MoneyFlex

By Alicia Tyler on February 5, 2026
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

By Alicia Tyler on February 5, 2026
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Gen Z is prioritizing purpose, mentorship, and flexibility over salary. Here's how choosing the right early-career environment and a safety net sets you up for success.

For decades, the standard career advice for young Canadians was as linear as an airport security line: shoes off, laptop out, no detours. Except in career land it was: get the degree, find the best-paying gig, climb the corporate ladder, and don’t look back until retirement.

But according to the 2026 CIBC Ambitions Index, that playbook hasn’t just been updated, it’s been rewritten.

Now, if you’re choosing a workplace based on its mentorship and its cultural vibe over the largest possible figure on your offer letter, you’re not lacking ambition, you’re being intentional about what really matters. You might even be following the same advice as billionaires like Michael Bloomberg and Warren Buffett, who have long stated that the right environment matters more for long-term success than an extra few grand a year in your twenties.

To understand how Gen Z and Millennials are navigating this shift, I spoke with Carissa Lucreziano, Vice President of Financial Planning and Advice at CIBC. She’s seeing a massive generational move........

© MoneySense