The spotlight at State Farm Arena shifted from basketball to bold ideas, as leaders in technology and workforce development gathered for “Building & Developing Your Workforce of the Future.” Hosted in partnership with Stand Together and the Atlanta Hawks, the event included networking, insights, and forward-thinking dialogue around the future of work.
With the rapid pace of digital transformation reshaping industries across the globe, the event tackled a central question: How do we prepare and empower the next generation of talent in a world where traditional pathways are no longer the only or even the most effective routes to success?
One of the event’s core messages was clear, excellence doesn’t only emerge from conventional educational pipelines. In a world where innovation often outpaces curriculum, companies are increasingly prioritizing real-world experience, adaptability, and self-taught skillsets over traditional degrees.
“We’ve all been kind of marching down the ‘college for all path’ for decades,” said Ryan Stowers, Senior Vice President of Stand Together. “College works for some. But for most people, it’s too costly. It takes too long, and it doesn’t equip people for the jobs that they need in order to be successful and find purpose and meaning in their lives. And so we have people in the country right now without college degrees who are willing and able to contribute more to the economy and more to the world and make the world a better place. And so, how do we help unlock those people’s potential and give those people more opportunities? We think the employers are a big part of the puzzle and are key to unlocking the opportunity. This mindset shift is crucial as industries strive to remain agile in the face of evolving technologies and workforce expectations.”
The event featured three dynamic panels, all focused on different facets of workforce development from attracting and nurturing high-potential individuals to rethinking retention strategies for a new generation of workers.
Camye Mackey, Executive Vice President and Chief People, Diversity, and Inclusion Officer at the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena, was also featured in an exclusive interview. Mackey emphasized the importance of diversity not just in background, but in thought and experience.
“The collaboration with Stand Together and the Atlanta Hawks is one that’s very special because it’s really addressing, educating, and really having the conversation around skills,” she said. “The workforce of the future and things that we as employers need to start focusing on to be prepared for what’s to come.”
Attendees enjoyed light bites and meaningful networking opportunities with leaders from within and beyond the Hawks’ ecosystem. But more than just a gathering, the event served as a call to action for employers and educators.
To thrive, organizations must look beyond résumés and rethink how they define talent. The future belongs to those who value skills over status, growth over pedigree, and who recognize that innovation can come from anywhere.
Other panelists included, Byron Auguste – CEO & Co-Founder, Opportunity@Work, Kim Rometo – EVP, Chief Technology and Innovations Officer, Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena, Regenia Sanders – Managing Parter, EY Atlanta, Felica Coney – VP, Server Operations, Google, Ryan Stowers – Senior Vice President, Stand Together, Adie Kolaskar – Program Manager, Society for Human Resource Management, John Holm – VP, CGI, Matt Carillo – Director of Premium & Ticket Sales, Atlanta Hawks.
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