Google and Harvard Business School at the Faculty of Economics: Conversations on Careers, Education, and Artificial Intelligence

On Tuesday, June 2, the Faculty of Economics hosted two important guest lectures that provided students, professors, alumni, and representatives of the business community with the opportunity to hear first-hand the experiences and thoughts of experts from Google and Harvard Business School on career development, education, and the role of artificial intelligence in modern society. 

At the beginning of the program, the audience was addressed by Shira Hodges, Community Accelerator Program Lead at the Academy of Management (AOM), who presented the opportunities that the Academy provides to researchers and universities through various support and professional development programs.

The first lecture was given by Taryn Sullivan, Senior Product Manager at Google, on the topic Lessons Learned from Startup to the Corporate World. The lecture was organized in a closed, interactive session format for a group of 30 students. Through a conversation with students, Taryn Sullivan shared her professional journey – from her first career steps, through entrepreneurial ventures and work in a startup environment, to a position in one of the largest technology companies in the world. Special attention was paid to the challenges of developing digital products, decision-making in a dynamic business environment, as well as the skills that are key to success in the technology industry today.

Thanks to the great interest and active participation of students, the lecture turned into a dynamic discussion marked by questions and comments about career development, working in international teams, innovation and the future of digital products in the age of AI.

This was followed by an open lecture by Carin-Isabel Knoop, Executive Director Case Research and Writing Group, Harvard Business School, entitled Who Teaches Whom in the Age of Artificial Intelligence? In addition to students, professors and associates of the Faculty of Economics, the event was also attended by members of the Alumni Club, representatives of companies from Montenegro, as well as the interested public.

Starting from the fact that generative artificial intelligence today provides access to vast amounts of information and knowledge through just a few prompts, Carin-Isabel Knoop focused the lecture on what is becoming increasingly valuable – understanding, judgment and the ability to think critically. She particularly emphasized that universities are no longer the only sources of information, but that their role remains crucial in developing the ability to ask the right questions, assess the quality of information and make responsible decisions.

The lecture discussed the changes that AI brings to the relationship between professors and students, the emergence of new forms of “synthetic mentoring”, the challenges of preserving authenticity and originality in work, as well as the risks of relying on content that may seem convincing, but does not necessarily result from deep understanding. Special emphasis was placed on the future role of professors as mentors, facilitators and guides through the learning process, while students are increasingly expected to play an active role in checking information, connecting knowledge and developing independent judgment.

The discussion with the audience further raised questions about which skills will be most important in the era of artificial intelligence, with critical thinking, ethical reasoning, creativity, communication and the ability to cooperate between people and AI systems being recognized as important elements of future education and work.

The lectures were organized with the support of the Academy of Management and the Montenegrin Academy of Management, in anticipation of the international conference International Conference on Management and Organization, which will be held this year under the theme "Sustainability by Design: Rethinking Strategy, People & Digital Futures". The organization of the event was also part of the activities by which the Faculty of Economics marks Faculty Day, further confirming its commitment to connecting students and the wider community with contemporary global trends in the fields of management, technology and education.