Purdue University and Hello Sunshine partner on new platform to inspire the next generation of bold, curious young women
Sunnie will work to foster community among Gen Z girls, empowering them to envision bright futures – including careers in STEM
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Purdue University is the official university partner of Sunnie, a multi-platform media brand geared toward Gen Z girls and young women. The multifaceted platform was created by Hello Sunshine, a next-generation media company founded by award-winning actress, author and entrepreneur Reese Witherspoon.
The new platform – built by and made for Gen Z girls and women – strives to amplify female voices and empowers them to live up to their potential through storytelling across platforms, including experiential, digital content and editorial. Sunnie aims to build community among Gen Z girls and young women, emboldening them to imagine possible careers, including STEM fields.
Powered by Purdue's commitment to accessibility and academic rigor in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, the university will help design curricula that not only respond to the demands of the evolving tech workforce but also engage and inspire Gen Z girls by aligning with their academic interests, personal values, and creative passions.
'Purdue and Hello Sunshine share a powerful belief that when girls can see paths forward that reflect their interests, their dreams and their potential, there's no limit to what they can imagine or achieve,' said Kelly Hiller, chief marketing officer for Purdue University. 'At a time when social media can so profoundly shape how girls see themselves and their futures, we are excited to help support a space that replaces pressure with positivity, where storytelling meets passions, like STEM, and girls are inspired to see themselves as confident, curious and capable of shaping the future.'
The national brand launch of Sunnie and the Purdue partnership were announced Wednesday (June 18) at The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in Cannes, France. The festival, often described as the 'Oscars of the advertising world,' is one of the most prestigious global events in the fields of advertising, marketing, communications and creative media.
'Gen Z isn't waiting for permission — they're boldly shaping culture, community, and conversation in ways that are deeply intentional and inspiring,' said Maureen Polo, Head of Direct to Consumer at Hello Sunshine. 'That's why we're so excited to partner with Purdue University as the official University partner of Sunnie. Their team has been instrumental in helping launch this exciting venture for Hello Sunshine. Purdue's commitment to research, innovation, and student empowerment aligns perfectly with our mission to create spaces where young women feel truly seen, heard, and supported."
As part of the new collaboration, Sunnie and Purdue will co-develop custom content, engaging curriculum and online resources that will serve as a 'playbook' centered around relevant subject matters, such as the building blocks for a STEM career. In addition, Purdue will also be a part of IRL (in real life) events planned to add a deeper layer of connection and community to the initiative.
The platform will also offer continuing education opportunities for caregivers of Gen Z'ers, including certification programs, through Purdue University's online programs.
This partnership reinforces Purdue's national leadership in STEM by showing up in modern, culturally relevant areas and aligning directly with the university's institutional priorities to expand access, drive enrollment and cultivate the next generation of trailblazers.
'The path to innovation begins long before college,' said Lucy Flesch, Frederick L. Hovde Dean of the College of Science. 'As a scientist and an educator, I've seen how early exposure to STEM can spark ambition and agency — especially for girls who may may not yet see themselves in these fields. It's important to show them how it can connect to their passions — we unlock potential that might've otherwise gone unseen.'
Amplified by Purdue's colleges of Engineering and Science, Purdue Polytechnic Institute, and the Mitch Daniels School of Business, Purdue has the largest undergraduate STEM enrollment of any top 50-ranked university in the country.
'This directly supports a five-year goal of making Purdue the most desired STEM destination for young women,' said Arvind Raman, the John A. Edwardson Dean of the College of Engineering.'Gen Z girls are growing up in a world shaped by technology, and we want them not just to keep up—but to lead.'
Industry partnerships are a hallmark of excellence for Purdue University and Purdue Brand Studio, the university's in-house marketing agency, as they play a central role in advancing the university's mission of innovation, impact and intellectual leadership on a national and global scale.
Recent key industry partnershipsBrand Collaborations
Leveraging the momentum of Taylor Swift's 'Eras Tour' last November in Indianapolis, Purdue hosted 'In Our STEM Era,' an immersive event in partnership with global beauty company e.l.f. Cosmetics, that attracted over 10,000 attendees.
