The Future of Work and a New MBA Graduate in the House! 

Our June team meeting was filled with reasons to celebrate, reflect, and play!

Recognizing the effort of four Portland State University capstone teams who helped build a new escape room game as well as the new Mint Market, we came together to do a live playtest and celebrate what they built. 

At the end of our team meeting, we worked together to solve a virtual escape room game, now available in Conello! It involved us getting out of our seats, talking to each other, and thinking creatively in order to unlock each clue and win! The energy was contagious—students and Conello teammates alike collaborated across functions, shared ideas freely, and cheered each other on through every breakthrough! 

By the end of the evening, intros had turned into inside jokes and laughter, and strangers becoming teammates. It was a great reminder that some of the strongest connections are built when people have the chance to play together.

🎓 Also ICYMI, we have a new MBA graduate in the house! 🎓

Kyra Boveda has added MBA to her list of accomplishments. Fun fact: Conello originated out of the PSU Everyday Entrepreneur Challenge in Spring 2025, and look at how far we’ve come! 

Gen Z and The Future of Work 

In addition to all these positive points of momentum, we surveyed the PSU graduates (representing the next generation of talent, Gen Z) to capture their thoughts about the future of work. Key findings are below.

1. Where do you want to work (remote, in-person or hybrid)?
   •  100% percent of students we surveyed prefer a hybrid environment. 
2. What matters most to you in a job? The top three are:
   • Job security (#1 by 100% of respondents)
   • Salary
   • Career growth and team culture (a tie) 
3. How does Gen Z approach work differently? Two responses below align with Deloitte’s recent study: “They (Gen Z and Millenials) are actively reshaping their careers through continuous learning, rapid adoption of AI, and a growing focus on adaptability as a core career capability.
   • “(Gen Z is) Leveraging technology to the fullest extent in keeping personal and professional workflows moving at optimum pace.”
   • “I think Gen Z has a really hard time because technology is advancing so much that we have to learn how to adapt to a new workplace.”
4. And in terms of non-negotiable circumstances at work, here’s a sampling of their comments:
   • “Safety.”
   • “One non-negotiable for me at work is a clear path for learning and growth within the company and field.”
   • “Workplace stability – I thrive in dynamic environments where the day to day tasks may shift, but having a consistent location and routine that establishes a foundation for deep focus and high quality output.”
   • “A work life balance.”
   • “Respect.”

While Gen Z is often portrayed as prioritizing flexibility above all else, our survey suggests a more nuanced reality. These graduates are embracing technology and adapting quickly to change, but they also place a high value on stability, security, growth, and respect. In many ways, they aren’t looking to reinvent work, they’re looking for workplaces that invest in people while keeping pace with the future.

Two graduates, Levi Hauk (team lead on the Mint Market) and Joshua Brown (team lead on the escape room game) shared a bit more about their experiences working on the Conello projects. 

“Leading this team has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my time at PSU. Managing seven people across frontend, backend, and DevOps roles while trying to keep the client happy and the project on track has pushed me to grow both technically and as a communicator. I am proud of what we have built and grateful for the opportunity to work on something with real-world impact before graduation,” said Hauk.

As they head into the workforce and look for new opportunities, they shared how Conello fits into their ideal image of what they might see in the future. 

“I think Conello’s mission of prioritizing team-building and employee relationships is an important one, especially in a world where remote and hybrid work is becoming more common. I agree with the idea that strong team relationships have a direct impact on the quality of work, and so I think that my ideal image of the future of work must include a focus on team building and employee trust and engagement.” -Levi Hauk

“Conello represents exactly where I think the future of work is headed; intentional, structured connection between people on remote and hybrid teams. As more organizations move away from traditional in-person environments, the challenge of building real team cohesion becomes harder to solve. Conello is tackling that problem directly by making team building engaging and accessible rather than an afterthought. Building software for a company with that mission has made this project feel meaningful beyond just the technical work.”  – Joshua Brown

Their reflections reinforced a theme that emerged throughout the evening: the future of work is not just about where people work, but how people connect, learn, and grow together.

We are incredibly grateful to the Portland State University students who partnered with us this year. Their creativity, technical talent, and thoughtful perspectives have helped shape Conello in meaningful ways, from new game experiences to innovative product ideas that will continue to evolve in the months ahead.

As these graduates begin the next chapter of their careers, we are excited to see the impact they will make. If their insights are any indication, the future of work is in capable hands. 

We encourage our community to connect with these talented emerging professionals on LinkedIn and follow their journeys as they enter the workforce… We have no doubt they’ll be doing great things!