motivating and guiding a team, making decisions, and taking responsibility.
– Emotional intelligence: This is the ability to understand and manage one’s own emotions, as well as empathize with and respond to the emotions of others.
– Creativity: This skill allows people to generate new ideas, which is valuable in many positions and industries.
– Time management: This involves prioritizing tasks, setting goals, and optimizing time.
– Conflict resolution: The ability to effectively manage and resolve disagreements is crucial to maintaining a positive work environment.
– Personal accountability: This involves recognizing that your actions and decisions directly impact your professional development and the overall success of your team or organization.
It can lead to a better work ethic, improved decision-making, and a greater commitment to meeting goals and delivering high-quality work.
– Persistence: Refers to the ability to persevere despite challenges, setbacks, or even failures. A persistent mindset foster
