Future-Ready
Sustainable Careers in the Age of AI

Dr. Jens Frederiksen is a highly accomplished higher education leader driving the University of New Haven's rapid growth and national visibility. Under his leadership, the University has expanded its global reach, strengthened industry partnerships, and launched major innovation initiatives, including a new Center for Innovation and Applied Technology.

His work focuses on preparing students for real-world success by directly connecting education to the evolving demands of the workforce, making his perspective highly relevant to conversations on career readiness, innovation, and the future of work.

Dr. Nancy Ortins Savage is a highly accomplished academic leader overseeing the University of New Haven’s academic strategy, innovation, and student success initiatives. Appointed Provost in 2024 after a national search, she is recognized for her collaborative, data-driven leadership and strong impact across academic affairs.

She has led major initiatives, including the development of interdisciplinary, market-responsive academic programs, new curriculum innovation efforts, and enhanced policies supporting student outcomes. Her leadership plays a central role in aligning academic programs with evolving industry needs—making her perspective highly relevant to conversations around career readiness and the future of education.

With a background as a professor, researcher, and academic administrator, Dr. Savage brings both academic depth and strategic insight into how institutions can prepare students to succeed in a rapidly changing workforce.

Paul Lavoie is a nationally recognized leader in advanced manufacturing and innovation, leading the University of New Haven's new R&D Park focused on cutting-edge fields like robotics, AI, and advanced manufacturing.

Formerly Connecticut's Chief Manufacturing Officer, he has driven major industry and economic development initiatives at the state level. His experience across industry, government, and academia gives him a highly practical perspective on how innovation translates into real career opportunities—making his insights directly relevant to the future of work.

Samantha (Sammi) is a distinguished, multi-award-winning entrepreneur and content engineer with over 20 years of experience in executive-level, corporate, and professional writing, as well as digital content design. She is also a recognized business coach committed to advancing the Black community.

A serial entrepreneur, Sammi has launched multiple ventures, including 628 Digital Design, a certified B Corp and full-service digital content design, marketing, and consulting agency. She provides business coaching, grant sourcing and writing support, and business certification assistance. 628 Digital Design operates under Sam’s Word, a certified minority, woman-owned small business (WOSB), as well as a certified Small, Minority, and Women Business Enterprise (S/M/WBE), Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DOT DBE), and Black Business Enterprise (BBE) through the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc.

She is also the Founder and President of CMWP Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit entrepreneurial support organization, and leads its membership program, the Collaboration of Minority Women Professionals, which includes over 200 Black and minority women members. The organization provides targeted support for Black and minority entrepreneurs across genders and age groups.

Sammi’s recognitions include the 2023 Wharton Knowledge for Impact Award, participation in Wharton’s Neuroscience of Business program, and being part of the inaugural 2022 Morgan Stanley Small Business Academy cohort. She has earned certifications in Women’s Entrepreneurship and Leadership through eCornell/Bank of America.
She serves on the Board of Directors for the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce and B Local CT, and on the Advisory Council for Harvard Business Review. She holds a Master’s from the University of New Haven, a Bachelor’s from York College–CUNY, is a Six Sigma Green Belt, Notary Public, and is pursuing her Black Belt.

Since David entered his family business in 1996, he has been focused on its consistent evolution. He thrives on implementing the process of gaining buy-in that leads to meaningful change, and he loves seeing the inspiration, motivation, and success that results from effective communication.

For the past 30 years, David’s innovative initiatives have helped grow The Family Security Plan into the nation’s leading provider of supplemental life and health insurance products to credit union members.

David believes vision plus execution equals greatness, and you must innovate or perish. With a relentless focus on goal setting, accountability, self-reflection, and achievement, in 2025, David launched the Uccountability Program and now has a mission of helping thousands of people get more done while enhancing their mental health and life.

David achieved his Undergraduate degree in economics at Union College, his JD at Hofstra Law, and his CLU from American College. In his spare time, he enjoys fitness, executive coaching, writing, public speaking, and involving himself in community service. David participates on multiple volunteer boards ranging from University Boards to local Charitable Boards. A fun fact about David: his favorite movies are Rocky (all of them) and My Cousin Vinny.

