Raleigh, NC – Cisco Connected Black Professionals (CBP) RTP, in partnership with the National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) Raleigh-Durham Chapter, proudly hosted the "AI Readiness Summit", bringing together more than 165 professionals, executives, entrepreneurs, educators, and emerging leaders for a day of learning, collaboration, and future-focused conversations centered on artificial intelligence.
The summit was designed to move beyond the headlines and hype surrounding AI, equipping attendees with practical insights on how to lead, learn, and leverage artificial intelligence in today's rapidly evolving workplace.
The event kicked off with a keynote panel discussion, "Beyond the Hype: How to Lead, Learn, and Leverage AI," with Cisco's Gretchen Sleeper, Senior Director, AI Orchestration and Capabilities, Cisco Systems; Kenyetta Hall, CEO, Katalyst HQ & Professor of Practice, Shuford Program for Entrepreneurship at UNC-Chapel Hill; Bobby McNeil, VP of Development, RDU Triad Chapter of NBMBAA & Talent Acquisition Manager, Enac; and Professor Richard Tillies, Department Head, Computer Programming & Information Sciences, Wake Tech Community College; and moderated by Andrea Parker, Business Operations Analyst & AI Summit Event Curator, Cisco Systems where industry leaders explored the opportunities, challenges, and responsibilities organizations face as AI continues to transform business operations, workforce development, and leadership practices.
"Artificial intelligence is no longer a future conversation; it is a present-day leadership imperative," said Andrea Parker, event host and Chapter Advisor of Cisco Connected Black Professionals-RTP. "Our goal was to create a space where professionals could engage in meaningful dialogue, gain practical knowledge, and leave empowered to navigate the future with confidence."
Throughout the day, attendees participated in engaging discussions focused on AI adoption, workforce readiness, innovation, ethical implementation, career development, and organizational transformation. The summit emphasized the importance of ensuring diverse voices remain at the forefront of technological advancement and decision-making.
