In April, the University of Notre Dame’s Data, AI, and Computing Initiative welcomed over 40 industry leaders from across sectors, including energy, finance, government, insurance, nonprofit and pharmaceuticals, for an “Industry Leaders Roundtable” with University faculty and alumni.
The event featured panel discussions and small-group sessions on the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence (AI) in industry settings. Across these conversations, participants discussed how AI is fundamentally restructuring the nature of work. Rather than focusing solely on task execution, employees are increasingly expected to oversee AI systems, manage workflows, governance, and interpret outputs.
“The skills that I’m looking for in the data and AI space—for those who join my team—the first is curiosity: asking interesting questions and having interesting, non-obvious answers. I’m looking for somebody who is intentionally that ‘sand in the oyster,’” said Mike Bechtel, former Deloitte chief futurist and adjunct Notre Dame professor. “Secondly, I’m looking for empathy. Who better than humans to understand fellow humans? And then third, initiative. I’m not looking for people to wait for permission to get busy using tomorrow’s tools. I want people who can grab these technologies by the seat of their pants and make change without waiting to be asked.”
A panel discussion with Tracy Graham, founder and managing partner, Graham Allen Partners; Lynne Nowak, M.D., chief data and analytics officer, Surescripts; Robert Slone, senior vice president and chief scientist, UL Solutions; and Darshan Shah, executive vice president of data and AnalytiXIN for the CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership, highlighted the growing need for employees who combine technical literacy with adaptability, systems thinking, and strong communication skills.
Participants repeatedly emphasized the importance of “T-shaped” individuals who can pair technical depth with the ability to think critically, communicate effectively, collaborate across disciplines, and navigate complex and evolving environments as AI transforms the workplace — a model reflected in programs such as the iTREDS Scholars Program within the University’s Lucy Family Institute for Data & Society, which combines data science training with ethics, communication, and community engagement.
“I do think that interpersonal skill—the ability to communicate and work broadly around the world is important today. It will be even more important going forward. We don’t want just a series of algorithms running our company. We have people, we work with people in other companies, we serve markets that are made of people, so those very human skills will retain their value,” said Robert Slone, senior vice president and chief scientist at UL Solutions, and affiliated faculty member of the Lucy Family Institute.
Keynote speaker Chris Donnelly, senior managing director at Accenture, expanded on this theme in his talk, “Humans + AI: Rethinking Talent in a Transformed World,” emphasizing that the future workforce will be defined not by competition with AI, but by effective collaboration with it to improve future performance and accelerate efficiency of work.
A panel of recent Notre Dame graduates described entering their current roles with strong analytical and theoretical foundations, but with less experience applying that knowledge in real-world settings. Panelists Emily Nowak ’24, director of product at Optura AI; Joel Brogan ’19, AI security researcher at OpenAI; Christian Farls ’25, software engineer at KPMG; and Grace Bezold ’24, applied machine learning research scientist at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, consistently pointed to experiential learning opportunities—especially internships and team-based projects—as the most valuable preparation for workplace demands.
Attendees from Notre Dame included deans, department chairs, faculty, and associate provosts. Nitesh Chawla, the Frank M. Freimann Professor of Computer Science and Engineering and Lucy Family Director for Data & AI Academic Strategy, Patrick Flynn, the Fritz Duda Family Professor of Engineering in Computer Science and Engineering, and David Go, vice president and associate provost for academic strategy, helped lead discussions throughout the event.
Chawla, who is also the founding director of the Lucy Family Institute, said opportunities like the Industry Roundtable reflect the University’s broader commitment to advancing AI in ways that are both technically rigorous and socially responsible. “As data, AI, and computing reshape every sector of work and society, Notre Dame has a distinctive responsibility to prepare students not only to build and shape new technologies, but to lead with judgment, creativity, and a deep commitment to human dignity and the common good,” he said. “By bringing together industry leaders, alumni, and faculty, this roundtable is helping us shape a curriculum that combines technical depth, real-world experience, and the enduring values of a liberal arts education.”
Insights from the roundtable will contribute to the Task Force on Data, AI, and Computing in and for Curriculum and Learning’s discussions on new approaches to curriculum design, pedagogy, and student workforce readiness.
For more information about the Data, AI, and Computing Initiative, please visit go.nd.edu/DAC.
Contact:
Christine Grashorn, Program Director, Engagement and Strategic Storytelling
Lucy Family Institute for Data & Society / University of Notre Dame
cgrashor@nd.edu / 574.631.4856
lucyinstitute.nd.edu / @lucy_institute
About the Data, AI, and Computing Initiative
Notre Dame's Data, AI, and Computing Initiative pursues an ambitious research and education agenda that balances ground-breaking foundational advances in data, AI, and computing with transformative interdisciplinary applications targeting societal challenges.
Originally published by at strategicframework.nd.edu on May 29, 2026.