Purdue Brand Studio produced and premiered its first-ever feature film. 'Boilers to Mars' follows the academic and professional careers of four fictional Purdue students who ultimately take part in a historic first mission to Mars. The film was supported by SpaceKids Global, an organization that aims to inspire and empower young people by introducing them to the range of careers available in space exploration and technology.
In April 2024 Purdue collaborated with two globally recognized brands — the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and NASA — for the Total Solar Eclipse Viewing Event. The interactive outdoor event, held at the famed raceway, was the largest single day of earned media exposure in Purdue history.
Scientific Alliances
In May Eli Lilly & Company committed $250 million to an eight-year research partnership with Purdue, focusing on AI-driven drug discovery, development and manufacturing.
In January Purdue announced the Young Institute Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Consortium in partnership with Lilly and Merck & Co. Inc. to revolutionize pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Purdue and Elanco Animal Health are co-developing the One Health Innovation District in Indianapolis. The initiative will advance knowledge and innovation related to animal, human and plant well-being through novel interdisciplinary initiatives and partnerships with industry.
About Purdue University Purdue University is a public research university leading with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities in the United States, Purdue discovers, disseminates and deploys knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 107,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, locations and modalities, including more than 58,000 at our main campus in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue's main campus has frozen tuition 14 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its comprehensive urban expansion, the Mitch Daniels School of Business, Purdue Computes and the One Health initiative — at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.
About Hello SunshineFounded by Reese Witherspoon, Hello Sunshine puts women at the center of every story it creates, celebrates and discovers. Hello Sunshine tells stories across all platforms — from scripted and unscripted television, feature films, animated series, podcasts, audio storytelling and digital series — all shining a light on where women are now and helping them chart a new path forward. Hello Sunshine is also home to Reese's Book Club. Fast growing in reach and influence, this community is propelled by meaningful connections with stories, authors, and fellow members. Hello Sunshine is part of Candle Media, an independent, creator-friendly home for cutting-edge, high-quality, category-defining brands and franchises. By bringing together elite talent operating at the intersection of content, community and commerce, it helps to position leading entertainment businesses for accelerated, sustainable growth in the current market and beyond. Candle is run by its co-chairmen and co-CEOs, leading entertainment executives Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs, and backed by investment capital from funds managed by Blackstone's flagship private equity business.
Media contact: Wes Mills, wemills@purdue.eduSign in to access your portfolio
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Buzz Feed
an hour ago
- Buzz Feed
Gen Z's WW3 Fashion Trends Taking Over TikTok
Hot Topic 🔥 Full coverage and conversation on Politics While President Donald Trump realizes that his Israel-Iran ceasefire agreement may not be as binding as he suspected ― both countries continue to fire missiles at each other ― Gen Z isn't wasting any time: On TikTok, 'WW3 fits' has been trending for days, with teens and twenty-somethings sharing the camo-heavy looks they jokingly say they'll wear in the event of a nuclear world war. Fun? 'First war kinda nervous,' Avery, a content creator, captioned a clip featuring her WW3 wardrobe, which includes a camouflage miniskirt and a bomber jacket. A few TikTokkers who are enlisted in the US Army joked that they already had their WWIII look picked out for them, flashing to closets full of fatigues. Ethan Hillis, 26, showed off his potential World War III looks in a video he was careful to caption: 'just a coping mechanism.' There's combat chic (a green trench coat), spy (a fedora and coat) and political ex-wife (basically MAGA mom cosplay). 'My WWIII fit is a bit of satire and a bit of style, think something like combat but make it couture,' Hillis told HuffPost in an email interview. 'I wanted to play with the idea of absurd preparedness while still looking fabulous,' he said. 'It felt like a funny and fashion-forward way to comment on the state of the world without diving into doom.' The videos are all soundtracked to Kesha's 2010 hit 'Blow' (Sample lyric: 'This place about to blow, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh'), which only adds to the absurdity. Most people joke along in the comment sections of the videos: 'This generation is so unserious. I love it,' one person wrote. 'This generation is only afraid of pregnancy,' another joked. Others found the brand of humor distasteful, as the conflict between Israel and Iran continues to unfold and airstrikes have left at least 28 people dead in Israel and hundreds in Iran. 'Lives are at stake,' one person wrote in the comments of Avery's video. 