New Orleans, LA – The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) officially kicked off its 2025 Professional Development Conference (PDC) with A Bayou Welcome & Black STEM Experience (BSX) powered by Amazon. The opening session set the tone for the four-day conference, drawing more than 500 attendees into a powerful dialogue on innovation, career advancement, and community impact. The 2025 NSBE PDC, held August 27–30 in New Orleans, continues to provide a unique platform for networking, workshops, and thought leadership, ensuring that Black professionals in STEM are positioned to excel academically, succeed professionally, and positively impact their communities.
The kickoff session featured a fireside chat with distinguished Amazon and AWS leaders: Howard Brantley, Manager, Business Coaches (DSP); Kennetha Wiggins, Principal Global Experiences and Engagement Manager; Omotayo Akintoye, iPad Acquisition Specialist; and Errio Boyd, ACI Technical Instructor for AWS. Their insights underscored how NSBE and Amazon continue to serve as catalysts for professional growth, preparing members to thrive in dynamic industries while also uplifting communities nationwide.
Howard Brantley’s key points were centered around Leadership & Innovation through AI. Brantley emphasized the critical role of leadership in shaping the AI era, stressing that technical expertise must be paired with strong business acumen. He discussed how Amazon DSP business coaches use AI-driven data insights to help entrepreneurs improve operations, optimize logistics, and scale with confidence. His message focused on equipping STEM professionals to not only adopt new tools but also to lead organizational transformation.
Kennetha Wiggins engaged the audience with topics centered around engagement as well as the culture & global impacts of AI. Wiggins highlighted the importance of diverse perspectives in shaping global AI experiences. She shared how her team drives engagement strategies that ensure innovation is inclusive and human centered. Wiggins underscored that as generative AI accelerates workplace change, organizations must remain committed to building cultures of equity, representation, and belonging. For attendees, she encouraged leaning into AI not just for productivity, but for creating experiences that resonate across communities and cultures.
Omotayo Akintoye provided context on the emerging tech & career pathways. Akintoye brought forward a hands-on perspective, sharing insights from his role in acquisition and technology strategy. He spoke about AI applications in streamlining processes and demonstrated how tools such as Amazon Bedrock and Amazon SageMaker accelerate innovation cycles. He encouraged attendees to view AI as a career accelerator, noting that gaining expertise in emerging tools can open pathways into leadership roles and new technical specialties within global organizations.
Errio Boyd centered the conversation around the training, security & practical applications side of AI in engineering and training. He discussed Amazon’s internal AI assistant tools and explained how they provide employees with secure generative AI capabilities while maintaining strict data protections. Boyd emphasized that the future of engineering professionals lies in combining technical skills with AI literacy, urging attendees to embrace hands-on learning, certifications, and applied training to remain competitive in the evolving workforce. Boyd is an AWS expert instructor who was also the instructor the AWS Certified AI Practitioner Training course, equipping attendees with foundational knowledge in AI, ML, and generative AI.
Beyond the fireside chat, NSBE and Amazon partnered to host an AWS Certified AI Practitioner Training session, equipping attendees with foundational knowledge in AI, ML, and generative AI. Participants also received complimentary access to the course Introduction to Generative AI – Art of the Possible, providing hands-on experience they can bring back to their organizations and communities.
In summary, the fireside chat and resource sharing at the 2025 NSBE Professional Development Conference reinforced NSBE’s role as a driving force for professional excellence and community advancement. The perspectives shared by Amazon and AWS leaders provided not only a vivid picture of how generative AI is reshaping engineering, leadership, and workplace culture, but also a practical roadmap for how STEM professionals can harness these innovations to create lasting impact. The session underscored that the future of professional growth lies at the intersection of technical mastery, inclusivity, and purpose-driven application. Looking ahead, NSBE envisions this year’s PDC as more than just a milestone—it is a launchpad for future innovation, expanded partnerships, and deeper exploration of AI and emerging technologies. As NSBE members prepare to carry these insights back to their organizations and communities, the momentum built in New Orleans sets the stage for an even greater collective impact at the 2026 PDC conference in Las Vegas and beyond.
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