Ambition & Gen Z
In some ways, Ms. Perez’s ambitions reminded me of those of a 2010s-era girl boss. But there is a crucial difference: She is not willing to sacrifice her personal life for a company title. Ms. Perez’s fiancé graduated last year and now works as an admissions officer at St. Mary’s. They are marrying next year and hope to have three kids, whom Ms. Perez, a Catholic, wants to raise herself while running her business from home. One of her role models is Lila Rose, a podcaster and anti-abortion activist who is both a high earner and a mother who is present for most of her kids’ waking hours. Young conservative female influencers like Ms. Rose, Brett Cooper and Isabel Brown bring their children on work trips and hold their newborns in video interviews, conspicuously displaying a lifestyle that balances faith, family and financial comfort. It’s a version of having it all for the influencer generation — and a response to economic scarcity by doubling down on personal choices.
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Zanny Minton Beddoes interviews Elon Musk.
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