"A generation who without any doubts will impact the entire world. It is important to know who they are and what they stand for," Zak Dychtwald, author of the popular book, Young China: How the Restless Generation will Change Their Country and the World, discussed his analysis of China's young generation from a U.S. peer point of view, during a CGTN special live show "New Wind Vane: Trendsetting Gen Z and Brand Resurgence" on Monday. 

Gen Z, defined as people who were born between 1995 and 2010, has become a demographic increasingly grabbing attention as they come of age and join the workforce. 

It is widely acknowledged that Gen Z grew up with fast technology development and social media and are sometimes stereotyped as a tech-addicted cohort, but more open-minded and culturally diverse than any prior generations.

While Gen Z are seeking brands, lifestyles and work that align with their identities, they also change the world through their innovative projects. Eight young entrepreneurs and one distinguished professor joined the discussion and Zak contributed his opinions from a sociological consulting perspective.

A millennial who spent more than a decade in China, Zak met all kinds of his Chinese counterparts during his time as an English teacher in southwest China's Sichuan Province in 2010s.

Based on this experience, he wrote ten anecdotes about Chinese young people and shared with the Western society, for the first time, real and vivid impressions of Chinese Gen Z. Popular stories include "China's Little Emperor and Their High Expectations."

"The 4-2-1 structure reflects a [fold] that young people are raised. You can imagine that as a funnel, a funnel for attention, resources, dreams and pressure," Zak described the population demographic's influence on the young Chinese generation.

Zak emphasized that as the bottom of the inverted pyramid, Gen Z in China received wealth as well as high expectations from two generations above. Although they enjoy the study abroad opportunity sponsored by their parents, they have to carry the burden to achieve their predecessors' unachieved dreams from an early age.

On his quest for answers, Zak has developed a unique perspective on this group: It is a highly adaptive generation, a group of dreamers and pragmatists who turn ideas into reality.

Some observers claimed that Gen Z was born into a prosperous China and therefore, do not have a habit of prodigal. They are also impulsive consumers. Zak however noted that this view is applicable to only small proportion of the Gen Z, perhaps about 30 percent.

It is important to recognize that younger generation Chinese are growing up in a very different setting relative to their parents' generation. Unlike prior generations, the younger generation does not need to learn how to consume, it is intuitive for them to consume and they are eager to embrace the world and explore the global market.

Generally, Gen Z spends relatively much more time on their phones and social media platforms; thus, exposing them to the world in an unprecedented level than ever before. 

Besides, Zak noted that Chinese Gen Z grew up along with Chinese local brand resurgence. Brands focused on hyper-marketing to teenagers, who spent more time on electronic devices relative to their parents. Therefore, their consumption habits have been molded by the social development of the market.

Speaking about the connection between family and entrepreneurship, Zak underlined a famous Chinese proverb, "Plans cannot catch up with changes." He considered the strong ability to adapt to changes as one special trait of Chinese Gen Z, since they grew up in a fast-changing country.

Even though family crisis and challenges at work could be burdensome, with this hyper-adaptive ability, Gen Z would definitely thrive.