Career Conference 2026
Meet the Speakers
Nine voices from research, industry and the entrepreneurial world — each bringing a different angle on what it takes to navigate career transitions in the AI era.
Keynotes & sessions
Dr. Huiling Ding
NC State University
Opens the day with a keynote on the future of work — where AI is taking root across industries and how to navigate the career transitions that follow.
Kristine Sloan
Executive Director, Leadership Triangle
Maps the Triangle job market — where opportunities are emerging across the region and how to position yourself to meet them.
Marybeth Caulfield
Talent Acquisition, Lenovo
Brings the employer's view: what companies are looking for today, the goals they hire toward, and how to stand out to recruiters.
Iris Yim
Sparkle Insights
Co-leads the interactive "AI Is Not Optional" session — practical strategies for working, learning and growing alongside AI.
Hao Dinh
Grow by Design
Co-leads "AI Is Not Optional" with hands-on approaches for integrating AI into everyday work and continued learning.
Naveen Chapa
Cisco
Shares how to move from campus to corporate — standing out and making the leap into today's competitive job market.
Ronda Bowman
L&D Consultant, Coach & Speaker
Speaks on career reinvention and leadership in times of change — leading yourself and others through cultural and professional shifts.
PreShus Lee
Sutchilee Productions
Explores entrepreneurship and creative careers, with a candid look at the arts and creative work in the AI era.
Andrea Vargas Moreno
Sutchilee Productions
Joins the entrepreneurship and creative careers session, sharing the realities and performances of creative work in the age of AI.
The closing panel
The day ends with a panel discussion — Navigating Careers in the AI Era — bringing speakers together to talk through the skills a future workforce needs, how AI is changing hiring, and concrete strategies for career pivots.
See where each speaker fits.
The agenda lays out exactly when each session runs across the day.