Quiet Confidence: The Rise of the New Luxury Consumer with Professor Zi Wang
Tue Feb 03 2026
Luxury is undergoing a profound transformation — and the old rules no longer apply.In this episode of Hospitality Huddles, Scot Turner is joined by Professor Zi Wang, luxury branding academic, consultant, writer and coach, to explore how a new generation of consumers is reshaping the meaning of luxury.Zi reveals why today’s luxury is defined less by status and more by quietconfidence, emotional value, identity expression and cultural consciousness. They discuss Gen Z’s rejection of traditional luxury cues, the importance of authenticity, and why emotional intelligence is now one of the most essential skills in hospitality and brand-building.Chapters:00:00 – Introduction to Professor Zi Wang01:05 – Zi’s journey: academia, luxury branding and coaching03:10 – How luxury has evolved beyond status05:45 – The rise of emotional value in luxury08:20 – Gen Z and the rejection of traditional luxury codes11:02 – Symbolism, social media and identity construction13:40 – Post-pandemic shifts: meaning, intention and consciousness16:12 – Why “personalisation” is misunderstood in hospitality18:55 – Emotional intelligence as a luxury differentiator21:10 – Why luxury brands lose relevance23:44 – “Quiet confidence” as the new luxury aesthetic26:11 – Time, space and attention as elite commodities28:55 – Sustainability and conscious consumption31:40 – Zi’s work as a consultant, writer and coach33:20 – Final reflectionsTo learn more about Professor Zi, find her on LinkedIn here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/zi-wang-59a90b248/
This podcast is brought to you by Auden Hospitality, creating hotel F&B that rewrites the rules. Learn more by visiting our website www.audenhospitality.com
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Luxury is undergoing a profound transformation — and the old rules no longer apply.In this episode of Hospitality Huddles, Scot Turner is joined by Professor Zi Wang, luxury branding academic, consultant, writer and coach, to explore how a new generation of consumers is reshaping the meaning of luxury.Zi reveals why today’s luxury is defined less by status and more by quietconfidence, emotional value, identity expression and cultural consciousness. They discuss Gen Z’s rejection of traditional luxury cues, the importance of authenticity, and why emotional intelligence is now one of the most essential skills in hospitality and brand-building.Chapters:00:00 – Introduction to Professor Zi Wang01:05 – Zi’s journey: academia, luxury branding and coaching03:10 – How luxury has evolved beyond status05:45 – The rise of emotional value in luxury08:20 – Gen Z and the rejection of traditional luxury codes11:02 – Symbolism, social media and identity construction13:40 – Post-pandemic shifts: meaning, intention and consciousness16:12 – Why “personalisation” is misunderstood in hospitality18:55 – Emotional intelligence as a luxury differentiator21:10 – Why luxury brands lose relevance23:44 – “Quiet confidence” as the new luxury aesthetic26:11 – Time, space and attention as elite commodities28:55 – Sustainability and conscious consumption31:40 – Zi’s work as a consultant, writer and coach33:20 – Final reflectionsTo learn more about Professor Zi, find her on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zi-wang-59a90b248/ This podcast is brought to you by Auden Hospitality, creating hotel F&B that rewrites the rules. Learn more by visiting our website www.audenhospitality.com