Future Leaders: Georgi Enthoven Of Work That’s Worth It On How Ambitious Young Adults Are Redefining Success
An Interview With Eden Gold
…Meaningful Compensation, Not Just Titles. Today’s young professionals demand compensation that genuinely meets their needs rather than settling for the prestige of impressive-sounding titles. They’re increasingly skeptical of “responsibility promotions” that pile on workload without corresponding financial rewards. One of my early coaching clients turned down a “dream promotion” at a prestigious nonprofit because the 5% raise didn’t match the 30% increase in responsibilities. Instead of accepting this imbalance, she negotiated for a four-day workweek while maintaining her current salary, creating space for a revenue-generating side project that better reflected her market value. This holistic approach to compensation reflects a broader understanding that meaningful success includes financial stability…
In a world rapidly changing through technology, societal norms, and global challenges, a new generation of leaders is emerging. Ambitious young adults are not just aiming for traditional markers of success; they are redefining what it means to be successful. Beyond the corporate ladder and financial milestones, they prioritize impact, sustainability, and personal fulfillment. They are entrepreneurs, activists, scientists, and artists who are shaping the future with innovative ideas and actions. As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Georgi Enthoven.
Georgi Enthoven is a globally recognized speaker, advisor, and debut author of Work That’s Worth It: The Ambitious Professional’s Guide for a High-Impact, High-Reward Career. Written for purpose-driven professionals aged 25–35, her book is a roadmap for aligning work with personal values and creating careers that merge environmental and social impact with professional growth. A graduate of UC Berkeley and Harvard Business School (MBA), Georgi’s mission is to help the next generation transform their careers into sources of fulfillment, connection, and positive change. With experience spanning global entrepreneurship, education, and impact-focused initiatives, Georgi offers fresh, actionable insights for anyone ready to build a career that truly matters.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series. Before we dive into our discussion about Future Leaders, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share with us the backstory about what brought you to your specific career path?
When I graduated from UC Berkeley back in 1994, I wanted to do good in the world. The opportunities that I had access to were largely volunteer positions with limited future growth, and they did not match my ambition. So, I engaged in work where I could develop skills fast and was well-rewarded financially by switching gears to the tech-world; While I was on a fast, high growth path that felt exciting, the work I was doing felt hollow and meaningless.
Later, after having my children I was living in Mexico City, and kept looking for projects where I could reconnect with the “meaning” I had desired early on. I found opportunities, but I was barely compensated financially.
A few years ago, I was reading the Harvard Business Review when a statistic jumped out at me: the average career is 90,000 hours. So much of our valuable time here on Earth. What if we could use that time to find work that included a meaningful contribution with compensation to match?
Fast forward to the present, and Work That’s Worth It is here. Work That’s Worth It is more than a mere methodology; it’s my heartfelt contribution to bettering our world. By helping as many ambitious young professionals as I can, we can compound our time to solve humanity’s major dilemmas. And we can do it without sacrificing our personal needs.
Every day, more businesses are emerging across markets that allow workers to do amazing work without skipping the reward. And I am here to highlight those pathways and role models for young professionals looking to combine both income and impact in their careers.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?
One of the most transformative moments in my career came not from a promotion or business achievement, but from truly understanding myself. Despite graduating from Harvard Business School and working in different roles across a variety of industries, I remained largely unaware of my core strengths until my mid-40s.
During my time at HBS, I took the Myers-Briggs assessment and discovered I was an ENFP — a personality type rare among business school students who typically embody more “take charge and win” characteristics. Instead, I gravitated toward empathy and collaboration. Interestingly, my closest friends from business school shared similar personality traits — we had unconsciously found each other. This was the only time I reflected on my strengths as a young professional.
For decades, I focused my energy on leveling-up my perceived weak areas (i.e. finance) rather than leveraging my natural gifts. It wasn’t until I became certified as a coach that I began to deeply explore various strength assessments and finally pay attention to my unique capabilities. This shift in perspective transformed my approach to work and life.
What’s striking is how common this experience is. Most young professionals I’ve coached remain uncertain about their own strengths. This revelation inspired me to dedicate an entire chapter in my book, Work That’s Worth It, to discovering what I call “Your Capabilities” — the unique advantages each person brings to their work.
Understanding our innate talents isn’t just self-indulgent reflection — it’s the foundation for creating meaningful careers where we can make our greatest contributions. When we work with our natural gifts rather than against them, we find not only greater success but also deeper fulfillment.
You are a successful individual. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
1. Willingness to be a Beginner or Pioneer
I’ve never shied away from being the least knowledgeable person in the room. Whether launching my podcast, writing my first book, or stepping into new industries and roles, embracing the beginner’s mindset has been crucial to my growth. This willingness to start from square one allows me to follow my curiosity without feeling constrained by what I’ve done before. When I began writing Work That’s Worth It, I had no publishing experience, but this trait gave me the courage to pursue the project despite the steep learning curve. Being comfortable as a beginner means I never feel stuck in one path — there’s always a new direction to explore and master.
