How do we prepare the next generation for an AI-driven workforce? Tom Bush and Stuart MacDonald sit down with Professor Tracey Sigers of NCUS TEC, the career college of the National Center for Urban Solutions in Columbus. Tracey shares how urban schools and colleges are integrating AI through IBM Skills platforms and Mark Cuban Foundation bootcamps, why teaching AI "backwards" from 12th-grade capstones accelerates adoption, and how voice AI agents are coaching students for real-world job interviews.
Guest: Professor Tracey Sigers, Director of AI and Digital Skills Initiatives, NCUS TEC (National Center for Urban Solutions)
In this episode:
• The "Reverse Classroom" framework: cascading AI skills from high school seniors down
• Using voice AI tutors as interactive mock-interview coaches for youth career readiness
• The corporate upskilling mindset: why a "rising tide lifts all boats" across industries
• Why foundational critical thinking and computational logic must precede prompt engineering
• Tracey's book project, "Your Perfect Match: Your Date with AI"
Connect with Tracey:
LinkedIn: / tracey-sigers-0951b910
NCUS TEC: https://ncustec.org
National Center for Urban Solutions: https://ncusolutions.com
Email: tsigers@ncusolutions.com
Recorded live at Columbus AI Week (Sept 10–11, 2026), produced by the Enterprise Technology Association with JobsOhio: https://www.joinaiweek.com/columbus
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