Raising the Next Generation of Curious Professionals

Did your Barbie ice cream shop come complete with detailed receipts?

From the earliest days, there was genuine, personal delight in exploring the world of work. Understanding what adults were doing and why was endlessly fascinating. Designing merchandising materials, helping prepare orders and imagining the customers who would receive them created an early sense of pride and curiosity. So did small opportunities to help at home, learning what relatives were responsible for and how they got things done. Work felt human, relational and full of possibility.

That intrigue was shaped by family experience. Both of my grandfathers and my father built careers in professional wholesale — each deeply committed to enduring relationships. Customers became trusted partners and, over time, authentic friends. There was satisfaction in doing what it took to earn trust, differentiating through consistency and showing up reliably over time. Watching those relationships take shape reinforced an early understanding that meaningful work is built through care, accountability and camaraderie.

When the pandemic arrived and the world pivoted almost overnight, work changed in ways few could have imagined. The familiar rhythms of offices, hallway conversations, and preparing for in-person meetings disappeared. While remote work had existed on the periphery, a true work-from-anywhere reality was not something for which many had planned. Five years later, we recognize that some of the most meaningful outcomes have been the ones least expected.

And just as remote work reshaped how and where work happens, the rise of AI is reshaping how work gets done. Conversations at home now include not only meetings and collaboration, but also how tools like AI are supporting thinking, creativity, and efficiency. It has opened the door to discussions about learning how to ask better questions, staying curious and viewing technology not as a replacement for people, but as a partner in doing better work.

One of those outcomes has been the opportunity to offer children a clearer window into the world of work. With two teens at home, career exposure has become part of everyday life. They proudly share with friends that there are conversations at the dinner table about what work looks like, why it matters and how much it is genuinely enjoyed. They hear the language of business, observe preparation for meetings and interviews and notice the care that goes into supporting team members and helping to resolve challenges. Seeing through that unique lens has shaped how they think about professional effort, learning mindedness and possibility.

Just as importantly, exposure teaches discernment. Seeing work up close helps young people understand not only what excites them, but also what may not be their calling. That awareness is powerful. It creates space to explore interests thoughtfully, rather than defaulting to assumptions, cultural expectations, or titles. Over time, those observations help clarify what brings energy and what is less inspiring, long before formal career decisions are required.

Working remotely has also made it possible to approach the complex mission of blending work and life with greater flexibility. It has allowed for presence, adaptability, and intentionality in ways that were harder to access before. Offering a glimpse into work reinforces a modern work ethic that includes accountability and ownership, creativity and collaboration, genuine relationships with colleagues and responsibility that is not tied to a physical building. Work is no longer defined by where it happens, but by how it is approached.

This has become a new way of thinking about family business. As children have grown, careers have evolved, roles have expanded and passion for eye care and people leadership has deepened. Work has not been something kept separate, but something shared thoughtfully and appropriately, allowing interest to grow alongside professional development.

After working with hundreds of students over more than two decades, one truth remains clear: early exposure matters. Family conversations, internships, lived experience, and the examples set at home play a powerful role in shaping how young people understand the world of work. The rise of flexible and remote work is leaving a lasting impression on how the next generation thinks about careers, contribution and connection.

Perhaps the invitation is simple. Offer a glimpse. Share the language, the challenges, and the joy. Invite loved ones into the conversation. In a world where work continues to evolve through flexibility, technology, and AI — those shared moments may matter more than ever. In doing so, we may be shaping career confidence and perspective in ways that extend far beyond what we can see today.

Written by Jennifer Trakhtenberg