There’s a lot of conversation around what Gen Z expects from the workplace.

But perhaps the more interesting question is: what are we bringing to it?

As a Junior Account Executive in PR and Communications, I got a glimpse of that while working on my first major B2B event, Middle East Energy 2026.

I found myself juggling a lot at once – coordinating with journalists, arranging interviews, making sure they had the right content and information, distributing press releases and providing on-ground support, all while responding to things as they unfolded. It was fast-paced, detail-heavy and, inevitably, unpredictable.

For me, one of the biggest takeaways was how much there is to learn from the people around you.

I’m comfortable sitting at my desk, working at pace, jumping between emails, calls and tasks. But being part of a large-scale event was a completely different experience. Running around the show floor, coordinating with journalists, troubleshooting things as they happened and constantly being on the move taught me that adaptability looks very different when you’re in the middle of it all.

It reminded me that sometimes you have to step away from your screen, trust your instincts, ask for help and learn from the colleagues around you. Working alongside people with different levels of experience showed me how much you can learn simply by watching how others handle pressure, solve problems and keep things moving.

Behind every successful interview, media interaction or event moment is a team making dozens of decisions in real time. Being part of that process showed me that good collaboration isn’tabout everyone working in the same way, it’s about understanding how different strengths can come together.

My first big B2B event was a learning curve, but it also reinforced something I think is important for Gen Z entering the workplace:

We don’t have to have all the answers. We just have to stay curious enough to keep learning and confident enough to contribute when it’s our turn.

By Marufa Jannat