Snapshots: UNO Future of Work Symposium Explores Entrepreneurial Career Paths
UNO hosted its fifth annual Future of Work Symposium on Sept. 17, highlighting how innovation and entrepreneurship are reshaping careers across industries.
- published: 2025/09/22
- contact: Sam Peshek - Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications
- email: unonews@unomaha.edu
Genevieve Custer Weeks, founder and CEO of Tutu School, delivered the keynote. Photo: Ryan Soderlin, UNO Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications.
UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, addressed the audience. Photo: Ryan Soderlin, UNO Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications.
Redesigning Your Career with and Entrepreneurial Approach Panelist Emiliano Lerda with Elevator talks to the audience. Photo: Ryan Soderlin, UNO Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications.
Redesigning Your Career with and Entrepreneurial Approach Panelist Rick Knutdson with Workshop talks to the audience. Photo: Ryan Soderlin, UNO Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications.
Redesigning Your Career with and Entrepreneurial Approach Panelist Alan with Trip MTRLobjects addresses the audience. Photo: Ryan Soderlin, UNO Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications.
Redesigning Your Career with and Entrepreneurial Approach Panelist April Hibbler with Nebraska Opportunity Exchange addresses the audience. Photo: Ryan Soderlin, UNO Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications.
A student asks questions to the panel. Photo: Ryan Soderlin, UNO Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications.
Students take part in a breakout session at the symposium. Photo: Ryan Soderlin, UNO Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications.
The workplace is changing, and at the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s (UNO) Future of Work Symposium, students and leaders explored how entrepreneurial thinking is driving that shift.
📈 What happened:
-
The Future of Work Symposium, themed “The Work Revolution: Redesigning Careers with an Entrepreneurial Approach,” drew professionals, students, and community leaders to UNO’s Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center (CEC) on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025.
-
Genevieve Custer Weeks, founder and CEO of Tutu School, delivered the keynote, sharing how entrepreneurial thinking can empower individuals to design fulfilling, sustainable careers.
-
A panel discussion featured local innovators: Alan Tipp (MTRLobjects), Emiliano Lerda (Elevator), April Hibbler (Nebraska Opportunity Exchange), and Rick Knutdson (Workshop).
💡 Why it matters:
-
Careers are increasingly shaped by entrepreneurial approaches, from freelancing to corporate innovation, to self-employment.
-
UNO’s symposium provided a forum for sharing ideas and strategies that help workers align careers with skills, values, and ambitions.
🔎 Zoom in:
-
Attendees participated in six breakout sessions led by UNO experts and Omaha area business leaders, offering practical insights on redesigning careers in today’s evolving workplace.
-
The event emphasized how higher education and community collaboration can prepare students and professionals for the rapidly changing world of work.
About the University of Nebraska at Omaha
The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university, committed to innovating for the public good, advancing social mobility, powering workforce development, and serving as a hub for community engagement. Nearly 15,000 Mavericks choose UNO for its hands-on education experiences, nationally ranked online and graduate programs, military-connected student support, and innovative approaches to supporting lifelong learning. UNO holds the Carnegie Research Activity “R2” designation, securing more than $40 million annually in external research funding and counts its faculty among the world’s most cited scholars. Sixteen Omaha Athletics programs compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Summit League and National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC).
Follow UNO on Facebook, Twitter (X), Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.