5 Questions Community Connect Will Answer About AI, Talent and the Future of Work

Artificial intelligence is changing how work gets done, but the bigger question is how organizations should respond.

On July 24, TechPoint’s Community Connect, presented by Google, will bring together Indiana employers, educators, community leaders and emerging talent for a day of practical conversations about workforce readiness, AI adoption and the skills technology cannot replace.

Whether you’re responsible for hiring, developing talent, preparing students for the workforce or shaping your organization’s AI strategy, Community Connect is designed to spark new ideas, new connections and actionable conversations.

Here are five questions the event will help answer.

How is AI changing work inside organizations?

The day begins with a panel discussion exploring how AI is reshaping work, the skills becoming more valuable as technology evolves and what employers are looking for in early-career talent.

Panelists

• Tiffany McCree, Community & Workforce Development Leader, Google
• Dr. Anne Leftwich, Barbara B. Jacobs Chair in Education and Technology, Associate Vice President of Learning Technologies, Indiana University
• Derek Weinberg, Director of Data & AnalytiXIN, CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP)
• Keenan Collins, Senior HR and Organizational Development Leader

Moderator

• Sally Reasoner, Vice President, Talent Strategy, TechPoint

Together, they’ll share perspectives from education, workforce development and industry, offering attendees practical insight into how organizations are adapting today and preparing for tomorrow.

What skills will matter most as AI becomes part of everyday work?

Technical skills remain important, but employers are placing increasing value on capabilities AI can’t easily replicate, including communication, creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and sound judgment.

Throughout the day, speakers and participants will explore how these skills are evolving and what employers, educators and workforce leaders can do to help people develop them. Attendees will leave with a better understanding of how workforce expectations are changing and what that means for their organizations.

How can employers and educators better connect students to real business needs?

Community Connect isn’t built around presentations alone. Following the opening panel, attendees will participate in facilitated discussions alongside employers, educators, community leaders and XTERNs.

Discussion tables are intentionally designed to bring together participants with different backgrounds, industries and levels of AI experience. Rather than talking only with peers facing the same challenges, attendees will hear perspectives from across Indiana’s talent ecosystem and contribute to conversations focused on practical solutions.

What can employers learn from emerging talent?

One of the day’s highlights is the Emerging Talent Showcase, where members of TechPoint’s 2026 XTERN cohort will demonstrate projects, ideas and solutions they’ve developed throughout the summer.

For employers and community leaders, it’s an opportunity to engage directly with emerging talent, ask questions, provide feedback and see firsthand how students are applying AI and other technologies in real-world settings. It’s also a chance to better understand the strengths, perspectives and experiences the next generation is bringing into Indiana’s workforce.

How are workforce readiness and innovation readiness connected?

The event concludes with a keynote conversation, From Workforce Readiness to Innovation Readiness, featuring Chelsea Linder, Vice President of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at TechPoint, and Josh Haines, Vice President, Group Software Factory & Digital Products at Rolls-Royce.

Building on the day’s conversations, they’ll explore how workforce development and innovation go hand in hand, why creativity and entrepreneurial thinking remain essential in an AI-enabled economy and how Indiana can continue building the talent needed to compete and grow.

Powered by Leaders Across Indiana’s Tech Ecosystem

Community Connect is made possible through the support of organizations committed to strengthening Indiana’s talent and innovation ecosystem. Thank you to our sponsors for helping bring together employers, educators, community leaders and emerging talent for conversations that will shape the future of work.

Presenting Sponsor: Google

Keynote Sponsors: Indiana University, Rolls-Royce

Table Sponsors: Afidence, ANSA Solutions, Bearstone LLC, Comcast Business, eimagine, Genpact, OTAVA®, Reveal Risk and WGU (Western Governors University)

Interested in becoming a sponsor for this event or a future Community Connect?

Join us July 24

Community Connect takes place alongside TechPoint’s annual XTERN farewell gathering, giving attendees the opportunity to continue networking during the XTERN Farewell & Awards Lunch and celebrate the accomplishments of this summer’s cohort. If you’re interested in attending the celebration immediately following Community Connect, just RSVP for the lunch as part of your Community Connect registration.

Whether you’re an employer looking to strengthen your workforce strategy, an educator preparing students for evolving careers or a community leader interested in Indiana’s future, Community Connect offers an opportunity to learn, connect and contribute to the conversation.