39th BEYA Conference returns to Baltimore with focus on AI, skills and jobs

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

The 39th Annual Becoming Everything You Are (BEYA) Conference opened on Feb. 13 in the heart of Downtown Baltimore. The conference will last until Feb. 15. 

For nearly four decades the conference has offered high school and college students, and  corporate, government, military, business and industry employers an opportunity to network and learn. BEYA prides itself on recognizing excellence and presenting career opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). 

The AFRO is a media sponsor of BEYA 2025, along with Maryland Public Television. According to the BEYA website, the BEYA community has nearly 16,000 members.

Persons interested in this conference have the option to attend in person or virtually.

“It is my hope that people will be energized and understand the possibilities of technology and the endless job opportunities innovation to help change society,” said Tyrone Taborn, publisher and CEO of Career Communications Group and founder of the conference. “BEYA stands for becoming everything you are. That means we may not know who we are at this time, but by being exposed to world-class scientists, engineers and innovative technologies, we will find a pathway where we can bring more value to not only our community, not only our nation but to the world.”

“Many of these young people that you see here, they come here not knowing, and they walk away with their eyes open to an endless possibility,” said Taborn.

Taborn addressed the news of several federal agencies pulling out of recruiting at BEYA this year due to President Donald Trump’s (R) executive order on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). 

“This is a professional development conference,” said Taborn. “We have been very focused on career development for 39 years.”

In reference to whether any sessions provided will be impacted by the federal agency’s actions, he said “absolutely nothing has changed in what we do. We’re encouraging scientists and engineers to find opportunities here at BEYA.”

According to BEYA, historically Black colleges and universities produce one-third of the Black engineers in the U.S. every year. The U.S. military is one of the major STEM employers.

On day one, a number of sessions were interactive and led by audience questions. Some were filled with high schoolers and college students as well as leaders looking to leverage the information provided at the conference.

Day one featured an array of sessions on artificial intelligence (AI), some looking at how AI is improving the healthcare industry, how AI and the metaverse can be utilized in education and others on implementing AI in organizations.

The first day also featured sessions about programs available for K-12 students to help introduce them to jobs in national security where they can use their STEM skills. As well, HBCU research opportunities, interview and job search skill building, a welcome reception and an evening with BEYA’s leading voices were featured.

During the future of AI in education session, leaders touched on how to regulate AI use and make money with AI; gauging the future impact of AI systems on the environment and what AI job opportunities youth should be looking out for as they step out into their careers.

Taborn, who led the session, said he expects prompt engineering to become one of the most prominent jobs in the future. Prompt engineering deals with determining how to ask the best questions in order to render the best results.

One of the panelists, Robert Steward, president and CEO of End2End Solution, pressed the importance of integrating AI into work.

“If you’re not using it in those daily tasks and finding ways to increase efficiency and value, then you’re going to be left behind,” said Steward. “The opportunity is actually a necessity. You have to use it; you have to incorporate it.” 

Another panel of leaders discussed their strategies for workforce building as national defense agencies are facing personnel shortages in AI, cybersecurity and synthetic biology.

Dr. Talitha Washington, executive director of the Center for Applied Data Science and Analytics at Howard University, addressed people’s concern about opportunities potentially not being available for national security due to the new administration’s actions thus far.

“While there may be some confusion, if you look close enough there is going to be a lot of opportunities in development and technology, which will lead right into national security,” said Washington. “Those are some of the things I’m looking forward to building at Howard.” 

Day two will include sessions on leading a hybrid team, effective leadership, American innovation in the 21st Century, using biotechnology to transform healthcare and learning crisis management.

As well on day two, BEYA will host a career fair, career enhancement lab, Stars and Stripes Dinner, a Men2Men: My Brother’s Keeper event and a BEYA student networking event. 

The last day will bring a Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Engineering Deans’ Breakfast, a career enhancement lab, a career fair, a job readiness certification session and the BEYA awards ceremony and after party.

Other sessions on day three include conversations on leadership skill building, innovation in the workplace, better time management, advancing one’s career and successful study habits.