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April 7, 2025
MILWAUKEE — Marquette University will be the host institution for the Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute’s annual symposium, a hybrid event titled “Navigating AI: Transforming Industries and Careers,” which will explore AI’s ever-evolving impact on job automation in various industries, on Tuesday, April 15, beginning at 9 a.m. in the Alumni Memorial Union, 1442 W. Wisconsin Ave.
The symposium will offer insights from a diverse array of experts in education, health care, finance, insurance, real estate and more, including a keynote address from Tia White, an AI and machine learning industry executive, and a panel discussion, “AI and Job Automation: Reality vs. Myth.”
In her keynote, White will discuss why AI is here to stay and its impact on industries and careers. This talk will shed light on how we can all benefit from GenAI, as long as we embrace the change.
Registration and participant bios are available online. Media interested in attending the symposium or speaking with participants should contact Kevin Conway at kevin.m.conway@marquette.edu.
The “AI and Job Automation: Reality vs. Myth” panel discussion will look at realities and misconceptions surrounding AI and job automation, exploring how these technologies are reshaping the workforce. The panel includes:
- Randy Kirk, executive vice president and chief scientist at Direct Supply
- Matt McCarthy, director of motorcycle insights at Harley-Davidson Motor Company
- Anthony Perrone, vice president of talent at Northwestern Mutual
- Richard Povinelli, professor of electrical and computer engineering at Marquette
- Sumathi Thiyagarajan, senior vice president of analytics and business operations for the Milwaukee Bucks and Fiserv Forum
Additional sessions include breakout panels AI and Education; AI and Health Care; and AI and Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate. View all speakers and session descriptions.
About Tia White
Tia White is a true disruptor with the ability to think big. She has pioneered multiple major transformations including Public Cloud Migrations and Data Transformations well before they were a focus of most organizations. She has held executive roles at multiple Fortune 100 companies, getting her start at Wells Fargo, followed by roles at Capital One and JPMorgan Chase & Company before her current role as general manager of AI and machine learning – Adtech and MarTech at Amazon Web Services. White has built and led global teams and prides herself on being a people-first leader with the ability to deliver paramount results. In her current role, she is responsible for owning go-to-market, product and engineering for a portfolio of services on track to exceed profits of more than $25 million including one of the fastest-growing services at AWS.
About NMDSI
The Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute (NMDSI), a partnership between Northwestern Mutual, Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, is creating a technology ecosystem and advancing southeastern Wisconsin as a national hub for technology, research, business and talent development. Since its inception in 2018, the NMDSI has championed academic data science and technology learning while propelling innovation in key areas, including AI, data bias and ethics, behavioral economics, financial literacy, and health and wealth inequities. NMDSI-affiliated research projects use data science to address challenging societal issues that have a local and national impact.
About Marquette University
Marquette University is a Catholic, Jesuit university located near the heart of downtown Milwaukee that offers a comprehensive range of majors in 11 nationally and internationally recognized colleges and schools. Through the formation of hearts and minds, Marquette prepares our 11,100 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and professional students to lead, excel and serve as agents of positive change. And, we deliver results. Ranked in the top 20% of national universities, Marquette is recognized for its undergraduate teaching, innovation and career preparation as the sixth-best university in the country for job placement. Our focus on student success and immersive, personalized learning experiences encourages students to think critically and engage with the world around them. When students graduate with a Marquette degree, they are truly prepared and called to Be The Difference.
About Kevin Conway
Kevin is the associate director for university communication in the Office of Marketing and Communication. Contact Kevin at (414) 288-4745 or kevin.m.conway@marquette.edu.