If you’ve ever met Scott Millar, you know one thing instantly, this is a guy who doesn’t wait for permission.

At HEXPO 2025, the founder of BOP Industries took the stage for “Beyond the Kids Menu: The Power of Gen Z in the Workforce” and turned a casual Sunday session into a full-blown masterclass on ambition, adaptability, and the generational shift shaping how we work.

Scott didn’t just talk about Gen Z, he spoke for them.

The Spark

Scott Millar started his first business as a teenager. By the time most people were figuring out their major, he was running a company that helped students and industry leaders collaborate on the future of work.

He knows what it’s like to be underestimated, and he’s made it his mission to flip that narrative.

At HEXPO, he reminded everyone that the conversation about “young people entering the workforce” isn’t about age. it’s about attitude.

Gen Z isn’t just the next generation of employees; they’re already leaders, creators, and problem-solvers shaping how business gets done.

Understanding the Gen Z Edge

“The world isn’t changing, it’s already changed,” Scott said, walking across the stage like a teacher who just dropped the punchline of a great lesson.

His data hit hard:

• By 2030, Gen Z will make up over 30% of the global workforce.
  They’re the most digitally fluent generation yet, growing up with information at their fingertips and collaboration as second nature.
• They value purpose, autonomy, and flexibility, not just paychecks and promotions.

Scott called this mindset the lifestyle over legacy shift, where success isn’t measured by climbing ladders but by creating balance, meaning, and impact.

For employers still trying to manage “kids,” his message was clear: stop managing, start collaborating.

People Managing People

One of Scott’s most powerful moments came when he flipped the traditional idea of “people management” on its head.

He shared stories of Gen Z professionals leading teams, launching ventures, and mentoring others, not in spite of their youth, but because of the fresh perspective it brings.

“Leadership today isn’t about hierarchy,” he said. “It’s about empathy, communication, and understanding how people tick.”

That shift is changing everything: from workplace culture to communication, from recruitment to retention.

The Workforce of 2030

Scott didn’t sugarcoat the challenges. The world Gen Z is stepping into is volatile, uncertain, and competitive. But he also reminded the audience that it’s bursting with opportunity for those willing to stay curious and adaptable.

He painted a vivid picture of the Workforce of 2030, a space defined by cross-generational collaboration, hybrid lifestyles, and continuous learning.

And for leaders wondering how to attract or retain young talent, Scott’s advice was simple: “Invest in them, listen to them, and give them room to lead.”

The HEX Factor

Scott’s talk hit home for the HEX community because it captured what this whole movement is about, learning by doing, failing forward, and using curiosity as a competitive advantage.

Gen Z isn’t waiting for the world to make room for them. They’re building their own tables, creating their own opportunities, and inviting others to sit down.

The “kids menu” is off the table. It’s time to hand them the main course.

The Aftertaste

As the session wrapped, the crowd wasn’t just clapping, they were rethinking. Rethinking leadership. Rethinking ambition. Rethinking what it means to grow up in an era where anyone can be a founder, a freelancer, or a force for change.

Scott Millar left the stage the same way he built his career, with a smile, a challenge, and a reminder that the future of work isn’t coming. It’s already here, and Gen Z is running the show.

🌟 Next up in the HEXPO 2025 Series: Sam Weavers on Pop, Drop & Scale