Meeting in the Middle:
A Guide to Managing Hawai‘i’s Gen Z Workforce
Presented by the Center for Tomorrow’s Leaders (CTL)
Do you find recruiting and managing Gen Z to be a bit of a mystery—or even downright challenging? You’re not alone. As the most connected, diverse, and tech-savvy generation in history, Gen Z is rapidly transforming today’s workplaces. Yet, understanding what drives them—and how to keep them engaged—requires a fresh approach to leadership.
In this engaging session, the Center for Tomorrow’s Leaders (CTL) offers a data-driven and experience-grounded look into Hawai‘i’s emerging workforce. Drawing from direct work with over 1,000 local Gen Z students and alumni, alongside national research and real-world examples, CTL unpacks the four key paradoxes that define this generation—shedding light on why they think, act, and work the way they do.
Through storytelling and practical strategies, CTL helps employers, managers, and team leaders bridge the generational gap and “meet in the middle.” Attendees will gain actionable insights to strengthen recruitment, retention, and workplace culture while learning how to communicate more effectively with Gen Z employees.
Whether you’re an HR professional, team lead, educator, or business owner, this session offers the clarity and tools you need to connect authentically with Hawai‘i’s next generation of leaders.
Key Takeaways:
Understand the unique values, motivations, and communication styles of Gen Z
Explore four paradoxes that define how Gen Z approaches work, purpose, and leadership
Gain practical strategies for recruitment, retention, and mentorship
Build a stronger, more collaborative multigenerational workforce
Join us for this timely and insightful discussion—and walk away ready to turn generational differences into opportunities for growth, innovation, and connection.
📅 Date: October 28th, 2025
🕙 Time: 11:30 am - 12:30 pm HST
📍 Location: Virtual – Zoom 🔗 REGISTER HERE TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT TODAY
About our Session Presenters
Katie Chang, Executive Director
Katie Chang is the Executive Director of the Center for Tomorrow’s Leaders. Since her appointment in 2013, Katie has expanded the CTL from its flagship Fellows program to include the innovative Ambassadors program which offers leadership development directly to Hawaiʻi’s high schools and CTL’s Vanguard alumni network. She is a certified presenter of the nationally-acclaimed Student Leadership Challenge, which is the foundation of the program. Prior to joining the CTL, Katie worked as an advisor for the US/UK Fulbright Commission in London, UK. She also served as an intern in the Hawaiʻi State Legislature and Governor’s Office. She is a summa cum laude graduate of Pepperdine University and has her Master’s in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. She serves on the board for the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Parks and Recreation, Housing Hawaii’s Future and the Salvation Army.
Joy Yoshida, Senior Associate Director, High School Programs
Born and raised in Kāne‘ohe, Joy is a graduate of Hawai‘i Baptist Academy and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego. She returned home to teach 4th grade at Windward Nazarene Academy, where she spent 15 years in the classroom. She has also served as an elder at her church and currently loves serving and singing on her church’s worship team. Joy has a heart for helping Hawai‘i’s young people see that they can lead with integrity, competence, and a genuine love for their community right now.