I wear bold outfits and my natural Afro to the office. People who say Gen Z can't dress for the workplace are wrong — we just do things differently.

• Maya Penn is a Gen Z activist, educator, and business owner who embraces her personal style at work.
• Penn emphasizes sustainability, vintage fashion, and inclusivity in her businesses and outfits.
• She doesn't set a dress code at her offices and encourages her employees to express themselves, too.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Maya Penn, a 24-year-old entrepreneur, philanthropist, animator, artist, and CEO of Maya's Ideas, based in Atlanta. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I'm a Gen Z environmental activist, educator, owner of a nonprofit and a film and production company, and the founder and CEO of Maya's Ideas, a sustainable fashion company.