Angela Karachristos is a strategic HR leader with a strong focus on career advancement and coaching whose experience spans many industries, including banking, higher education, consulting, and architecture, engineering and construction (AEC). Over the course of her career she has contributed to building learning-focused organizations grounded in continuous improvement and brings expertise in learning & development, organizational development, talent acquisition and leading enterprise-wide initiatives that improve employee engagement and retention.

Angela is also currently adjunct faculty in the Industrial and Organizational Psychology program in the College of Arts and Sciences where she remains closely connected to evolving workforce trends and committed to the advancement of students' careers. Her experiences in strategic human resources and career coaching have given her a unique perspective on the high-impact skills and behaviors that translate to career success.

Dr. Brian Kench is a highly accomplished academic leader and economist who has transformed the Pompea College of Business into a nationally recognized, innovation-driven business school. With over 25 years of experience, his leadership has strengthened enrollment, student outcomes, and industry alignment.

He has led the integration of business and technology, positioning the college among the first in the U.S. to offer STEM-designated business programs and creating experiential learning opportunities such as consulting projects, investment funds, and fellowships.

Dr. Kench’s work focuses on preparing students for real-world success through hands-on experiences and strong industry connections—making his perspective highly relevant to conversations on business education, innovation, and career readiness.

Tania Galindo, MHA, is the Administrative Program Director for Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination (CRTEC) at the Yale Cancer Center, where she leads trainee programs and supports operations across an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center.

She also serves as a consultant with Research Logix, a cloud-based platform supporting research administration in cancer centers and academic institutions. In this role, she collaborates with development teams to enhance platform functionality, often leveraging AI tools to improve efficiency and streamline workflows.

Across her work, Tania focuses on strengthening operational systems, expanding access to training opportunities, and creating more equitable pathways into cancer research careers—bringing a practical and impact-driven perspective to the intersection of healthcare, research, and innovation.

Katherine Nicholson is a Business Intelligence Analyst at Gartner, specializing in helping organizations understand and adopt emerging technologies. With a background in Data Science Engineering and a master’s in Business Analytics, she brings a strong ability to bridge technical concepts with real-world business application.

Her work focuses on translating data and innovation into actionable insights that support smarter decision-making. Katherine is passionate about helping organizations adapt, stay competitive, and navigate rapid technological change—making her perspective highly relevant to conversations on the future of work and data-driven strategy.

Dr. Shaily Menon is a strategic academic leader known for advancing interdisciplinary education and innovation in higher education. As Dean and Vice Provost, she leads initiatives that connect academic programs across disciplines and align education with evolving global and workforce needs.

Her leadership has driven the development of programs in areas such as AI, cybersecurity, and applied sciences, while also fostering community engagement and social innovation. She brings a systems-level perspective on how institutions can evolve to meet complex, real-world challenges—making her work highly relevant to the future of education and interdisciplinary careers.

Zachariah Picotte is a strategic architect and entrepreneur operating at the high-stakes intersection of global culture and commerce. As the Founder of Enclave Artists Agency, Zachariah serves as the principal lead for the operational and financial lifecycles of world-renowned recording artists. His firm oversees the complex business ecosystems and global touring logistics for top-tier talent, orchestrating large-scale performances and brand activations across more than 30 countries annually.

Under his leadership, Enclave has evolved beyond traditional talent management into a sophisticated business engine. Zachariah focuses on scaling artist brands into diversified lifestyle entities by forging high-level partnerships with wealth advisors, business managers, global creative firms, and premier talent agencies such as William Morris Endeavor (WME).

Prior to founding Enclave, Zachariah established a proven track record of driving high-growth initiatives for global market leaders. At Salesforce, he served as a Marketing Lead within the Agentforce 360 Platform, spearheading go-to-market strategies and global campaigns for a premier business line. His work focused on the strategic AWS partnership and high-growth security products, where he specialized in translating complex technical capabilities into compelling narratives that accelerated the enterprise buyer's journey.

