Opening Plenary
​Pathways to the Global Workforce: A Dialogue Across Sectors

Monday, October 20 | 9:00 a.m. CT

Kick off the CIGL Conference with an engaging panel on the future of work and the critical role global learning plays in preparing students for a rapidly evolving workforce. This Opening Plenary brings together a powerful panel of voices—including a the founder and CEO of an AI-powered career acceleration platform and a representative from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE)—who will share the latest data on career readiness trends, as well as global and local employers, and career services leaders and higher education leaders. 

Together, these cross-sector experts will explore how institutions, employers, and career professionals can better align their efforts to equip students with the global skills and experiences needed to thrive. This session will set the tone for two days of learning, collaboration, and action, focusing on building a more connected and career-relevant future for education abroad. 

Plenary Speakers

Salil Pande
Founder and CEO
​VMock

Alejandro Filloy
Former Customer Service Director in Latin America
​Amazon

Josh Kahn
Associate Director of Research and Public Policy
​NACE

Tracey Bradley
Assistant Vice Chancellor
​Tennessee Board of Regents

Mario Vela (moderator)
​Assistant Vice Provost of Career Engaged Learning
​The University of Texas at San Antonio 

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Closing Plenary
​Elevating the Role of Global Education in Workforce Development

Tuesday, October 21 | 3:00 - 3:45 p.m.

As a community, we know that education abroad equips students, and the employers who hire them, with the skills, perspectives, and connections to thrive in the future world of work.  

But knowing it isn’t enough. To secure the support and resources our work deserves, we must be able to tell this story—compellingly, convincingly, and backed by evidence—to the many stakeholders who shape our success. 

In this Closing Plenary, we’ll reflect on the insights gained over the past two days and work together to transform them into powerful narratives that convey the urgency, relevance, and return on investment of career-integrated global learning. Leave inspired and equipped to champion the value of global learning in every conversation, on every campus, and in every boardroom.

Plenary Speakers

​Aaron Klein
​Senior Liaison, Corporate Business Development
​The Ohio State University, Fisher College of Business 

Ariel Vargas
Director, International Operations
​Databricks 

Ariel's Bio

​Ariel Vargas is Director of International Operations at Databricks, bringing over 29 years of leadership experience in Costa Rica’s tech and services industry. He has held key roles at Acer, SYKES, IBM, HP, VMware, and Palo Alto Networks, where he led the company’s local growth from its launch in 2018. At VMware, he oversaw the expansion of the Costa Rica office from 18 to over 700 employees, earning top rankings in employee satisfaction and workplace excellence.

Ezequiel Herrera
Associate Program Manager
Southwest Airlines 

Cynthia Engel (moderator)
Director of Career Services
Oregon State University-Cascades