Entering the creative industry at 18 without a university degree felt like stepping into the unknown. Growing up in rural Cornwall, creative careers didn’t feel visible or accessible, and there was no clear path into the industry. What I did know was that staying where I was would limit my growth, so I was drawn to the energy and opportunity of London. University never felt like the right fit. I struggled academically but was motivated in other ways, eager to learn by doing. Choosing to go straight into work instead of following a traditional route felt isolating at times, but ultimately empowering.

I started my career at onepointfive in 2022. One call with my director changed everything. I asked for a chance, got given a MacBook and an email address, and within a week of work experience, I had a job. I didn’t just join an agency, I grew up alongside it. I’ve watched the team expand, the business evolve, and my own role develop in parallel, surrounded by generous and supportive people.

I’ve had the opportunity to learn how agencies work in real time, figuring out how to speak up in rooms where I was often the youngest, and navigating a professional environment without the safety net of a university degree to fall back on.

Today, much of the conversation around Gen Z in the workplace is shaped by broad stereotypes. Headlines often frame us as too outspoken, overly selective, or unwilling to work hard, suggesting we’re rejecting ambition altogether. For many Gen Z professionals, that portrayal feels disconnected from reality. What’s often misunderstood is that working differently isn’t the same as working less. Many of us care deeply about purpose, progression, and being trusted with responsibility. Wanting balance or clarity doesn’t reflect a lack of work ethic; it reflects a desire to build careers that feel sustainable and meaningful. I’ve been lucky enough to be trusted with responsibility, expected to deliver, and supported to grow. That environment shaped how I approach my work with commitment, accountability, and pride.

In my role as a Project Coordinator, I work across planning, delivery and onsite execution, helping keep projects moving and teams aligned. A huge part of that experience has been transparency. Being trusted with insight into how the business is performing from an early stage helped me understand the bigger picture, not just my role within it. One project I’m particularly proud of was delivering an event for Don Papa in Cornwall. Taking a project from concept to live delivery in my hometown felt full circle and made the experience especially meaningful. That openness and trust made me feel invested, included and confident in where I was heading. Mentorship has played an equally important role. Having people I could learn from, ask questions of, and lean on without hesitation encouraged me to take responsibility and grow with confidence. That support has shaped how I view leadership and what a healthy working environment can look like.

People are sometimes surprised when they learn my age, but those moments tend to fade once the work is underway. Over time, it becomes clear that age matters far less than approach and commitment. For many Gen Z professionals, the disconnect isn’t about rejecting work, but about questioning outdated ideas of what ambition is supposed to look like.

Three years on, I still catch myself having moments of disbelief, that familiar how am I here? The feeling hasn’t completely disappeared. But it’s softened. It now feels less like imposter syndrome and more like gratitude, a reminder that there isn’t one fixed way into this industry.

There’s an unspoken pressure on young people starting out to prove they’re taking their careers seriously. It can feel as though you’re constantly being judged on whether you’re grateful enough, working hard enough, or fully aware of how fortunate you are to be there. That pressure often comes from stereotypes rather than reality. If you’re driven at a young age, it can be seen as performative. If you’re not, it’s labelled as disengagement. There’s very little room to simply be a young professional who cares about doing good work.

Over time, I’ve learned that letting the work speak for itself matters more than pushing back against every assumption. When it does, the noise around generational narratives tends to fade, leaving a far more accurate picture of what young professionals are actually like.