Girls With Impact at the Milken Institute Global Conference 2026: Preparing Talent for the Age of AI

At this year’s Milken Institute Global Conference: “Leading in a New Era,” one message came through clearly in conversations across sectors: the future of work is changing faster than our systems are preparing talent for it. 

Held in Los Angeles, the Milken Conference brings together global CEOs, investors, policymakers, educators, and innovators to tackle the most challenging topics facing leaders, with artificial intelligence at the center of nearly every conversation this year.

As Verizon CEO Dan Schulman noted during the conference, “It isn’t the tech, it’s really the culture that needs to change. You need to know AI inside and out… you’ll be better at your job. Frankly, no matter what happens, you’ll be better in life whatever direction you take, understanding and knowing how to use the tools.”

This is also shaping the career ladder. Throughout conference sessions, executives highlighted the impact on young talent due to AI replacing entry-level work, eliminating traditional “learn-by-doing” pathways that have historically helped young professionals gain experience. 

The emerging consensus at Milken was clear:

• Technology is advancing faster than workforce adaptation

• Employers are increasingly worried about readiness, not just technical skills

• Education systems are under pressure to better connect learning with real-world application

• Human judgment, communication, and leadership are becoming strategic assets in the AI economy

For forward thinking leaders, the answer is to invest now in preparing young talent for the realities of modern work, not wait for education systems to catch up.

"Aside from investing, AI was the theme at nearly every session,” said Girls With Impact (GWI) Founder & CEO Jennifer Openshaw. “It reinforced not only the importance of GWI bringing AI into its curriculum so young women can succeed and move forward, but also the responsibility we, as leaders, have in leaving the next generation in a better place. Gen Z will shoulder a great deal, from another tech revolution to major challenges facing our world. That’s why programs that prepare them, like GWI, are essential.”

Strategic Value Partners (SVP) and GWI held their 3rd annual Cocktails & Conversation during the conference to shine a spotlight on this important topic: “Empowering the Next Generation.” The session, presented in collaboration with the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich this year, highlighted the importance of ensuring this generation has the right tools for today’s work, while creating clearer pathways from education to leadership for career success.

GWI graduate Silvana Vazquez, now a student at Harvard University studying Government with a secondary focus in Educational Studies, shared how Girls With Impact transformed her confidence, career readiness, and future ambitions in today’s landscape.

“It is difficult enough to rise above the barriers of living in a low-income community,” Vazquez shared. “especially as a first-generation, low-income student.”

She arrived at college with a dream of launching a nonprofit but was unsure how to turn that vision into a reality. Through Girls With Impact’s Innovation Academy, which she attended tuition-free thanks to GWI supporters, she learned how to conduct a SWOT analysis, build a P&L statement, develop a business plan and present a venture pitch. While strengthening her creative thinking, problem solving, and confidence needed to thrive in the future of work.

“I walked out not only with a micro-credential, but practical business skills and the confidence to tackle challenges I once thought were beyond my reach,” she said.

Vazquez later continued through GWI’s mentorship program, receiving guidance to launch her nonprofit, and participated in the Career Accelerator, where she developed networking and business communication skills, and learned how to use generative AI thoughtfully to advance goals and tasks. 

“I used to be skeptical of AI,” she said. “Now I see how it can enhance my own skills and help me work more effectively.”

Her story underscored one of the strongest themes at the conference: while AI is rapidly reshaping industries, the real differentiator in the future economy will be human capability to use technology effectively: critical thinking, communication, adaptability, leadership, and curiosity.

“What stood out to me at Milken is that while AI dominated nearly every conversation, another message was emerging just as clearly: as technology advances, human skills become even more valuable,” said Carrie Reynolds, President & COO of Girls With Impact. “From university presidents to CEOs, leaders emphasize that communication, curiosity and adaptability are essential if we want people to use technology to amplify their potential, not be displaced by it.”

Reynolds noted that in the age of AI, education must evolve beyond subject matter expertise alone.

“Critical thinking, communication, and curiosity are what enable people to use AI effectively and contribute at a higher level. Schools, education systems, and workforce programs must adapt if we want talent to thrive in a rapidly changing world.”

That philosophy sits at the heart of the Girls With Impact model: experiential learning, entrepreneurship, mentorship, communication, leadership development, and now AI literacy, all designed to prepare young women not just for jobs, but for meaningful leadership in a rapidly changing economy.

The message for talent from Milken was clear: the future belongs to those who can understand technology, and think critically, adapt quickly, and navigate ambiguity with confidence.

Girls With Impact is committed to ensuring the next generation of women is ready to rise to the challenge.

Interested in gaining an advantage with GWI programming? Learn more about our Innovation Academy here.