- Gen Z is often ridiculed for their focus on vibes— whether for investing or a job. However, the millennial CEO of Trivago has consistently done just that throughout his professional life.“I never had concrete plans in my life,” Johannes Thomas shares with Coins2Day, noting that trusting your intuition and stepping outside your comfort zone is the key to a “thriving future.”
Despite today’s rocky job market, Gen Z may be on the money when it comes to “manifesting” success, embracing being a little “delulu,” and taking on jobs based on “the vibes.” That’s because the CEO of the hotel search company Trivago says that going with the flow can do wonders for your career—and that’s exactly what worked for him.
TL;DR
- Trivago CEO Johannes Thomas followed intuition and curiosity, not concrete plans, for a thriving career.
- Gen Z's focus on "vibes" and "delulu" may align with success by embracing flexibility.
- Adaptability and exploring new opportunities based on curiosity are key to career growth.
- Technical literacy is a crucial skill for Gen Z, regardless of their desired profession.
“I never had concrete plans in my life,” Johannes Thomas tells Coins2Day. “I just followed where the energy was, where my curiosity was.”
His counsel for Gen Z, who are finding it difficult to secure employment opportunities: “See the opportunities and then follow your curiosity.”
Thomas's career has been varied, involving stints in marketing, product, technology, and sales before his 2023 appointment as CEO. This millennial has occupied seven positions at Trivago in less than 12 years, as per his LinkedIn.
“I think the more you stay adaptive and do different things and not be too focused in one thing and not stay in the comfort zone for too long, I think the more likely are your odds of having a thriving future,” Thomas adds.
This could be a positive indicator for Gen Z individuals who are already relying on job-hopping to secure better pay. In the current economic climate, where AI threatens entire industries, changing career paths might highlight their flexibility. After all, the ability to adapt is one of the most rapidly expanding skills in the U.S. For 2025, surpassed only by AI proficiency and dispute resolution, as reported by LinkedIn.
When curiosity fades, it's a signal that it's time to move on.
Embracing the acquisition of new abilities doesn't necessitate diverting your attention from your existing passions. Avoid accepting every single prospect that presents itself merely because it appears impressive professionally. When he emphasizes, “See the opportunities and then follow your curiosity,”—the element of inquisitiveness is fundamental to this concept.
Thomas states that the endeavor won't succeed long-term without a clear understanding of its purpose.
“You can work hard, but if you work on the wrong things, it doesn’t really help,” he says. “I do believe, if you work on something you are curious about and you care about, you can be 10 times more productive.”
The one skill he says all Gen Z must get to grips with—no matter their dream job—is technology.
“I’m talking to my cousins that are now leaving school—[I’m] telling them to get technical literacy,” Thomas says. “Get your head around technology. You shouldn’t be scared about it.”
Ultimately, if your curiosity about your current role or industry wanes, it might be a sign to explore new avenues.
“Wherever my learning curve would go down, even in my role now, I would leave and find another sparking environment, where I have people that want to move mountains, that are curious,” Thomas adds.