AI and the Future of Work Panel Discussion

Moderator: Saba Colakoglu

Dr. Saba Colakoglu is a Senior Lecturer in the Organizational Behavior group at the Scheller College of Business, Georgia Institute of Technology. She received her PhD in Human Resources and Industrial Relations from Rutgers University, School of Management and Labor Relations in 2009. Saba also holds an MBA degree from Bilkent University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Middle East Technical University, both in Ankara, Turkey.

Saba teaches and conducts research in areas related to human resource management and organizational behavior with a cross-cultural and international focus. She has more than ten years of experience teaching both undergraduate- and MBA-level courses in organizational behavior, human resource management, cross-cultural management, and leadership.

Panelist: Maryam Alavi

Maryam Alavi is a professor of IT Management and holds the Elizabeth T. and Tom M. Holder Chair at the Scheller College of Business at Georgia Institute of Technology. She served as dean of the College from 2014-2023. Dr. Alavi is a thought leader and researcher on digital innovation and transformation, with extensive experience in organizational capability-building and leadership and talent development for a digital age.

Dr. Alavi’s prolific academic contributions include numerous published papers, and serving on the editorial boards of several prestigious business and technology journals. Dr. Alavi’s body of work has received numerous citations placing her within the top 2% of the world’s most-cited researchers by the Meta-Research Innovation Center at Stanford University.

Panelist: Willie Green

Willie Green is a Lead for Talent Outreach in the Recruiting Organization within People Operations at Google. In his role, he leads efforts to connect a wide range of talent with employment opportunities at Google.

Willie’s career spans both tech and higher education, including previous roles at Amazon, the University of Virginia, Duke University, and the University of Michigan. This blend of experiences gives him a unique perspective on how AI is reshaping the workforce—and how we can prepare the next generation to thrive within it.

Originally from Manhattan, Willie now splits his time between Atlanta, Georgia, and Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with his wife, Dr. Meredith Clark, and their rescue dog, Foster. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. A lifelong learner, Willie is passionate about helping people unlock their full potential in themselves and in the organizations they serve.

Panelist: Benedikt Schroeder

Benedikt Schroeder is the Business Management Senior Director and Chief of Staff of the Boston Consulting Group’s Atlanta office. In this role, he oversees all aspects of operations, including planning, human resources, talent acquisition and development, and the expansion into several new locations in the Southeast. Benedikt started his career with BCG as a consultant, leading projects and advising clients in the banking, healthcare, and industrial goods sectors before switching to the operations side. Before joining BCG, Benedikt practiced law.

Benedikt began his career in the German military, where he rose to the rank of Lieutenant as Platoon Leader in an Armor Brigade. He holds a law degree from Ludwig Maximilian Universität, Munich, an LL.M. from Northwestern University School of Law, and an MBA from the Scheller College of Business at Georgia Tech.

Outside of work, Benedikt enjoys skiing, motorcycling – in 2024 he rode from Atlanta to Denali, Alaska, and back – and hiking. He is married to a fellow Northwestern law grad and is the proud father of another Yellow Jacket (ISyE ’24), a sophomore at Vassar College, and has two rescue kitties.