LeMoyne-Owen College, the fifth-oldest HBCU and the source of Black excellence, assisted students and the community in keeping pace with continuous industry shifts due to emerging technologies and growing developments in artificial intelligence at its second annual Next in Tech Conference: The Future of Work.
The conference gathered entrepreneurs, college students, and community members in an innovative day of exploring skills and insights to increase workplace readiness across industries. The event launched with an engaging panel discussing how students can prepare in an evolving workforce, featuring industry leaders Kimberly Bailey, Vice President of IT and Chief Information Officer at LeMoyne-Owen College; Meka Egwuekwe, Co-founder and CEO at Code Crew; Terica Lamb, President and CEO at Electrify Me; and Reginald Manning, Co-founder and CEO at Vista Data.
“This conference was created with one belief: technology should create opportunities. Today is not just about artificial intelligence, drones, cybersecurity, or emerging technologies; it’s about preparing our students for careers that continue to evolve, helping organizations solve real problems, and strengthening our community through collaboration,” Bailey said.
Breakout sessions produced a deeper dive on the use of AI and automation to enhance efficiency and productivity, career opportunities in the creator economy, and building skills to achieve across a variety of tech careers. In addition, a live drone demonstration by GPM Drones provided exclusive detail of how drones are changing industries from infrastructure, agriculture, public safety, and more.
The magic of the conference was further displayed in the Hustle & Heart student pitch competition, where students who are aspiring entrepreneurs presented their business pitches to a panel of business leaders for judging and the opportunity to win a cash prize. LeMoyne-Owen College student Marquese LeDuke was awarded a $500 prize for his innovative business pitch.
According to Pearson, employers have been challenged with finding graduates experienced in the technology and AI skills they need. LeMoyne-Owen College, which touts premier programs such as Cybersecurity and Business Administration, is dedicated to training graduates for success and preparedness in navigating the workforce.