ATHERTON, Calif. — Menlo College, in collaboration with the Atherton Senior Task Force and the Atherton Library, recently hosted a community-focused seminar exploring the future of artificial intelligence and its impact on careers and employment opportunities.
Held at the Atherton Library on April 22, 2026, the event brought together students, local residents, and industry-minded attendees for an engaging discussion on how AI is shaping the future of work. Titled “How AI Will Change Careers and Future Employment Opportunities,” the seminar highlighted the growing importance of understanding AI across all industries.
The event was initiated through a collaboration between Menlo College’s Business & Environment Club and Atherton community leader Ken Frederick. Menlo College student leaders Lars Faessler, Carlotta Stern, and Marc Hegele, all members of Menlo College’s 2025 Global Scaling Challenge championship team, connected with Frederick to explore ways to engage the local community around emerging technologies.
“Organizing this seminar gave us the opportunity to take ownership of an important topic and bring together voices from across campus and the community to learn from one another,” said Marc Hegele, an Entrepreneurship and Innovation major.
Supported by Menlo College President Steven Weiner, the group launched the seminar as a pilot initiative designed to bring academic expertise and community insight into one shared space.
“By convening our students and neighbors in conversations about AI, we’re creating the conditions for shared learning that benefits everyone. Understanding AI isn’t a luxury reserved for technologists, it’s a civic responsibility,” said President Weiner. “When academic institutions and communities collaborate like this, we don’t just prepare students for the future; we collectively author it.”
The seminar featured presentations from Menlo College faculty and Atherton leaders, including Assistant Professor of Business Analytics & Information Systems Dr. Sonia Saheb, Professor of Marketing and Entrepreneurship Dr. Fabian Eggers, and Atherton City Council Member Eric Lane.
Speakers explored how generative AI is expected to reshape the labor market, emphasizing that, rather than eliminating jobs, AI is likely to create new, high-demand roles centered on human-AI collaboration. Attendees gained insight into how these shifts will impact future career paths and the skills needed to succeed.
The event concluded with an interactive Q&A session, where participants engaged directly with speakers to ask questions and share perspectives. Feedback gathered during the discussion will help inform a larger “AI & Careers” workshop planned for September.
“What spreadsheets once did for efficiency, generative AI is now doing for creativity in city governance,” said Professor Saheb.
The seminar reflects Menlo College’s continued commitment to experiential learning, community engagement, and preparing students and the broader public to navigate and lead in an AI-driven future.
Press Contact:
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About Menlo College:
Menlo College is a small private, nonprofit college founded in 1927 with a mission to “ignite potential and educate students to make meaningful contributions in the innovation economy.” Situated in the heart of Silicon Valley, Menlo College offers undergraduate degrees in business and psychology, as well as three graduate degrees: a Master of Science in Information Systems, a Master of Science in Financial Technology, and a Master of Arts in Sport and Performance Psychology. Menlo is designated as both a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander-Serving (AANAPISI) Institution.
