The NIU College of Business will host an AI conference – “Educating the AI-Ready Graduate: An Industry Perspective” – at Barsema Hall Friday, Feb. 13. This event is open to all NIU faculty, staff and students who would like to hear from industry leaders about preparing students to succeed in today’s workplace.
The event will take place from 9 a.m. to noon in Barsema Hall Auditorium. Our keynote speaker will be alumnus John Tsaras, ’14, who is an operations leader for The Coca-Cola Company.
Tsaras will focus his presentation on what it truly means to be AI-ready today.
“It’s not just understanding the technology, but understanding how work, decision-making and leadership are changing because of it,” Tsaras said. “I’ll discuss how AI has moved from experimentation to execution inside global companies like Coca-Cola, how roles are evolving as tasks are automated and why human judgment, adaptability and leadership matter more than ever.”
Tsaras said the core message will be simple: AI accelerates insight, but people remain accountable for outcomes.
In addition to the keynote address, attendees will hear from an industry panel with Korrey Anderson, ’12, MBA ’18 (McDonald’s); Justin Gress, ‘05 (Vantage Insurance), Ram Muthukrishnan (HAVI) and Sarjoo Patel, ‘03 (Beam Healthcare and ops.work).
Gress looks forward to sharing about the expectations that exist in the working world today regarding AI knowledge.
“Many times I hear, ‘Let’s apply AI to this.’ That is not the statement, the real question is ‘what problem are we trying to solve?’” Gress said. “The answer could be AI, it could be human intervention or it could be some other form of technology. AI doesn’t solve; it assists. I think of it as being ‘almost intelligent,’ but we still need someone to think about how best to apply it.”
Anderson hopes attendees will witness a lively discussion regarding the benefits and drawbacks of AI.
“AI is a continuously evolving technology that can both enhance and optimize experiences in the workplace while simultaneously introducing ethical considerations. As it continues to evolve, it may change the entire landscape of many industries, requiring those working in those areas to pivot and adjust accordingly,” she said.
After the panel discussion, the event will finish with an interactive session building on lessons learned from the panelists.
“We are thrilled to be able to host this kind of discussion at our college,” said College of Business Associate Dean Sarah Marsh. “AI is a rapidly evolving tool, and the most effective way to keep pace is through collaboration so we can learn more about how AI is transforming business and can create bridges to influence how we educate students to succeed in this new landscape. “
“What excites me most about this conference is the opportunity to make AI practical and accessible,” Tsaras said. “When grounded in real examples and real career paths, AI becomes empowering rather than intimidating. NIU is well positioned to lead by focusing on adaptability, judgment and lifelong learning. Those capabilities will outlast any specific technology and will allow graduates to thrive as the world continues to change.”
Register today for the College of Business AI Conference.
