Source: Fortune
Summary
Blackstone president Jon Gray advises the firm’s newest class of Gen Z analysts to approach their jobs like they’re working at a startup, focusing on being entrepreneurial and making things better. Gray credits Blackstone’s success to preserving its small business culture. Meanwhile, AI is shrinking Gen Z’s entry-level jobs, but making entrepreneurship an easier alternative. Many workers, especially Gen Z, are considering starting their own businesses, with 33% of U.S. adults planning to start a business or side hustle next year.
Our Reading
The numbers tell one story.
Blackstone’s acceptance rate for its 2026 analyst class was less than 0.1%, down from 0.4% in 2021. Jon Gray’s advice to Gen Z analysts is to think like entrepreneurs, not traditional employees. AI is replacing some entry-level roles, but also making it easier to start a business. Many young professionals are choosing to forgo traditional jobs and launch their own businesses instead.
Gray’s advice is a familiar corporate refrain: think like an entrepreneur, but work for us.
Author: Evan Null
