On February 28, LebNet LA OC hosted a highly engaging panel discussion on AI, Data, and the Future of Work at USC, bringing together industry leaders from Bank of America, Google, and XP3R for a timely and nuanced conversation on how artificial intelligence is reshaping careers and the nature of work.

Moderated by Romeo Elias, Founder and Chairman of Intellect, the discussion cut through alarming headlines to separate hype from reality. The panel featured Ghada Richani, Managing Director of Data and Technology at Bank of America; Sarah Ouwayda, Group Product Manager at Google; and Lara Kallab, AI Architect at XP3R. Each brought a distinct perspective from finance, product, and applied AI.

Over a generous two hour discussion, panelists emphasized that AI is not changing whether work happens, but how it happens and what we value in people. Rather than replacing individuals, AI is reshaping roles and redefining the skill sets required to succeed. While AI is highly effective at generating, summarizing, analyzing, and pattern matching, speakers highlighted that it cannot yet replicate original judgment, deep relationship building, moral reasoning, cultural intuition, physical world problem solving, or leading people through ambiguity.

The conversation also addressed responsible AI adoption, ethical considerations, and how organizations are evolving their hiring and learning models to prioritize adaptability and lifelong learning. With AI advancing faster than any technology before it, panelists stressed that continuous learning and flexibility will be central to long term career growth.

The strong turnout and high level of audience engagement reflected the community’s deep interest in the topic, with thoughtful questions and active participation throughout the session. A heartfelt thank you to our panelists and moderator for the time, insight, and generosity they shared, to the LebNet LA OC leadership team for organizing the event, and to our community members who came out to connect, learn, and engage. We are also grateful to USC, the IEEE chapters, and Michella Rustom, PhD candidate at USC, for their invaluable support in making this event a success.

Check the full event album by clicking on the photo below!