‘Some things never change ‘: Jamie Dimon says Gen Z career paths are ‘complex’ — but these ‘basic principles’ still matter

Cue JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon, who acknowledged the struggles that Gen Zers face in their careers during a recent panel interview with AT&T CEO John Stankey and LinkedIn Editor-in-Chief Daniel Roth.

“Look, they’re gung-ho … They have their own ambitions, their own goals,” Dimon explained. “It is absolutely true their careers will take faster paths, different paths, more complex. They need to be a little more flexible.”

However, just because AI is reshaping elements of the workforce doesn’t mean that all the old rules for success go out the window.

Dimon added that, when it comes to what he considers to be the “basic principles” of career advancement, “some things aren’t going to change.”

The workplace is evolving, but timeless career skills still matter

Dimon’s “basic principles” for career success are simple and, he argues, still apply: “Treat people fairly, work hard, earn your respect every day, be curious, learn a lot, have a little heart, have a little grit.”

Stankey added his belief that, while “a lot’s changing, the deal’s different, technology’s different, how we manage careers [is] different,” the one thing that hasn’t changed is, “If you work hard, you have a better probability and a better chance of getting ahead.”

Catherine Fisher, a career expert with LinkedIn, told Moneywise that, for Gen Z today, “It’s a totally different employment landscape, and careers today aren’t ladders, they’re climbing walls … shaped by pivots, evolving industries, freelance work, career breaks and continuous learning to build new skills.”

As such, she believes Dimon’s principles “are incredibly critical to develop and practice throughout a career, for all generations,” as “Relationships and credibility help people move forward later, when they venture down different paths or face unexpected career changes.”

Research, meanwhile, suggests that Gen Z might already be working on many of Dimon’s principles. A World Economic Forum report, for example, showed that the cohort is curious and keen to learn at work, while a 2025 Deloitte global survey found that they specifically value developing “soft skills” like communication, empathy, leadership and time management.

And while 55% of under-30 adults say they’re more concerned than excited about AI, some executives openly tout the tech-savviness of the cohort as a key asset at their companies.

Stankey, for one, emphasized in the LinkedIn interview the importance of broadening his “lens on life” in his own daily work, which includes spending time with “a reverse mentor.”

“My kids aren’t in the house anymore, so I need a little bit more time with people in their 20s than what I used to have,” he explained. “And I like to listen to what they’re doing and what’s important in their life and how they’re using technology.”

And George Brasher, HP’s North American senior vice president and managing director, told Moneywise in August that Gen Zers at HP offer a reminder to “stay curious,” adding that “experience is incredibly valuable, but so is being open to new ways of thinking and working.”

Gen Z may be tech-savvy, but real-world relationships can open doors

Some of Dimon’s principles around having heart and grit could also help Gen Z overcome one of their biggest workplace challenges: forging in-person relationships.