'The future of our world is unfolding in front of us, and YOU POST THIS.' Gen Z-ers we spoke to say they recognize the severity of what's happening and aren't trying to downplay it with their videos. 'The jokes are coming from a place of real exhaustion and awareness,' Hillis said. 'I don't think people realize how tuned in Gen Z is. All the irony and outfits are just the packaging. Underneath is real fear, and real care.' Christina Spah, a 26-year-old who posted a video of her WW3 fits ― looks that are ''apocalyptic chic' meets 'functional mom,'' she told HuffPost ― sees the jokes as a coping mechanism. 'As a military spouse and stay-at-home mom, I don't have much time to cry or panic in difficult times. I have to hold my head high and pretend everything is fine until I put my daughters to bed at night,' she said. 'In the meantime, finding humor about the prospect of another war in the Middle East allows me to feel any form of control in this awful situation.' Gen Z is used to using dark humor to get through hard times and trauma. There's little that Gen Z ― the demographic born between the late 1990s and the early 2010s ― won't meme-ify: On social media, everything from the the 2023 Titan submersible fiasco, to the 9/11 terror attacks, and celebrities' deaths and suicides (or being 'unalived,' as they prefer to say) ― have gotten the meme treatment. (Gen Z wasn't even alive when the twin towers fell. To be, though, comedians were cracking jokes about 9/11 no less than a few weeks later ― at least Gilbert Gottfried was.) They haven't experienced any comparable terrorist attacks but Gen Z has been through a lot themselves: A pandemic and lockdowns, the Great Recession for the older ones, school shootings and subsequent active shooter drills, protests over police brutality and political polarization that's damaged friendships and splintered families. Gen Z's supposed 'unseriousness' on social media may actually be a deeply layered response to chronic exposure to the news cycle, said Rana Bull, a therapist who works primarily with Gen Z, and the owner of Burrow and Bloom Therapy in Arizona. 'They've experienced a constant stream of secondhand trauma through social media,' Bull said. That affects us all, but Gen Z experienced it in their formative years. Secondhand trauma, or indirect exposure to distressing events, can desensitize people over time, especially when it's experienced repeatedly and without resolution, she said. 'For Gen Z, this has resulted in a sort of emotional callus; they're rarely surprised by negative news because, for them, it's not a rarity — it's the norm,' she said. There's also a neurological explanation for why Gen Z may appear disengaged. The brain's threat-response system is activated differently when a stressor is experienced directly versus indirectly, Bull explained. Social media creates a layer of emotional distance — what psychologists call psychological distancing — which makes it easier to compartmentalize what they're seeing. 'Humor, irony and absurdity become coping tools that help them regain a sense of control or reduce emotional overload,' she said. It's the same kind of dark humor used among first responders or health care workers, Bull said ― when something is too overwhelming to fully process, laughter is tension-breaking. 'So what might appear as flippancy or being 'unserious' is actually a form of emotional regulation and resilience, albeit one that can be easily misunderstood.' the therapist said. Sage Grazer, a therapist in Los Angeles, doesn't see Gen Z as particularly 'unserious' as a generation. Gen Z came of age online (three quarters of Gen Z spend most of their free time online, and many get their news from it, too), so it's little surprise they process their emotions there as well. But making arguably stupid jokes about incomprehensible geopolitical issues is a long tradition; consider how Charlie Chaplin used satire to defuse and address the looming threat of Adolf Hitler in 'The Great Dictator' in 1940. There's limitations to treating things glibly all the time, or without much reflection on why it's your reflex, Grazer noted. 'Humor can lighten the mood or offer a more positive perspective but it can also become a defense mechanism to shield yourself from harsh realities,'the therapist told HuffPost. 'While we're not meant to bear the emotional burden of all of the world's tragedy constantly, leaning on humor can encourage people to be complacent or callous,' she explained. 'I also see exposure to all of the jokes as contributing to a numbing or disconnection from the reality of what's going on in the world.' But given the unwieldy way President Trump and his war cabinet have communicated operations to the American public, an argument could be made that this conflict has an air of unseriousness, even if that's gravely not the case. And unlike millennials, who grew up seeing friends and family enlist for US invasions in Iraq and Afghanistan, Gen Z has yet to fully experience the political culture of the US at war. (Granted, the US didn't end combat operations in Afghanistan until 2014, and the last United States military forces to depart the country did so on August 30, 2021.) An earnest question on Reddit's No Stupid Questions subreddit over the weekend is a testament to how unfamiliar Gen Z is with the prospect of warfare: 'What are you supposed to do if a war actually starts?' a person ― one who was clearly either not alive or else very young at the height of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars ― asked. 'Like, are we just supposed to keep going to work as normal and live like nothing is happening? Do jobs give time off if you're city is targeted?'
