Europe’s Generation Z Expert
Gen Z and Alpha aren’t just entering the workforce — they are reshaping it. These are the first post-system generations, raised in contradictions and crises, fluent in scanning cultures for signals of trust, and unwilling to settle for outdated promises.
They expect careers that move in many directions, not in one straight line. They measure leadership by coherence and trust, not titles. And they judge organizations not by the slogans they print, but by the proof they live every day.
At 20Something, we help leaders, HR teams, and organizations bridge the gap between what you intend to offer and what the next generation actually experiences.
The Switch Methodology
Our five-step framework translates hidden generational signals into visible cultural shifts:
-
Scan your culture for the signals your young talent actually receives.
-
Surface the gaps between leadership intent and employee perception.
-
Shift those signals into visible behaviors that drive retention, loyalty, and engagement.
The Gen Z shift isn’t a passing trend, it’s a cultural reset. Leaders who adapt don’t just connect with one generation; they lay the foundation for every generation that follows.
Explore our Switch Methodology
Unlock
We challenge your perspective.
Many leaders describe Gen Z as fragile or uncommitted. But what if the problem isn’t Gen Z, but rather the way we perceive them?
In this interactive session, we help leadership teams shift from judgment to a more curious approach. Through stories, cultural trends, and reflective exercises, we demonstrate why Gen Z thinks and works differently, and how this new generation is shaping the future of leadership.
Outcomes
-
Help leaders better understand Gen Z and how they differ from Gen X and Millennials.
-
Create an eye-opener moment that fosters empathy and intergenerational understanding.
-
Discover the genuine needs of your Gen Z employees through data-driven insights and structured dialogue.
SCAN
See the invisible signals.
Every culture sends signals, but not all of them are conscious or coherent. Gen Z doesn’t just read your mission statement; they scan how meetings are run, how feedback is given, and how leaders behave when no one’s watching.
In this first phase, we scan your organization to detect where trust is silently eroding. Using tools such as pulse surveys, friction mapping, or cultural audits, we help you see what young employees often feel but rarely express.
Outcomes
-
A map of generational disconnects.
-
A “Top 5” of invisible signals shaping your culture.
-
A trust heatmap that highlights early warning signs of disengagement and attrition.
SURFACE
Name the signals and align with their meaning.
Detecting signals is not enough. A signal only drives change when everyone can see it, name it, and agree on its meaning.
In this phase, we bring the findings to the surface through dialogue, storytelling, and team sessions. Leaders and employees explore together where signals originate, what they look like in practice, and how they impact trust and culture. The goal is to create alignment, moving from scattered perceptions to a shared understanding of the issues.
Outcomes
-
A straightforward narrative of the root causes behind the signals.
-
Shared language and alignment across leadership and teams.
-
Concrete identification of where the issues show up in the compa
SHIFT
Turn insight into culture moves.
Understanding without action is empathy theatre. In this phase, we turn insights into visible leadership shifts that rebuild trust.
Together, we co-design small but strategic culture moves that align with the signals Gen Z is scanning for: transparency, authenticity, progression, elasticity, and psychological safety. These shifts may impact how you provide feedback, run meetings, onboard new talent, or communicate decisions.
Outcomes
-
A roadmap of 3–5 micro-shifts aligned with Gen Z values.
-
Pilot programs to test cultural change in real time.
-
Feedback loops with Gen Z to validate what feels meaningful vs performative.
Embed
Make it stick.
Change doesn’t fail at the start. It fades when calendars fill and old habits return. Embed ensures transformation doesn’t die after the workshop; it builds rhythms and rituals that keep the shift alive.
We anchor long-term change through ownership, repetition, and visible cultural signals. Whether you worked with us on earlier phases or not, this step ensures that cultural alignment becomes more than a campaign; it becomes a habit.
Outcomes
-
A 30–60–90 day rhythm for momentum.
-
Three anchors for traction: rhythm, ownership, and visibility.
-
Ongoing support to sustain culture beyond the buzz.
The Switch Methodology
The Switch methodology is a practical framework to help leaders understand and adapt to new generations. It moves from awareness (Unlock) to diagnosis (Scan), alignment (Surface), action (Shift), and long-term traction (Embed).
It is not a rigid program but a flexible journey. Some organizations only need an eye-opener session to shift perception. Others want the whole process to build a culture where younger employees thrive and leaders feel confident guiding them.
Outcomes
-
A complete view of how Gen Z and Alpha experience your culture.
-
A shared language across leaders and employees.
-
3–5 visible culture shifts co-designed with your teams.
-
New rhythms and rituals to make change last.
-
A stronger ability to attract, engage, and retain young talent.
New Book “The Gen Z Shift” Launching in early 2026
The Gen Z Shift
How leaders can decode signals, rebuild trust, and transform workplace culture by Benoît Vancauweberghe
Struggling to engage and retain Gen Z talent? You’re not alone. Around the world, leaders are facing the same challenge: the youngest generation isn’t responding to old playbooks. They’re walking away quietly, but decisively.
The Gen Z Shift reveals the non-obvious solution to this obvious problem. The issue isn’t Gen Z; the issue is the signals your culture sends, often unconsciously, about trust, leadership, and belonging. Gen Z doesn’t just read your mission statement. They observe how you act, how meetings are conducted, how feedback is provided, and whether values are genuinely lived or merely used as slogans.
In this book, cultural strategist Benoît Vancauweberghe draws on 15+ years of experience working with the youngest generations to decode these hidden signals. Through storytelling, practical exercises, and the five-step Switch methodology (Unlock, Scan, Surface, Shift, Embed), he shows how leaders can turn generational friction into trust, retention, and growth.
You’ll learn how to:
- Detect the invisible signals eroding trust in your culture.
- Decode how Gen Z interprets leadership differently from Gen X and Millennials.
- Transform “quiet quitting” into genuine engagement.
- Design micro-shifts that align values with behavior.
- Future-proof your culture by creating multigenerational teams that thrive.
Clear, actionable, and eye-opening, The Gen Z Shift is more than a book; it’s a cultural reset for leaders who want to stop losing talent and start building trust. Scheduled to launch on February 25, 2026.
