The Vanishing First Rung
The entry-level job is disappearing. AI now handles the basic tasks that once trained new graduates, leaving students expected to contribute at a mid-level from day one. This session explores how AI is reshaping the skills students need — moving beyond coding to emphasize durable skills such as communication, critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and leadership. These transferable abilities are relevant across all disciplines and will remain essential no matter how technology evolves. Educators will gain practical strategies to adapt teaching practices to build these durable skills, ensuring students are prepared not just for today’s AI-partnered workplace, but for the diverse challenges of tomorrow.
Facilitated By
Michael McMillan
Chief Information Security Officer, Coinme Inc.
Michael McMillan has spent his career leading technology teams through the dot-com boom, high-growth startups, and global enterprises. He’s held senior roles at companies like Sonos, Symantec, HERE/Nokia, and Coinme, guiding organizations through IPOs, acquisitions, and major technology shifts. His work across Silicon Valley and Seattle gives him a unique corporate-world perspective on how AI is reshaping the workforce — and what that means for the next generation entering it.