2. Making Decisions Based on the People I’ll Be Surrounded By
The quality of my professional experiences has always been shaped more by the people I work with than by the specific tasks or goals. I’ve cultivated the habit of choosing environments based on the relationships they’ll foster. From my first tech job in my early twenties — where I formed connections I still maintain today — to my current endeavors, I prioritize working with people who share my values but offer diverse perspectives. As the saying goes, you must appreciate the journey, not just the destination. For me, that journey is defined by the people walking alongside me and what we create together.
3. Integrity — Both External and Internal
Integrity manifests in two crucial ways in my life. First, there’s integrity with others — taking full responsibility for my actions, especially when facing obstacles. This accountability builds trust and creates the foundation for meaningful professional relationships.
Equally important is integrity with myself. This means honoring my strengths and listening to my own rhythm rather than conforming to others’ expectations. This internal alignment — allowing myself to be authentically who I am rather than who I thought I should be — has been transformative. When we operate from this place of authenticity, we tap into reserves of energy and creativity that aren’t accessible when we’re trying to be someone else.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview about how ambitious young adults are redefining success. How would you define success?
Success, for me, isn’t measured in traditional metrics like income or title — it’s about finding your calling. I draw inspiration from Amy Wrzesniewski’s research at Yale School of Management, which identifies three distinct ways people relate to their work: as a job, a career, or a calling.
In my view, true success comes when you discover your calling — work that benefits both you and the world simultaneously. This sweet spot creates a powerful alignment that transforms how you experience your professional life. I’ve only experienced this later in my career, but the difference is profound. Though my work involves long hours, it energizes rather than depletes me because it feels genuinely worthwhile. The conventional boundaries between “work” and “life” blur because they’ve become beautifully integrated.
What’s fascinating is how many ambitious young professionals are actively seeking this same alignment. During job interviews, they’re not just evaluating compensation packages — they’re assessing whether the opportunity is truly “worth it” in terms of their time, energy, and opportunity costs. They’re asking deeper questions about purpose and impact alongside questions about benefits and advancement.
This represents a fundamental shift in how success is being defined by the next generation of leaders. They understand intuitively that the most fulfilling path involves work that honors both their personal needs and their desire to contribute meaningfully to something larger than themselves.
How do you incorporate social responsibility and sustainability into your definition of success?
Social responsibility and sustainability aren’t optional add-ons to success in my view — they’re fundamental components. As an author and entrepreneur, I’ve discovered that making a meaningful contribution through my work isn’t just satisfying — it’s essential to making my career feel worthwhile. This commitment to positive impact drives my decisions about what projects to pursue and how to execute them.
What I’ve learned through experience, however, is that perfection in social responsibility is an impossible standard that can actually prevent meaningful action. The pursuit of flawless sustainability can become paralyzing, causing aspiring changemakers to delay their contributions while waiting for perfect solutions that may never materialize.
My recent book launch perfectly illustrates these real-world tensions. Initially, I wanted to print exclusively on recycled paper, only to discover this wasn’t feasible within the constraints of commercial publishing. Similarly, while I was drawn to distributing solely through independent bookstores and platforms like Bookshop.org, I realized this approach would dramatically limit my reach to perhaps just 10% of potential readers — significantly reducing the book’s impact.
These decisions require layered thinking and careful weighing of priorities. Is it better to compromise on certain sustainability ideals to ensure your message reaches more people who might then make positive changes in their own lives and organizations? There’s rarely a perfect answer, but what matters most is making these choices intentionally rather than defaulting to the status quo without consideration.
Instead of pursuing an unattainable perfection, I advocate for a more practical approach: commit to continuous learning and improvement while taking action now. This means acknowledging our current limitations, being transparent about where we fall short, and demonstrating genuine effort to do better over time. It’s about progress over perfection.
I believe we’re most effective when we balance aspiration with action — holding high standards while recognizing that waiting for perfection only delays the positive change we hope to create. True social responsibility involves both ambitious goals and the humility to begin our work despite our imperfections.
Can you describe a moment or decision that significantly redirected your path toward leadership?
A pivotal moment in my leadership development came in 2021 when I pursued coaching certification. What started as professional development unexpectedly transformed my entire approach to leadership and human connection.
The certification process challenged two fundamental assumptions I had carried throughout my career. First, I discovered that despite my experience and expertise, I don’t truly know what’s best for others. Second, I came to appreciate that everyone possesses the intrinsic capacity to reach their goals in their own unique way.
