The American Dream has long stood for a shot at upward mobility through hard work. But technological advancements, demographic shifts and an ever-changing economic landscape have altered the availability and the definition of work for future generations. Even as policymakers focus on creating jobs, many Americans today feel that the economy has left them behind.
As more traditional jobs are consolidated by trade, technology and automation, many are rethinking work itself. What new training and retraining programs are available for those looking to overcome the skills gap? How will companies attract a diverse and inclusive workforce for the jobs of tomorrow? And what underlying factors are shaping our understanding of work? The Atlantic convened experts and heard from current workers to explore these questions at its second annual Future of Work Summit.
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To view photos from the event, please visit our Facebook page
For more information, please contact Grace Harvey at gharvey@theatlantic.com
Speakers
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Michael Brown Research Scientist, Georgia Tech Research Institute; Army Veteran @GTRI -
Michael Bush CEO Great Place to Work @GPTW_US -
Karan Chopra Co-Founder and Executive Vice President Opportunity@Work @karchopra -
Steve Clemons Washington Editor at Large The Atlantic @SCClemons -
Beth Cobert CEO Skillful @JoinSkillful -
Gretchen Corbin Commissioner Technical College System of Georgia @TCSG -
William K. Glenn Former Carrier Employee -
Jody Greenstone Miller Co-Founder and CEO Business Talent Group @jodygmiller -
Peter Harrison CEO Snagajob @snagajob -
Stephanie Klang Professional Driver Contract Freighters Inc. @CFIdrive -
Joan Lynch* Chief Content and Programming Officer WorkingNation @JoanLynch -
Jamie Merisotis* President and CEO Lumina Foundation @jamiemerisotis -
Kevin Nolan President and CEO GE Appliances @GE_Appliances -
Mark Orttung CEO Nexient @nexientUSA -
G.P. "Bud" Peterson President Georgia Tech @GeorgiaTech -
Sree Ramaswamy Partner McKinsey Global Institute @McKinsey_MGI -
Mayor Kasim Reed City of Atlanta @KasimReed -
Alison Stewart Contributing Editor The Atlantic @alisonstewart -
Zaria Walker Assistant Manager Juma Ventures @JumaAtlanta -
Theia Washington Smith Executive Director The Women's Entrepreneurship Initiative for the City of Atlanta @AtlantaWEI -
Gillian White Senior Associate Editor The Atlantic @gillianbwhite -
Marti Wolf Chief Culture Officer MailChimp @mailchimp
Agenda
Note: All times are ET
- Thursday, October 05
- 8:40 a.m.WelcomeMargaret Low, President, AtlanticLIVE
- 8:45 a.m.Atlanta’s StoryMayor Kasim Reed, City of Atlanta
With Steve Clemons, Washington Editor at Large, The Atlantic - 9:00 a.m.Redefining EducationGretchen Corbin, Commissioner, Technical College System of Georgia
G.P. “Bud” Peterson, President, Georgia Tech
With Gillian White, Senior Associate Editor, The Atlantic - 9:25 a.m.Inclusive and VibrantTheia Washington Smith, Executive Director, The Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative for the City of Atlanta
Marti Wolf, Chief Culture Officer, MailChimp
With Alison Stewart, Contributing Editor, The Atlantic - 9:45 a.m.Credentials Matter*Jamie Merisotis, President and CEO, Lumina Foundation
Joan Lynch, Chief Content and Programming Officer, WorkingNation
* This session was produced by our underwriter and not by The Atlantic’s editorial team. - 9:55 a.m.Retooling the WorkforceKevin Nolan, President and CEO, GE Appliances
With Steve Clemons, The Atlantic - 10:15 a.m.The American Worker Michael Brown, Army Veteran; Research Scientist, Georgia Tech Research Institute
William “Kipp” Glenn, Former Carrier Plant Employee
Stephanie Klang, Professional Driver, Contract Freighters, Inc.
Zaria Walker, Assistant Manager, Juma Ventures
With Alison Stewart, The Atlantic - 10:40 a.m.Stretch Break-
- 11:00 a.m.The Tech PipelineKaran Chopra, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President, Opportunity@Work
Beth Cobert, CEO, Skillful
Mark Orttung, CEO, Nexient
With Gillian White, The Atlantic - 11:30 a.m.The Meaning of Work Michael Bush, CEO, Great Place to Work
With Alison Stewart, The Atlantic - 11:50 a.m.The Jobs of Tomorrow Peter Harrison, CEO, Snagajob
Jody Greenstone Miller, Co-Founder and CEO, Business Talent Group
Sree Ramaswamy, Partner, McKinsey Global Institute
With Gillian White, The Atlantic - 12:20 p.m.Closing ThoughtsMargaret Low, AtlanticLIVE