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Welcome to the Friday edition of our newsletter. We spend Fridays going deeper into tools and trends related to generative AI (and Tuesdays sharing news updates). This week, Professor Porter interviews Zimpleman College dean Alanah Mitchell about the upcoming Bucksbaum Lectureship in Business, which will be on the topic of AI.

On October 21, 2026, Drake University will be hosting the fourth annual Bucksbaum Lectureship in Business, featuring award-winning journalist Karen Hao and The Atlantic CEO Nicholas Thompson, who will discuss “Decoding America’s Tech Moment,” focusing on how we arrived at the present moment of a world increasingly shaped by AI and the implications of this rapid rise of AI for our future.

In anticipation of Hao and Thompson’s visit to Drake’s campus—which is open to the public—for today’s newsletter we interviewed Dr. Alanah Mitchell, dean of Drake’s Zimpleman College of Business. The Bucksbaum Lectureship in Business is Zimpleman College’s signature event of the year, and Dr. Mitchell has served as a member of the organizing committee. She’ll also deliver opening remarks for the lecture, so we’re glad to have her share her perspective on the Bucksbaum Lectureship, why AI is an especially important topic this year, what she’s looking forward to hearing, and what she hopes the event will mean for the broader community. Keep reading below to hear from Dr. Mitchell.

Porter: The Bucksbaum Lectureship in Business is still a relatively new part of Drake’s programming. What do you see as the purpose of the series, and what role can it play for both Zimpleman and the broader business community?

Mitchell: The Bucksbaum Lectureship in Business represents an important opportunity to bring nationally recognized thought leaders to Drake and create meaningful dialogue around the issues that are shaping business and society. At its core, the series is about connecting ideas to impact.

For the Zimpleman College of Business, the lectureship allows our students, faculty, staff, and community members to directly engage with influential thinkers and practitioners who are helping define the future of business. It extends learning beyond the classroom and reinforces our commitment to preparing future business leaders who can think critically.

For the broader business community, the series serves as a convening space. Des Moines has a strong tradition of collaboration across industries, and the Bucksbaum Lectureship in Business can help bring together business leaders, entrepreneurs, nonprofit organizations, educators, and community members around issues that affect us all. The most valuable discussions are often the ones that help us see challenges from a new perspective, and that is exactly the role I hope the lectureship continues to play.

Porter: This year’s lecture comes at a moment when AI is changing remarkably quickly and business leaders are trying to determine what those changes actually mean for their organizations. From your perspective as dean, why is this an especially valuable conversation to be having right now?

Mitchell: Artificial intelligence is moving from an emerging technology to something that is actively reshaping business and society. The pace of change is incredible, but so is the uncertainty. Business leaders are asking: How do we leverage AI responsibly? How do we prepare our workforce? Where are the opportunities, and where are the risks? These are not simply technology questions; they are leadership questions.

Universities have a responsibility to help society navigate moments like this by bringing together expertise, evidence, and diverse viewpoints. A conversation involving Karen Hao and Nicholas Thompson is valuable because it moves beyond the news headlines and gives us an opportunity to examine not only what AI can do, but also what it means for organizations, employees, communities, and the future of leadership.

Porter: You’ll be helping welcome the audience and open the evening of the lecture. What are you personally most interested in hearing Karen Hao and Nicholas Thompson discuss?

Mitchell: I'm particularly interested in hearing how they balance optimism and caution. Conversations about AI often swing between extremes, either portraying it as a solution to every challenge or as a threat to every aspect of work and society. The reality is likely quite nuanced.

Karen Hao has done work to examine the broader implications of AI, while Nicholas Thompson has spent years exploring how technology shapes business and culture. I am interested in hearing their perspectives on what thoughtful AI adoption looks like, how leaders can make responsible decisions in times of uncertainty, and what skills individuals and organizations will need to thrive in an AI-enabled future.

I also hope they will address questions about trust and human judgment. As AI becomes increasingly capable, understanding where technology should augment decision-making and where human expertise remains essential will be an important distinction.

Porter: What do you hope business leaders in central Iowa take away from this conversation about AI, not necessarily a specific answer, but perhaps a new question or way of thinking?

Mitchell: I hope business leaders leave with a deeper appreciation that AI is not primarily a technology conversation. It's a strategy, talent, ethics, and leadership conversation. I hope leaders ask, "How can we use AI in ways that align with our values, strengthen our organizations, and create positive outcomes for the people we serve?" Organizations that succeed in their adoption and use of AI will be the organizations that thoughtfully evaluate opportunities, remain adaptable, invest in their people, and maintain a clear sense of purpose amid this rapid change.

If Bucksbaum Lectureship attendees leave asking better questions about the long-term implications of AI for their organizations and communities, then I would consider the conversation a success.

Porter: One of the things a university can provide is a place for the community to wrestle with complicated issues that don’t have easy answers. How do you see Drake, and Zimpleman College in particular, helping the Des Moines business community make sense of the opportunities and challenges surrounding AI?

Mitchell: The role of a university is to create opportunities for thoughtful exploration, informed debate, and evidence-based learning. At Drake, including the Zimpleman College of Business, we hope to contribute to the understanding of AI by bringing together scholars, business leaders, policymakers, students, and community members to examine AI from multiple perspectives. We can help our community members better understand emerging trends, develop talent prepared for an evolving workforce, and explore the ethical and societal implications of new technologies.

AI presents tremendous opportunities, but it also raises legitimate questions that deserve serious consideration. By fostering open dialogue and ongoing learning, Drake can help ensure our region approaches these changes purposefully, responsibly, and confidently.

The fourth annual Bucksbaum Lectureship in Business, “Decoding America’s Tech Moment,” takes place Wednesday, October 21, at 7:00 p.m. at Drake University’s Knapp Center.

Karen Hao and Nicholas Thompson will explore how we arrived at this moment of rapid AI adoption—and where we may be headed next. The event is free and open to the public, and a livestream will also be available for those who can’t attend in person via www.drake.edu/live.

Use this link to get reserved seating at the event.

If you’re thinking about what AI means for your organization, your work, or the broader community, this should be a conversation worth attending.

Learn more about the Bucksbaum Lectureship in Business and the October 21 event.