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Generation Z employees say they rely on AI for emotional intelligence
This story was originally published on HR Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily HR Dive newsletter. Generation Z employees are increasingly using artificial intelligence tools for emotional intelligence concerns in the workplace, such as understanding a manager's tone in an email and drafting an appropriate reply, according to a June report from In a survey, 76% of Gen Z workers said they use AI chatbots. Among those, 94% said they've used AI to navigate workplace issues. Nearly 3 in 10 said they do so 'all the time,' while 40% do it often. 'Gen Z workers often feel more validated and confident after consulting AI because these tools offer immediate, judgment-free feedback in a format that feels safe and familiar to this generation raised in a digital world,' said Kara Dennison, head of career advising at In the survey of more than 1,000 full-time U.S. Gen Z workers, nearly half said they change how they communicate with others after using AI; a third respond more assertively than usual, and 26% apologize or take responsibility. Gen Z workers said they most commonly use AI chatbots to interpret tone, with 75% saying they've asked a chatbot to analyze an email, Slack message or other digital communication. They've also used AI for emotionally charged, sensitive situations that involve miscommunication or direct conflicts with managers or co-workers. Although many Gen Z workers say AI chatbots help them process workplace conflicts, it isn't always positive. Forty-three percent said AI reinforced their biased reaction or beliefs, and 17% said AI has made them less likely to take personal responsibility. 'One of the biggest risks is the elimination of personal responsibility,' Dennison explains. 'If an AI tool consistently validates a user's perspective without challenging it, it can reinforce a fixed mindset, enabling blame-shifting rather than self-reflection.' Dennison noted the potential upsides of AI use but emphasized that chatbots can't address the nuances or empathy needed in sensitive situations. For instance, AI can't interpret body language, understand power imbalances or navigate organizational context, she said, adding that AI users may miss out on professional development or real-world feedback from workplace conflicts. 'Healthy workplace communication depends on empathy, active listening and accountability,' Dennison said. 'AI can complement that process, but it cannot replace it.' More than half of Gen Z workers see AI tools as a co-worker or even a friend, and nearly half said they'd rather ask a chatbot a question than consult their boss, according to another report from Workers said they use AI to complete tasks, make tough decisions, seek advice and find mental health support. In the midst of AI use and workplace conflicts, HR pros can help create an emotionally healthy culture, according to a report from McLean & Co. Instead of avoiding emotions at work, employers can be 'proactive about how emotions and work can coexist to enable workplaces where everyone can thrive,' McLean advised. Recommended Reading AI job postings are on the rise, notably in software development, Indeed says
Entrepreneur
7 hours ago
- Entrepreneur
How India's Digital Natives are Redefining Financial Services
You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Ask a 20-year-old today about their money goals; chances are, they'll offer a detailed perspective on why financial literacy and independence are essential. Younger generations—particularly Gen Z and Millennials—engage with financial services earlier and more actively than previous generations, showing increased seriousness about financial planning, savings, and investment. Delhi-based financial analyst Ayush Dawar shares, "I aspire for financial freedom, having enough passive in come or resources to cover life's needs to lead a life full of adventure, creativ ity, and generosity." Gen Z is a significant and rapidly growing segment of the customer base for BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance). From a barter system to the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), India's financial transformation is a noteworthy one, one that leverages technology to its finest. "As the first truly tech-native generation, Gen Z's financial habits are deeply intertwined with technology. They're app-first for everything – payments, expense tracking, and even diving into invest ments early," shares Adarsh Agarwal, chief actuary and product officer, Go Digit General Insurance. From mobile applications and e-signature capabilities to offering alternative investments and gamification, financial services providers are constantly evolving with new offerings. Digital Over Physical Kadence International reports that 67 per cent of Indian youth are now using neo-banking services, moving away from traditional physical banks. Reserve Bank Innovation Hub observed that most of the Gen Z participants hadn't visited a physical bank branch or ATM over the last three years (at a minimum). Convenience, speed, and accessibility