- Billionaire Shark Tank star, and KIND bar founder, Daniel Lubetzky tells Gen Z college graduates that despite their obsession with their phones, and cringey catchphrases like “delulu” and “rizz”— success is in their reach. But it may mean they need to adjust their work schedule habits.
Gen Z is not afraid to admit they enjoy being on their phones and using words like “rizz” and “delulu”—and as Daniel Lubetzky recently admitted, baby boomers love to complain about it.
Unfortunately, success can’t be manifested. According to the KIND bar founder, it has to be earned, and that means putting in the hours.
“Grit is waking up earlier and staying up later to advance your dreams,” Lubetzky told graduates of UC Berkeley earlier this week. “And the next 10, 20 years, that’s when you’ll have the most of it.”
And even though baby boomers may roll their eyes—or are even willing to fire—Gen Z for their relaxed habits, he said they’re secretly cheering for their success.
“I actually want you to know that we are all rooting for you. And you know why? Because we know that your generation holds the key to what will come tomorrow.”
Fortune reached out to Lubetzky for comment.
Gen Z: don’t be restricted by the impossible—or what the older generations tell you
The 56-year-old self-made billionaire admitted that the time for people like him to create change is ending. Now, it’s up to young people to pick up the baton.
“When we get older, we accept too much as given, we get jaded, and we really get good at telling everyone else why they will fail if they try to do something daring. But guess what? It’s those naive young souls that change the world,” Lubetzky said to Berkeley graduates.
“Most ventures that changed the world are started by young people, not guys like me.”
And in an era where technology like AI is making it easier than ever for innovation, he encouraged Gen Z to not shy away from goals that once seemed impossible—like curing cancer or significantly reducing homelessness.
“When you don’t know any better, you dare to try the impossible. And in doing so, sometimes you prove that the impossible is actually possible,” he added.
Who is Daniel Lubetzky, the newest Shark Tank star?
Lubetzky first guest-starred on Shark Tank in 2019 and quickly became known for his emphatic tone—a stark contrast to the likes of Kevin O’Leary, aka Mr. Wonderful. He officially joined the rotating Shark members in 2024 as a replacement for outgoing Shark, billionaire Mark Cuban.
Born in Mexico City, to a Lithuanian mother and Holocaust survivor father, his family moved to the U.S. when Lubetzky was a teenager. He went on to obtain his law degree from Stanford University before exploring entrepreneurship.
KIND was founded in 2004, first as a line of premium fruit and nut bars. The company rapidly expanded into a $5 billion empire of healthy snacks that he eventually sold to Mars.
During his recent commencement address, Lubetzky highlighted four “superpowers” that he believes are the keys to succeeding in life and building a better world: grit, fearlessness, creativity, and the power to love and forgive. The latter in particular has become a hallmark of Lubetzky’s personality—and central to the KIND brand.
“If your heart gives in to hate, nothing will make you happy, nothing will bring you fulfillment,” he said.
