Between Passion and Paychecks: Black Gen Z on Redefining Success
Image Credit: Muhammad-Taha Ibrahim (Pexels)
For many Black Gen Z professionals, ambition is no longer a straight ladder to climb. It’s a constant push, a careful negotiation between dreams and survival and a relentless drive that exists alongside doubt and fatigue.
In a world where the economy shifts overnight, and creative careers are as vulnerable as they are promising, ambition has become a living, breathing experiment. Freelancing, content creation and entrepreneurial ventures have become both lifelines and traps.
“My relationship with ambition feels healthy to me, although I know it could seem unhealthy to others. It all depends on perception,” said 26-year-old Arlaya Worthen, tech founder and public figure. “When you are hungry enough to achieve a goal, you will stop at nothing to get there, which is why it may appear unhinged.”
Image Credit: Arlaya Worthen
There are times when she stacked her weekly schedule, skipped meals and even lost sleep to meet self-imposed deadlines.
“I always know I’m approaching burnout when I start pushing deadlines back and feel my body becoming physically exhausted,” she explained.
Having experienced both corporate life and entrepreneurship, Worthen has refined her career clarity.
“I’ve tried many passions to figure out what feels most fulfilling to my heart, and now that clarity informs my career decisions moving forward. I almost considered becoming a bottle girl while still working in corporate,” Worthen admitted.
With recent concerns about the rising costs of living and basic expenses, and the political instability in the country, many Americans strive to desperately to survive in this economy.
Image Credit: Arlaya Worthen
“The economy has been in a recession, and the political climate has felt unstable. With rising costs and lifestyle expenses, I almost turned to nightlife for extra income, but I ultimately chose not to.” Worthen said.
She often balanced the pull of quick financial gain against long-term passion projects.
“There have been many times when I feel torn between pursuing work that could make me financially stable quickly and doing what I love, knowing it may take longer to generate a steady income,” she said.
Worthen has cultivated strategies to protect both ambition and well-being.
Image Credit: Arlaya Worthen
“I know how burnout approaches, and I know when to step away. My strongest burnout indicator is emotional discomfort that shows up physically through exhaustion and discouragement. When I notice this, I immediately step back from social media,” she said.
When it comes to risk, Worthen urges preparation over impulse.
“My biggest advice is to stay at your job. This is not the time to leave without preparation. You can pursue your dreams while working from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Do not leave until you can cover at least two years of living and emergency expenses, or you have a strong enough network to quickly find another job,” she advised.
Image Credit: Arlaya Worthen
For Worthen, success now stretched beyond money.
“Success for me today looks like creating impact across the world, inspiring others to live in their highest form of self, building financial wealth and being surrounded by genuine love. A few years ago, success only looked like financial wealth,” she shared.
Her ambition is purposeful, measured and fiercely guarded. It guides her through uncertainty and shapes her next steps.
Nya Indiyae, a social media coordinator and lifestyle influencer, described her ambition as cautious but deliberate.
Image Credit: Nya Indiyae
“I feel extremely ambitious, but I do approach each idea I have with caution,” she said.
She started thinking about her career seriously around age 12 when partnerships and management opportunities opened her eyes to the potential of social media.
For her, success has shifted from glamour to freedom.
“Growing up, success looked a lot like the Kimora Lee show, the glitz and glamour. Now success looks a lot more like financial freedom, traveling freely and genuine happiness,” she explained.
Image Credit: Nya Indiyae
Financial instability shaped her decisions as she navigated through life.
“In my younger years, I’d quit a job with the drop of a dime, but now, at 24, looking back at the last few years, I’ve developed a tendency not to leave jobs that don’t serve me because of worries about finances!” She said.
She has often felt torn between pursuing work she loves and work that offers stability.
“I started a lifestyle brand at 18, and I haven’t been able to consistently focus on it due to my career in social media.”
She balances passion projects with paying the bills strategically.
“Being strategic about which passion projects you take on is the first step. It’s okay to say no to yourself if it means keeping a roof over your head.” She emphasized.
Image Credit: Nya Indiyae
Indiyae defines sustainable ambition as “Not saying yes to every opportunity.”
She prioritizes long-term freedom and financial planning.
“I don’t live with a scarcity mindset; I know God will always provide if and when I lack. Along with proper financial planning, it’s an amazing combo.” The professional and influencer shared.
Oluwamumisorire Moradeyo, known as Sorire, described her relationship with ambition as a constant push.
Image Credit: Oluwamumisorire Moradeyo
“I get people telling me I’m so ambitious, but I sometimes wake up lazy and just wanting to ride through life,” she said. Her childhood vision of success, wealth and family by age 50 has evolved to include community impact.
“Success is about knowing I’ve done my best to make the best out of life for not only myself and my family but for other people around me,” she explained.
Moradeyo has learned to navigate a male-dominated architecture field with poise.
Image Credit: Oluwamumisorire Moradeyo
“I used to let other people do everything for me. But I quickly realized that wouldn’t take me far in the construction industry. When it came to giving orders, they wouldn’t take you seriously because they only saw you as this pretty face,” she said.
She now speaks even when reluctant, so her presence as an intellectual is established. Family and mentors have shaped her drive.
“My dad always has advice on every problem, and my mom raised me to be a solution finder. Things like that helped keep me grounded,” she shared.
Image Credit: Oluwamumisorire Moradeyo
When asked about the pressure to compare herself to peers or social media, Moradeyo is unbothered.
“I know firsthand how much of social media is just ‘fake life’. I focus on my own happiness, not proving it to anyone. Sure, I’ve caught myself measuring my joy against online standards, like when I wanted the latest iPhone and felt down that I couldn’t get it,” Moradeyo said. “My dad reminded us that we spend money watching people online who profit from it. I took it differently. If I’m going to spend a lot on a phone, I need to get a return on that investment. That thinking is part of why I got into content creation.”
Kiya Ross, digital content strategist and founder of Kontent by Kiya, has redefined ambition into something intentional.
Image Credit: Kiya Ross
“For a long time, ambition felt like pressure. Now it feels like driving with boundaries,” she said.
Her understanding of success has shifted from stability to freedom.
“As an adult and as someone building a creative career, success means freedom. Success is being able to choose work I love, create opportunities for myself and build a life that feels like mine. It’s no longer about titles. It’s about purpose and ownership.”
Financial insecurity shaped how she structures work.
Image Credit: Kiya Ross
“Financial instability taught me to build skills that travel with me everywhere. It also taught me to diversify. One income stream is too fragile,” Ross said. She balances multiple streams by integrating passion and stability. “I treat passion like a non-negotiable and money like a structure. I schedule my creative work the same way I schedule client work. I also build offers that pay for my creativity, so I never have to abandon my passion to survive.”
Burnout forced immediate adjustments in her lifestyle.
“Losing clients this year shook me. Burnout taught me to rebuild systems, slow down and get honest about my boundaries. I gave myself permission to pivot, rest and reimagine who I am as a creator.”
Across these stories, ambition is evolving, as fluid and alive as the lives of those who carry it. For these Black Gen Z professionals, it is no longer defined by titles, hours, or chasing quick financial gain. They are building systems that allow them to thrive while protecting their mental health. They are redefining success to include freedom, creativity and community. Ambition, in their hands, is no longer a race to survive but a blueprint to live fully.