are the reasons. However, those preferring the tradi tional route hold human interaction and relationship managers integral. "Gen Z thinks about money very differently. They have grown up in a digital world where they expect things to be instant, transpar ent, and intuitive. Unlike millennials who often lean on traditional banking, Gen Z questions everything from hidden fees to outdated processes," shares Vinay Bagri, CEO and Co-founder, Niyo. Hence, financial institutions must adopt a digital-first approach with a simple and cool UI/UX. "We also integrate visa and flight booking, insurance, and rewards in one seamless app because Gen Z doesn't want ten apps for ten purposes," adds Bagri. In order to stay abreast, Indian banks are working to improve their user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) to enhance customer satisfaction and en gagement. Case in point, with the iMobile app, ICICI Bank is providing personalised offers and alerts based on spending pat terns and account behaviour, i.e. receiving targeted promotions for credit cards or in surance plans that align with a customer's financial habits Tailored offerings Agarwal feels tailoring products ac cording to the needs and trends of the hour is crucial to align with the values and needs of a target market like Gen Z. A 2024 Redseer report stated that personal loans made up 40 per cent of Gen Z's borrowing, followed by credit card spending at 27 per cent. Pratik Shah, partner and national leader – Financial Services, EY India, earlier noted that credit cards are a growing trend with 46 per cent of Gen Z choosing them for rewards and discounts, and 36 per cent for convenience. Education and healthcare are key cat egories under financing. Akshay Mehrotra, co-founder and CEO of Fibe, shares that the startup identified the shift in the mindset of Gen Z early in its journey. "Gen Z doesn't want to live paycheck to paycheck—they seek financial flexibility and the ability to access their earnings when needed," he shares. Great Learning's 2024 report stated that 83 per cent of freshers intended to upskill in FY25. "With upskilling essential in today's fast-paced world, our education financing solutions support young professionals to up grade their careers and stay ahead in an ever evolving job market," Fibe's chief shares. It is also enabling customers to tap into their mutual funds. "We also offer Loan Against Mutual Funds, enabling users to unlock val ue from their investments without redemp tion… We see Loan Against Mutual Fund a hit with Gen Z, and they love the idea of Interest only product, and we have high demand coming in from them," Mehrotra notes. A loan against mutual funds lets investors use their mutual fund units as security to borrow money. The lender checks the value of these units and of fers a loan based on a percentage of that value. This is a good option for those who need money but don't want to sell their investments, allowing them to keep earning potential returns. Building Ecosystems Fintech players are levelling their game by going the extra mile to attract and retain existing and potential customers, particularly Gen Z. For instance, Go Digit, to encourage a shift to a more environ mentally friendly transportation mode, offers EV Motor add-on with competitive premium rates. Beyond the product, Niyo is creating an ecosystem that speaks the Gen Z language. "Our community platform helps them connect with like minded peers across the country, share knowledge, and feel empowered. We share educational content and collabo rate with influential voices in travel. Gen Z doesn't seek complexity, they want clarity, speed, and rewards," shares Bagri. The Finfluencers Landscape The rise of financial influencers (finflu encers) and content has made youngsters comfortable with topics related to money matters. As of December 2024, India had approximately 232,000 finfluencers. This connection is being tapped by institu tions, startups, and corporations. Eighty two per cent of retail investors in India have acted on financial advice from influ encers. "The relatability and authenticity of the influencer are the primary factors that drive their trust. Insurance compa nies are also leveraging brand ambassa dors who embody the values and beliefs of Gen Z," says Agarwal. Calling social media today is what word-of-mouth was two decades ago, but effective, Bagri shares, "Gen Z is constantly learning from people they trust online. Whether it's a finance creator explaining forex charges or a travel vlogger talking about our card benefits abroad, authenticity matters." India's private banks, such as HDFC Bank, are collaborating with influencers on social media to promote and establish their products. "Whether it's busting forex myths on a travel vlog or showing real-time currency savings on a trip to Bali, we meet Gen Z where they scroll," Bagri adds. By 2030, Gen Z is expected to make up 36 per cent of India's workforce and con tribute nearly USD 730 billion in direct spending. This growing economic influ ence means financial institutions must continuously adapt, offering smarter, simpler, and more intuitive services that speak Gen Z's language.
