AI & Impact: Essential Skills to Lead Interdisciplinary Teams
The event is FREE and open to all NC State graduate students. Part of the Interdisciplinary Connections to Careers event series.
Friday, January 30, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Duke Energy Hall, Hunt Library
The future of work is defined by Artificial Intelligence, but the biggest challenges aren’t technical—they’re human. What skills are missing when engineers, data scientists, marketing and sales representatives and ethicists try to collaborate on the next big project?
Join industry and higher education leaders from companies from a wide range of industries as they share real stories of the pitfalls and triumphs during interdisciplinary projects in the AI space.
You’ll hear how skills like communication, negotiation, teamwork and ethical reasoning—are truly crucial for success outside of your specialized degree program.
No prior knowledge of AI is required to attend.
Meet the Speakers
Jen Ratliff Dillard
Vice President of Business Architecture
Red Hat
Read Jen’s Bio
With undergraduate degrees in Arts, History and French and an MBA from Wake Forest, Jen brings a unique liberal arts perspective to the tech world. Over her 12-year career at Red Hat, she has turned “building connections across disciplines” into her professional superpower. Today, she leads a global team across 24 countries, bridging the gap between engineering, sales, finance, and strategy to shape how Red Hat brings its products to the world.
Sherard Griffin
Senior Director of AI Platform Engineering
Red Hat
Read Gerard’s Bio
An NC State alum with over 20 years of experience, Sherard leads the development of OpenShift AI, Red Hat’s flagship platform for Generative AI. Beyond his technical leadership, he serves on the board of Griot and Grits, a nonprofit using AI to preserve oral histories through digital storytelling, and is a dedicated advocate for inclusive workforce development in tech.
Tanner McCarthy
Business Development Manager
Experis
Read Tanner’s Bio
An NC State alum with a dual focus in Entrepreneurship and Biology, Tanner now drives IT solutions for Experis. He partners with major organizations across the financial and tech sectors to navigate the AI landscape—specializing in AI road-mapping, strategic talent acquisition, and helping businesses scale through modernization.
Meghan Manfra, Ph.D.
Professor of Social Studies Education, Faculty Coordinator for AI Literacy
Data Science and AI Academy at NC State
Read Meghan’s Bio
Dr. Manfra is a Professor in the College of Education and the Faculty Director for AI Literacy at NC State’s Data Science and AI Academy. She is a research affiliate with the UNC Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life. A leading voice in educational technology, she currently heads efforts across the UNC system to pilot foundational AI programs, ensuring students are equipped for an AI-driven future.
What to expect during the event
| Activity | Activity Description |
|---|---|
| Mix & Mingle | Brief, structured time to grab breakfast and connect with peers, faculty, and industry leaders before the main program begins. |
| Stories from the Field | Hear industry professionals share real-world accounts of success and failure when managing complex, interdisciplinary AI projects. |
| Interdisciplinary Leaders Panel | A moderated discussion delving deeper into strategies for building these essential skills for success. |
Thank you to our event partners:
- NC State Graduate School
- NC State Data Science and AI Academy
- NC State Institute for Advanced Analytics
- NC State Business Analytics and AI Initiative