A firm believer that growth lies just beyond the edge of comfort, Zachariah's career is defined by the transition from navigating corporate playbooks to architecting his own. Whether optimizing the digital footprint for L'Oréal's flagship Consumer Products Division or directing international brand expansions, his approach remains consistent: leveraging an entrepreneurial spirit and a deep-seated curiosity to transform creative convictions into scalable, market-leading ventures.

Shantel Garcia-Roldán is the founder of ICS, established in 2013 with a mission to help small business owners build organized, profitable, and scalable companies. With over 17 years of experience as a senior financial executive, she brings deep expertise across accounting, operations, and administration.

As a Certified Management Accountant with an MBA from the University of New Haven, Shantel helps both for-profit and nonprofit organizations overcome financial challenges, optimize operations, and implement systems that drive sustainable growth. Her approach goes beyond reporting—equipping clients with the clarity and confidence to understand their numbers and lead with purpose.

Actively engaged in the New Haven community, she serves as Treasurer of the Board for Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven and as a Board Member for the Connecticut Women’s Consortium, advocating for education, equity, and economic empowerment.

Shantel brings a practical, execution-focused perspective on financial leadership, making her insights highly relevant to business growth, operations, and long-term success.

Dr. Ophelie Rowe-Allen is an experienced student affairs leader focused on advancing student success through inclusive, holistic, and equity-driven approaches. With over 15 years of experience in higher education, she oversees student life and engagement at the University of New Haven, shaping initiatives that support student development, belonging, and overall campus experience.

Prior to joining the University, she held senior leadership roles at Fairfield University, where she led major initiatives in residential education, diversity and multicultural affairs, and student engagement. Her work has consistently focused on building environments that foster inclusion, leadership development, and academic success.

Dr. Rowe-Allen brings a strong perspective on student experience, leadership, and institutional impact—making her insights highly relevant to conversations around education, personal development, and preparing students to succeed both during and beyond their college journey.

Dr. Khadija Al Arkoubi is a distinguished academic leader and scholar specializing in leadership, human resource management, and global business education. As Professor and Chair at the Pompea College of Business, she leads strategic academic initiatives, drives curriculum innovation, and fosters inclusive, high-impact learning environments.

Her work sits at the intersection of leadership, diversity and inclusion, sustainability, and the responsible use of AI in organizations. With a global academic background spanning the United States, Europe, and the Middle East, she brings a deeply international and culturally informed perspective to management education and research. She is also a Chevening Scholar, reflecting her academic excellence and global leadership recognition.

Dr. Al Arkoubi’s research has been published in leading journals and focuses on topics such as career resilience, inclusive leadership, and sustainable development. She is an active contributor to the academic community through conference presentations, editorial work, and collaborations with international institutions.

Beyond academia, she is a dedicated mentor and advisor, having guided hundreds of students across different countries. As the advisor to the Career Readiness Club (CRC), she plays a key role in shaping initiatives that connect students with real-world opportunities and professional development pathways.

Known for her ability to bridge theory and practice, Dr. Al Arkoubi brings depth, structure, and a global lens to discussions—making her exceptionally well-suited to moderate meaningful, high-impact conversations on the future of work and leadership.

Dr. Bruno Barreto de Góes is an Associate Professor in the Department of Management and International Business at the University of New Haven, with expertise in strategic management, international business, and corporate sustainability.

His work focuses on how organizations expand globally and implement sustainable practices across complex supply networks. His research has been published in leading academic journals and presented at major international conferences, reflecting a strong foundation in both theory and applied strategy.

In addition to his academic career, Dr. Barreto de Góes brings industry experience as Director of International Business Development at Foxcode Inc., where he was involved in global expansion and strategic growth initiatives. This combination of academic rigor and real-world experience allows him to bridge business theory with practical execution.

He also serves as President of the University of New Haven’s Beta Gamma Sigma chapter, contributing to the development of high-achieving business students and strengthening connections between academia and industry.

With a global perspective and a focus on strategy, innovation, and sustainability, Dr. Barreto de Góes brings depth, structure, and insight to discussions on the evolving landscape of business and leadership.