What happens when a Gen Zer walks into a workplace that wasn’t built for them… and decides to remix the whole thing? 👀

In this episode, Jonathan sits down with Zach Conklin — a 3+1 business student at Elon University earning three degrees in four years (casual flex), juggling multiple jobs, entrepreneurial projects, and a front-row seat to how Gen Z is changing the future of work.

They get into:
✨ Why Gen Z brings an entrepreneurial mindset into every role (not just startups)
✨ Redefining success without the comparison spiral
✨ Why doing one thing really well beats doing everything halfway
✨ Being underestimated for looking young — and how to own your seat at the table
✨ AI, adaptability, and why future leaders need to evolve (or get left behind)
✨ How to stay authentic while learning how to navigate different spaces

It’s honest, funny, thoughtful — and a reminder that you don’t have to follow outdated rules to build a career that actually fits your life.

If you’re a Gen Zer figuring it out, a leader trying to understand the next generation, or someone ready to stop shrinking and start building on your own terms — this one’s for you.

🎙️ Until next time — stay empowered, stay out, and keep building your future on your own terms.

Join me as my friend, Dr. Emily Wassell—award-winning college coach, with 25+ years in education—joins me on Empowered & Out to share game-changing strategies for students and parents. From academic prep to leadership development and mental fitness, she’s got the insights you need!

Find Emily at: http://linkedin.com/in/dremilywassell

And to learn more and to book a free discovery call go to: https://paperbell.me/dr-wassell

Jonathan Barbe is a Certified Life Coach dedicated to empowering LGBT+ professionals and beyond to land careers where they can thrive and be their authentic selves.

Empowered & Out is more than just a podcast about career advice—it’s a movement. A celebration of LGBT+ professionals stepping into their power, owning their worth, and showing the world exactly what we bring to the table.

If you’re ready to level up your career, build confidence, and navigate the workplace with Pride, You’re in the right place!

Book a Free Discovery Call : https://paperbell.me/jmbcoachingllc

Find me on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanmbarbe

TikTok : @jmbcoachingllc

Instagram : @jmbcoachingllc

Leading Without a Blueprint — Visibility, Resilience & Authenticity with Dr. Jess Spohn (they/them)

What does it mean to lead when there’s no roadmap for someone like you?

In this powerful episode of Empowered & Out, host Jonathan Barbe sits down with Dr. Jess Spohn (they/them) — a nonbinary, queer, and neurosparkly public health social worker redefining leadership and visibility in social work and beyond.

From turning pronoun mistakes into dance breaks 💃 to navigating discrimination with courage and humor, Dr. Jess shares what it’s really like to build a leadership identity without nonbinary role models — and how visibility itself can be a radical act of resistance and hope.

You’ll hear stories about:

🌈 Leading authentically in systems that weren’t built for you

💬 A real-life discrimination experience that reshaped their advocacy

💃 Reclaiming joy and agency through creativity and humor

🧠 The power of lived recovery experience in leadership and supervision

🔥 Why nonbinary & trans visibility in professional spaces matters now more than ever

Whether you’re an LGBTQ+ professional, an ally, or a leader learning how to make your workplace safer and more inclusive, this conversation will leave you inspired to lead with truth, courage, and compassion.

🎧 Tune in now — and if it resonates, don’t forget to follow, rate, and share Empowered & Out to help others lead authentically, too.

🔗 Resources

• Dr. Jess’s publication: Trans and Gender Expansive Invisibility in Social Work Senior Leadership

• Kaleidoscope Wellness Services (OUTLAST Workshop): withkaleidoscope.com

• InsideOut Advocacy: ioadvocacy.org