These revelations profoundly shifted how I engage in all relationships, professional and personal. Working with coaching clients one-on-one honed my ability to truly listen — not just to hear words, but to understand deeper motivations and aspirations. I learned to prioritize asking powerful questions over providing quick answers, an approach that unlocks potential in others rather than imposing my own solutions.
Perhaps most transformative was discovering how to identify and nurture intrinsic motivation in others. Traditional leadership often relies on external incentives and directives, but I found that helping people connect with their own internal drive creates more sustainable results and genuine fulfillment.
During this period, I also studied nonviolent communication techniques, which equipped me with practical tools for clearer, more empathetic interactions. This framework has been invaluable in navigating difficult conversations, advocating effectively for what I want, and helping others do the same.
Together, these skills formed the foundation of a leadership approach centered on empowerment rather than authority. By shifting from having all the answers to creating space for others to discover their own, I found my authentic leadership voice — one that leads through service, curiosity, and genuine belief in human potential.
What role do mentorship and community play in shaping your approach to leadership and success?
I believe there are two required categories of people in your life for leadership and success. First is what I call your “Safety Net.” These are the close friends and family who provide emotional support, encouragement, and stability. We often forget to ask great leaders who gave them the strength to persevere — it’s almost always this inner circle, frequently outside work, who provided the foundation that allowed them to take risks and navigate challenges.
The second critical group is your “Trampoline.” These are the mentors, colleagues, and role models whose shoulders we stand upon, allowing us to reach higher than we could alone. They propel us upward through their wisdom, connections, and belief in our potential. They create opportunities that would be impossible to access independently.
Both groups provide different forms of mentorship and community. The Safety Net offers psychological safety to explore and fail, while the Trampoline supplies professional guidance and momentum. Without either of these networks, achieving meaningful success becomes exponentially more difficult. True leadership emerges not from isolation, but from these rich, supportive relationships that both ground us and launch us toward our highest potential.
In what ways do you think your generation’s view of success differs from previous generations?
As a Gen X-er, I’ve observed a fascinating evolution in how success is defined across generations. Among my peers — many of whom are objectively successful by traditional metrics — there was rarely a conscious expectation that our careers would contribute meaningfully to solving world problems. Our generation largely accepted the binary choice between financial success and social impact.
The career landscape reflected this division. If you wanted to make a difference, you typically worked in the not-for-profit sector, government, or education — often accepting significantly lower compensation as the price of meaningful work. Meanwhile, those seeking financial stability and advancement gravitated toward corporate roles where social impact was, at best, a peripheral concern.
What’s striking about younger professionals — particularly Millennials and Gen Z — is their refusal to accept this false dichotomy. They’re asking more profound questions about their work: “What’s the company’s mission?” “How does this role align with my values?” “What environmental practices does the organization follow?” Questions that would have seemed irrelevant or even naive to many in my generation during job interviews are now commonplace.
This shift isn’t merely idealistic — it’s pragmatic. Today’s young professionals have witnessed economic volatility, climate change, and social inequity firsthand. They understand that traditional definitions of success don’t guarantee fulfillment or even security. They’re demanding careers that provide both financial stability and meaningful contribution, recognizing that the two aren’t mutually exclusive.
Fortunately, the market is responding. There’s been an explosion of social enterprises, B Corps, impact investing firms, and purpose-driven startups that merge profitability with positive impact. Even traditional corporations are incorporating sustainability and social responsibility into their core operations — not just as marketing initiatives but as fundamental business strategies.
This evolution represents a more holistic and ultimately healthier approach to success — one that acknowledges our need for both personal prosperity and collective progress.
Based on your experience and research, can you please share “5 Ways Ambitious Young Adults Are Redefining Success?”
1. Meaningful Compensation, Not Just Titles
Today’s young professionals demand compensation that genuinely meets their needs rather than settling for the prestige of impressive-sounding titles. They’re increasingly skeptical of “responsibility promotions” that pile on workload without corresponding financial rewards. One of my early coaching clients turned down a “dream promotion” at a prestigious nonprofit because the 5% raise didn’t match the 30% increase in responsibilities. Instead of accepting this imbalance, she negotiated for a four-day workweek while maintaining her current salary, creating space for a revenue-generating side project that better reflected her market value. This holistic approach to compensation reflects a broader understanding that meaningful success includes financial stability.
2. Authenticity and Integration, Not Compartmentalization
Young professionals are rejecting the notion that they must present different versions of themselves in different contexts. They seek workplaces where they can bring their whole selves, including their values, identities, and perspectives. In my book, I share the story of Elspeth, who worked for ClientEarth. Early in her career, financial pressures led her to become a successful commercial lawyer representing oil rigs and tankers, despite being a nature lover who had discovered the beauty of scuba diving. The disconnect between her professional work and personal values became increasingly apparent — her office walls were covered with oil rig blueprints while her heart was with the natural world. When her financial burdens eased, she made a dramatic change, joining ClientEarth as an intern and quickly establishing herself as a leader in the organization. Now instead of defending oil companies, she protects the environment she cherishes.
