047: "Can Gen Z’s Drive Reframe the Way We Lead Today?" ft. Logyn Coats

What happens when you stop waiting for life to happen and start building it with intentionality? In this episode, Erik sits down with Logyn Coats, a driven student-athlete with an unconventional story of accelerated learning, discipline, and vision. From navigating dyslexia to graduating high school in two years, from shaping her worldview through volleyball to imagining careers as bold as space architecture, Logyn challenges assumptions about what Gen Z really wants and how they think.

This isn’t just a story about one ambitious young leader — it’s a lesson in what’s possible when structure, support, and self-motivation collide.

👤 About the Guest

Logyn Coats is a student and athlete whose early choices to prioritize structure, discipline, and curiosity have opened doors far beyond the typical path. With interests ranging from space architecture to forensic science, she embodies the drive and creativity of Gen Z. Her experiences with dyslexia, accelerated education, and competitive volleyball have shaped her into a thoughtful, resilient voice for what’s possible when you align effort with vision.

🧭 Conversation Highlights

• Why she chose to graduate high school in two years and jumpstart her college career.
• How dyslexia shaped her relationship with learning and her determination to overcome it.
• The “next ball mentality” from volleyball — and how it applies to life and leadership.
• Lessons from parents as entrepreneurs and role models.
• Big-picture visions: space architecture, forensic science, and why keeping options open matters.
• What leaders get wrong about Gen Z — and how curiosity beats assumptions.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Discipline creates freedom — structure and time-blocking allow bigger dreams.
• Sports can teach leadership — “next ball mentality” reframes failure as opportunity.
• Parents leave deep imprints — the way they live shapes Gen Z’s frameworks.
• Gen Z wants meaning, not just tasks — alignment matters more than authority.
• Ambition looks different today — it’s not about speed for its own sake, but intentional acceleration.

❓ Questions That Mattered

• What drives someone to take on more instead of settling for the norm?
• How do sports translate into leadership lessons off the court?
• What does it take to thrive academically while facing dyslexia?
• Why should leaders pay more attention to what Gen Z has observed in their parents?
• What motivates younger generations to think differently about work and the future?

🗣️ Notable Quotes

• “Next ball mentality means there’s always another opportunity—you don’t stay stuck in the last mistake.”
• “Slow is smooth, smooth is fast—that’s how I approach both school and life.”
• “I’ve never wanted to just be baseline. I wanted to keep learning, keep improving.”
• “A lot of who we are is a reflection of what we’ve seen in our parents.”

🔗 Links & Resources

• Get in touch with Logyn at logyn.coats@gmail.com