Raj Shamani Takes Gen-Z’s Case to the World: Why He Told Global Leaders the System, Not Youth, Is Failing

When Raj Shamani walked into the halls of the World Government Summit in Dubai on Feb 3, 2026, he knew the room carried weight. Prime ministers, presidents, policymakers, and decision-makers from 46 countries were present. These were people who shape laws, economies, and futures. But instead of choosing safe applause lines, Shamani chose honesty. Representing India on a global stage, he spoke about a growing disconnect that many young people feel but rarely get to articulate in rooms of power. His message was direct and emotionally grounded: global leadership is failing to understand Gen-Z.

“Gen-Z Isn’t Lazy. We’re Allergic to Meaningless Work”

Raj Shamani pushed back against one of the most common labels attached to young people today. He said Gen-Z is not lazy, distracted, or entitled. What they reject is work that demands obedience without purpose.

According to him, this generation does not fear effort. It fears stagnation. Gen-Z has grown up watching burnout become normal, loyalty go unrewarded, and hierarchy valued more than real progress. In that environment, questioning outdated systems is not rebellion; it is survival.

He told the audience that young people want to build big things, just not in old ways. Flexibility, honesty, ownership, and meaning matter more than titles. When institutions fail to offer that, trust erodes quietly.

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Calling Out the Trust Gap

One of the strongest ideas Shamani raised was the presence of a “trust gap” between institutions and young professionals. He said organisations are evolving far more slowly than Gen-Z itself.

Middle-management roles, he explained, often come with mounting responsibility but shrinking rewards and fragile job security. This discourages young professionals from aspiring to leadership, not because they lack ambition, but because the risk feels disproportionate to the return.

He also challenged stereotypes around job-hopping. According to Shamani, people have always changed jobs. What has changed is visibility. Social media and digital platforms have simply made these transitions more public.

Beyond Money and Job Titles

Contrary to popular belief, Shamani said many young people today care less about money than previous generations. What they value instead is learning, skill-building, and autonomy. Many invest time in educating themselves beyond formal roles, often without recognition from employers.

He argued that Gen-Z is deeply engaged, not disengaged. They care too much to settle for systems that feel hollow.

Speaking Truth to Power

Disagreeing in rooms filled with authority is not easy, and Shamani acknowledged that. It takes courage to look at people with power and suggest that the problem may not be the next generation, but the structures built by earlier ones that have failed to evolve.

For him, the moment was not about personal visibility. It was about responsibility. Representing India, he felt it was important that young voices were not just discussed, but actually heard.

A Global Stage, A Shared Conversation

The summit featured global figures including Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, investor Ray Dalio, and venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya, underscoring the scale and seriousness of the platform.

Raj Shamani thanked the summit for creating space to discuss the future of better societies, noting that if the future belongs to the young, the present must start listening.

The Signal, Not the Problem

His closing thought carried emotional weight. Gen-Z, he said, is not the problem global leadership needs to fix. It is the signal leaders need to pay attention to.

In rooms where young people are often spoken about but rarely spoken to, Raj Shamani ensured that India’s youth were heard clearly. And his message was simple yet uncomfortable: the future is already here, and leadership must evolve to meet it.