{"id":104150,"date":"2025-09-03T12:10:38","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T16:10:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/?p=104150"},"modified":"2025-09-03T19:00:23","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T23:00:23","slug":"alumni-summit-to-equip-grads-for-the-future-of-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2025\/09\/alumni-summit-to-equip-grads-for-the-future-of-work\/","title":{"rendered":"Alumni Summit to equip grads for the future of work"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the way people work evolves, the second annual Goodman Alumni Summit is aiming to prepare Brock grads for what\u2019s next in the workplace.<\/p>\n

The full-day event, which is open to all Brock graduates, will explore how organizations can adapt to rapid changes in technology, workforce expectations and global business environments.<\/p>\n

The Goodman Alumni Summit takes place Friday, Sept. 19 during Brock\u2019s Homecoming<\/a> weekend, with early-bird ticket prices available online<\/a> until 11:59 on Friday, Sept. 5.<\/p>\n

After the success of last year\u2019s inaugural summit, Goodman Dean Barry Wright is excited to welcome grads back again and experience the energy that comes from discussing emerging issues.<\/p>\n

\u201cTogether, we\u2019ll explore how the future of work is being shaped, by technology, by people and by the choices leaders make today,\u201d Wright said. \u201cIt\u2019s a chance to reconnect with classmates and gain fresh insights you can bring back to your career.\u201d<\/p>\n

When generative AI came onto the scene, keynote speaker Darrell Keezer, founder and CEO of Candybox Marketing, recognized that entire marketing industry was about to be disrupted.<\/p>\n

In his keynote, Keezer will share the inside story of how a mid-sized agency turned a potential existential threat into an engine for record-breaking growth by focusing on AI augmentation over inaction.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoin us at Brock University to see how embracing AI augmentation unlocks new revenue streams, happier teams and a future where technology and talent grow together,\u201d Keezer said. \u201cI will leave you with a practical roadmap and the confidence to ride the AI wave instead of being swept away.\u201d<\/p>\n

The agenda for the summit was carefully crafted by members of the Goodman Alumni Network (GAN) committee, with a focus on sessions that would help attendees develop professionally while also broadening their professional network.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs grads, we share a unique bond where Goodman shaped how we think, work and lead,\u201d said GAN chair Sean Chamberland (BBA \u201917). \u201cThe Alumni Summit is our chance to come back together, share stories and dive into how the future of work is evolving.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other sessions include an AI for leadership conversation, exploring how AI can be used in a day-to-day work environment, a future of jobs panel combining experienced business owners and human resource leaders to share insights for what\u2019s next, and a series of lightning talks on Bitcoin, sustainability and alternative work arrangements by Professor Ernest Biktimirov, Associate Professor Sylvia Grewatsch and Professor Mark Julien, respectively.<\/p>\n