ShanghaiZhan: All Things China Marketing, Advertising, Tech & Platforms The Gen Z Agency Talent Paradox with Shane McEwen
Oct 28, 2025
41:50
Research from NYU Stern professor Suzy Welch shows that only 2% of Generation Z possess the core values that hiring managers value most: achievement, learning, and an "unbridled desire to work." Instead, Gen Z emphasizes self-care, authentic self-expression, and helping others—a values mismatch that Welch suggests could "reshape the future of work." However, this clash of generational values occurs at a critical moment for advertising: AI tools are replacing the entry-level roles that once served as the industry's training ground, while agencies claim they desperately need young talent for cultural insights and fresh perspectives.
To help us understand this paradox, we're joined by Shane McEwen, Global Talent Acquisition Director at Stagwell—one of the challenger holding companies actively reimagining what a modern agency network looks like. With over 15 years of experience building teams across technology, media, and advertising sectors, Shane is at the center of this generational showdown. At Stagwell, he's responsible for attracting and developing talent across their portfolio of modern marketing agencies, from Assembly to 72andSunny.
1. How has your China experience impact your career now in New York?
2. Are we misunderstanding Gen Z or are they misunderstanding us?
3. How do you establish a corporate culture when everyone is remote working?
4. What about going to clients? How do you establish connections with clients?
5. How do you get feedback from different teams and agencies?
6. How do you keep that junior/senior mentorship that's fundamental to agency culture?
7. Which of the interns will you end up hiring for full-time gigs?
8. How do you maintain the passion after the first 2-year "honeymoon period"?
9. What do you see the skills changing now that the AI is in play?
10. What about displaced senior talent? How can they stay in the industry?
11. Are ad agencies confining themselves to a small part of the marketing mix?
12. Any advice for educators?
Shane on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanemcewen/
About Stagwell: https://www.stagwellglobal.com/
Donate to Shanghaizhan: https://patreon.com/shanghaizhan?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=join_link
For everything ShanghaiZhan: http://zhanstation.com/
ShanghaiZhan Theme Music: by Bryce Whitwam
https://soundcloud.com/bryce-r-whitwam/bad-cough-syrup?si=cfb30a6e0c0e459da78b912bf60825ac
Bryce on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brycewhitwam/
Ali on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alikazmi/
To help us understand this paradox, we're joined by Shane McEwen, Global Talent Acquisition Director at Stagwell—one of the challenger holding companies actively reimagining what a modern agency network looks like. With over 15 years of experience building teams across technology, media, and advertising sectors, Shane is at the center of this generational showdown. At Stagwell, he's responsible for attracting and developing talent across their portfolio of modern marketing agencies, from Assembly to 72andSunny.
1. How has your China experience impact your career now in New York?
2. Are we misunderstanding Gen Z or are they misunderstanding us?
3. How do you establish a corporate culture when everyone is remote working?
4. What about going to clients? How do you establish connections with clients?
5. How do you get feedback from different teams and agencies?
6. How do you keep that junior/senior mentorship that's fundamental to agency culture?
7. Which of the interns will you end up hiring for full-time gigs?
8. How do you maintain the passion after the first 2-year "honeymoon period"?
9. What do you see the skills changing now that the AI is in play?
10. What about displaced senior talent? How can they stay in the industry?
11. Are ad agencies confining themselves to a small part of the marketing mix?
12. Any advice for educators?
Shane on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanemcewen/
About Stagwell: https://www.stagwellglobal.com/
Donate to Shanghaizhan: https://patreon.com/shanghaizhan?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=join_link
For everything ShanghaiZhan: http://zhanstation.com/
ShanghaiZhan Theme Music: by Bryce Whitwam
https://soundcloud.com/bryce-r-whitwam/bad-cough-syrup?si=cfb30a6e0c0e459da78b912bf60825ac
Bryce on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brycewhitwam/
Ali on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alikazmi/