Students graduating in the next 3 – 4 years will enter a workforce transformed by artificial intelligence. Job roles are evolving, skill expectations are shifting, and employers are looking beyond traditional credentials. The question is no longer whether AI will impact careers-but how prepared you are to work with it.
This highly interactive webinar explores how AI is reshaping entry-level roles, hiring criteria, and professional pathways across industries-and what that means for students, educators, and early-career professionals planning for 2028 and beyond.
Degrees still matter, but how you apply them in an AI-enabled workplace matters more. This session moves beyond fear-based narratives and technical jargon to offer myth-busting clarity, evidence-based insights, and practical guidance for building AI-ready careers, starting now.
This webinar is designed for:
Undergraduate & graduate students planning careers in an AI-influenced world
Faculty, academic leaders & curriculum designers
Early-career professionals & career switchers
Aspiring AI learners and interdisciplinary professionals across business, education, healthcare, social sciences, and beyond
No technical background in AI is required.
Harold F. Wiley Generative AI Teaching and Learning Fellow | Connecticut College | United States
Dr. Susan Purrington is a nationally recognized leader in AI literacy, higher-education innovation, and workforce-aligned learning. She currently serves as the Harold F. Wiley Generative AI Teaching and Learning Fellow at Connecticut College, where she leads institutional initiatives focused on embedding ethical, practical, and career-relevant AI fluency across disciplines. Dr. Purrington is widely known for developing one of the nation’s first AI literacy courses and for creating applied AI tools that support educators and professionals.
Global VP – Growth & Partnerships | USAII®
Mike Spaeth is a seasoned technology and AI industry leader with 25+ years of experience driving strategic growth, enterprise transformation, and partner-led innovation. His career includes an extensive leadership tenure at IBM—spanning more than a decade—where he shaped digital transformation strategies for major Financial Services organizations and established himself as a trusted advisor to senior executives.
Harold F. Wiley Generative AI Teaching and Learning Fellow, Connecticut College
Dr. Susan Purrington is a nationally recognized leader in AI literacy, higher-education innovation, and workforce-aligned learning. She currently serves as the Harold F. Wiley Generative AI Teaching and Learning Fellow at Connecticut College, where she leads institutional initiatives focused on embedding ethical, practical, and career-relevant AI fluency across disciplines. Dr. Purrington is widely known for developing one of the nation’s first AI literacy courses and for creating applied AI tools that support educators and professionals.
An AI Ethics and Integration Consultant and former Associate Teaching Professor, she has delivered international presentations on AI in education, inclusive learning, and professional readiness. She also chairs the American Therapeutic Recreation Association AI Task Force and facilitates AI Communities of Practice for educators and entrepreneurs. Through her work, Dr. Purrington bridges emerging AI technologies with real-world career preparation, helping students and institutions navigate the future of work with confidence and clarity.
Global Vice President, USAII® and AI Thought Leader
Mike Spaeth is a seasoned technology and AI industry leader with 25+ years of experience driving strategic growth, enterprise transformation, and partner-led innovation. His career includes an extensive leadership tenure at IBM—spanning more than a decade—where he shaped digital transformation strategies for major Financial Services organizations and established himself as a trusted advisor to senior executives.
Building on this foundation, Mike went on to lead strategic initiatives at Tealium, Moody’s, Maxar, and EarthDaily Analytics, where he guided organizations through the evolving landscapes of GenAI, geospatial analytics, climate risk, and enterprise data platforms. Across these roles, he has consistently demonstrated the ability to translate complex emerging technologies into clear business value, influence executive decision-making, and cultivate high-performing customer and partner ecosystems.
Mike is recognized for his consultative leadership, market foresight, and ability to align AI-driven innovation with real-world enterprise impact. He holds a Master’s in Public Administration and a Bachelor’s in English from Seton Hall University.
