I was asked to speak at an AI Conference alongside industry experts.
Let’s talk about it
Is there a LinkedIn badge for “accidentally became an AI Conference speaker? Asking for a friend.
If you told me two months ago that I’d be a speaker at Converge Con, I would’ve said “Why me? Also, what is Converge Con?”
I can answer both of those questions now.
What is Converge Con?
It is UNC Hussman’s first ever AI Conference, with help from UNC Law School, UNC Center for Faculty Excellence, UNC Parr Center for Ethics, and Innovate Carolina Junction. Most of the conference speakers have words like “Executive,” “Chief,” or “Lead,” in their job title. Then there’s me: a 23-year-old with a temp job, trying to figure everything out. Which leads me to answer that other question.
Why me?
Well it started at a faculty/staff meeting in early September. Scott Geier spoke about Converge Con and the decline of entry-level jobs for Gen Z and recent graduates. That sparked quite a conversation amongst people in the room who were (you guessed it) neither actively applying to entry level jobs nor Gen Z or recent graduates. I left the meeting frustrated, feeling like everyone was talking for me and my peers, not to us. I turned my frustration to action, emailed Scott, and asked to sit down and chat the following week. If anything, I just wanted someone to know what it was really like navigating the entry-level job market right now. Scott agreed, we met, he heard me out, and at the end of that 30 minute discussion, I was offered a spot to speak at Converge Con. As a youngest child and unremitting conversationalist, I immediately accepted a chance to be in the spotlight. Though after I accepted, and the imposter syndrome set in, I stopped and asked myself “Why me?” The answer is the first point in my presentation:
How is presentation planning going?
Right now, I’m deep in planning and prompting mode, both in prepping for Converge Con, but also for the larger conversation this opportunity has given me. I’ve started keeping notes, reflections, and favorite prompts. After the conference, I’ll be sharing the five key points from my talk, the AI resources I found most helpful, and how I fit AI into my creative endeavors.
I’m done asking “Why me?” and I’m ready to start asking “What’s next?”