3. Continuous Development Over Static Achievement
Rather than viewing success as reaching a particular destination, ambitious young adults see it as a journey of continuous growth. They’re prioritizing organizations that offer robust mentorship, skill development, and learning opportunities — even when these positions might offer lower initial compensation. A tech programmer I worked with chose a mid-sized company over a higher-paying offer at a major corporation specifically because the smaller firm paired him with a senior developer mentor and allocated 20% of his time for learning new systems. This investment in continuous development reflects a longer-term view of success that values adaptability in our rapidly changing economy.
4. Impact Alignment, Not Just Professional Advancement
Almost all young professionals will tell you that companies have a social responsibility to fulfill. They want to feel aligned with a mission — something that motivates them beyond the drudgery of long to-do lists in early career roles. In today’s challenging economic environment with hiring freezes and limited promotions, this preference is being particularly tested. Many young people are facing significant college debt alongside soaring housing costs, forcing tough choices. I’ve observed this tension in recent conversations with college seniors right now. They are temporarily abandoning their impact alignment for job security.
I also had a conversation with a young person that recently took a banking job that contradicted her environmental values because it offered a steady income. But, she immediately began researching the bank’s sustainability initiatives to see where she could feel more alignment and connect with likeminded co-workers.
Even when economic necessity forces compromises, this generation continues to seek ways to express their commitment to positive impact — viewing their current positions as stepping stones toward more aligned work once financial pressures ease. For them, success remains incomplete without meaningful contribution.
5. Autonomy and Trust Over Rigid Control
The newest generation of professionals views micromanagement as fundamentally at odds with success. They value clear expectations and outcomes but insist on the freedom to determine how they meet those goals. For today’s ambitious professionals, success includes having the agency to work in ways that leverage their unique strengths and preferences, rather than conforming to one-size-fits-all processes.
How do you navigate the challenges of innovation and change while staying true to your values and vision for success?
I navigate innovation and change by anchoring myself to what remains constant: my personal mission.
In my book Work That’s Worth It, I developed a framework to help professionals build a foundation for their 90,000-hour career journey. While many focus only on skills or opportunities, I’ve found that defining your desired contribution to the world creates a powerful compass that guides decision-making through uncertainty.
Most people skip this vital step of articulating their personal mission. Without it, every change in the environment can feel disorienting, potentially pulling you away from what truly matters. When you clearly understand what contribution you want to make in the world, everything else becomes a strategy.
This distinction between mission and strategy offers tremendous freedom. When market conditions shift, technologies evolve, or personal circumstances change, your strategy may need to adapt — but your core contribution remains steady. This creates both stability and flexibility.
For example, if your mission is to improve educational access for underserved communities, you might initially pursue this through classroom teaching. When circumstances change, you could pivot to education technology, policy work, or curriculum development while remaining true to your fundamental purpose.
The clarity of personal mission transforms how we experience change. Instead of threatening our identity or success, changes become opportunities to find new and potentially more effective pathways toward our enduring goals. This approach has allowed me to navigate significant transitions while maintaining an authentic connection to what matters most.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I believe we can transform business into a powerful force for good on a global scale. It’s not realistic to abandon capitalism, but we can reshape who holds decision-making power within it.
I am focused on elevating empathetic, values-driven leaders into C-suites and boardrooms. Too often, the most compassionate professionals shy away from pursuing positions of significant influence, feeling they must choose between kindness and power. Meanwhile, those primarily motivated by profit and status eagerly climb corporate ladders.
This leadership imbalance has real consequences, as decisions affecting millions of lives, communities, and ecosystems are made without sufficient consideration for their broader impact. By intentionally cultivating and supporting empathetic professionals to step into their full leadership potential, we could fundamentally shift how business operates.
Part of my mission through my work is to inspire ambitious, heart-centered individuals to play bigger roles in the world. I want them to recognize that their empathy isn’t a liability but a tremendous asset that allows them to make more holistic decisions. When these leaders gain influence in corporate settings, their compassionate perspectives can ripple outward, creating business models that genuinely benefit all stakeholders.
The most sustainable positive change happens when doing good becomes good business — and that transformation begins with who’s making the decisions.
How can our readers further follow you online?
Instagram: @georgienthoven
Thank you for the time you spent sharing these fantastic insights. We wish you only continued success in your great work!
Future Leaders: Georgi Enthoven Of Work That’s Worth It On How Ambitious Young Adults Are… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.