The Workforce Readiness Conference | Live Online: August 12, 2025 | On-demand: Through November 14, 2025
Plenaries
Our plenary speakers will share their expert insights and powerful thoughts on advancing career readiness and workforce preparation in higher education. Don’t miss out—be a part of this thought-provoking conversation!
Opening Plenary
Reimagining Career Readiness:
Bridging Higher Education and the Evolving World of Work
Kelvin Bentley, The University of Texas System
As the demands of today’s workforce rapidly evolve, higher education institutions are reimagining how they prepare students for meaningful careers. This presentation highlights innovative strategies that colleges and universities are implementing to improve career readiness by integrating high-impact, skills-based experiences across the student journey. From embedding industry-recognized microcredentials into courses and degree programs, to offering micro-internships that provide short-term, real-world projects, to expanding apprenticeship opportunities that blend academic learning with paid work experience—institutions are creating robust ecosystems of career preparation. Attendees will explore promising practices that help students build stronger skills-based narratives for employers. The session will also examine lessons learned from system-wide initiatives, such as those within the University of Texas System, that scale the integration of industry credentials within courses and co-curricular pathways.
Kelvin Bentley, PhD, has over 25 years of experience within the field of higher education, serving in various roles as a faculty member, administrator, and consultant. Dr. Bentley currently serves as the University of Texas System’s first project manager for Texas Credentials for the Future, a new initiative within the University of Texas System designed to grow and scale access to industry credentials including those on the Coursera platform for students and alumni across the UT System’s 14 universities and health research institutions. He engages in strategic planning and collaboration with project leads across the UT System and the microcredential project’s vendor partners. In addition, Dr. Bentley supports a new community of practice with the National Association of Higher Education Systems (NASH) and Google, designed to help community college and university systems across the United States embed Google career certificates and AI courses in academic courses and co-curricular pathways.
Closing Plenary
From Algorithm to Opportunity:
How AI is Democratizing Career Readiness
Becky Keene, insight2execution (i2e LLC)
The career landscape has changed. One-size-fits-all career guidance can no longer serve diverse student populations effectively, while labor market demands evolve at unprecedented speed. This plenary explores how artificial intelligence is breaking down barriers to career readiness, creating personalized pathways that were previously limited in reach.
Learn how AI-powered tools are transforming three critical areas: intelligent career exploration that surfaces hidden opportunities, personalized skill development that adapts to individual learning styles and career goals, and equitable access to career resources regardless of geographic location or socioeconomic background. Attendees will discover practical strategies for implementing AI-driven career readiness programs, examine the ethical considerations of algorithmic guidance, and explore how these technologies can create more equitable outcomes for all students. Whether you’re in K–12, higher education, or workforce development, you’ll leave with actionable insights for leveraging AI to democratize career preparation in your context.
Becky Keene, MSEd, works as director of operations for insight2execution, an education consultancy company. She oversees the team of managers and professional learning specialists developing content for worldwide edtech companies as well delivering training engagements and implementation planning for systemic change with major school systems (both K–12 and higher education) around the US.
Her role as board member at Phygital Labs, a game-based learning non-profit, has led her to explore the immersive environments of games in education. Keene developed a programmatic approach to starting esports programs in schools through inclusive coaching that is used in several states. Most recently, she has focused on generative AI in education as an opportunity to implement 21st century learning strategies and empower students to be creators rather than consumers. She has shared her AI-optimistic viewpoint as a speaker at events such as Canva Create, BETT UK, and ISTE, while also working with schools and universities around North America. She is also currently a LinkedIn Learning instructor for AI in education. Keene is the author of the new book AI Optimism, and the co-author of Sail the 7 Cs with Microsoft Education.