Adapting to a Changing Workplace: Human Skills That Matter in the Age of AI
The workplace is evolving at lightning speed and AI is only accelerating that change. But while technology reshapes our workflows, it’s the human skills that remain at the core of how we collaborate, innovate, and thrive. Join Expedia Group and PowerToFly on Thursday, October 16th for an engaging in-person evening of…
About this event
The workplace is evolving at lightning speed and AI is only accelerating that change. But while technology reshapes our workflows, it’s the human skills that remain at the core of how we collaborate, innovate, and thrive.
Join Expedia Group and PowerToFly on Thursday, October 16th for an engaging in-person evening of networking and conversation in Seattle. This invite-only event will spotlight the uniquely human strengths, including creativity, adaptability, and emotional intelligence, that are shaping the future of work.
During this experience, you’ll:
🗣️ Hear insights from Expedia Group leaders on the role of human skills in an AI-driven world
💡 Learn practical strategies to future-proof your career in a rapidly changing workplace
🤝 Connect with peers, recruiters, and professionals across industries
🚀 Build relationships with recruiters and your fellow Seattle-based professionals that could spark your next big opportunity
Both professionals curious about career growth and those actively exploring new roles are encouraged to attend. This is your chance to connect face-to-face with Expedia Group recruiters and expand your network in an inspiring environment.
Agenda (PT):- 5:00 – 5:30 PM: Networking & light refreshments
- 5:30 – 5:35 PM: Opening remarks from PowerToFly
- 5:35 – 5:45 PM: Keynote with Giselle Doolan, Director, Strategy
- 5:45 – 6:10 PM: Panel discussion with Expedia Group leaders
- Hilary Lurie-Malina, Sr. Director, Machine Learning
- Richard Kocher, Senior Director, Global Media Insights & Planning
- Mani Najmabadi, Director, Machine Learning Science
- 6:10 – 6:25 PM: Audience Q&A
- 6:25 – 6:30 PM: Closing remarks
About Expedia Group:
Expedia Group powers global travel through technology, partnerships, and a shared passion for connecting people to the world. With trusted brands like Expedia®, Hotels.com®, and Vrbo®, the company helps millions of travelers explore while supporting partners with innovation and scale. At Expedia Group, we believe travel is a force for good—and we’re committed to building a more connected, inclusive future.
About PowerToFly:
PowerToFly is a women-run career platform connecting talent with companies that prioritize inclusion. With 2,000+ events hosted in partnership with leading brands like Meta, Salesforce, and Deloitte, PowerToFly helps professionals unlock new opportunities and thrive in workplaces built for everyone.
All RSVP’d attendees are welcome, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, pregnancy, disability, or age. If you need assistance to fully participate, please contact hi@powertofly.com
Where you could fit in
The team is actively hiring. Here are a few open roles this event is built around.
Meet the speakers
Mani Najmabadi
Director, Machine Learning Science, Expedia Group
I am a seasoned AI/ML professional with over 16 years of experience, including more than a decade in leadership roles. My expertise encompasses unstructured data applications such as natural language processing (NLP), computer vision (CV), and multimodal systems, with a particular focus on generative AI (GenAI). I hold multiple publications and patents, underscoring my contributions to cutting-edge innovation, and I have successfully guided companies in strategically adopting GenAI to drive tangible business outcomes. Known for bridging technical expertise with business strategy, I have delivered widely recognized conference talks on practical GenAI applications, helping organizations unlock its transformative potential. At Expedia Group, my team has played a central role in developing products powered by generative AI.
Richard Kocher
Senior Director of Media Insights & Planning, Expedia Group
Richard is senior director of Media Insights & Planning. His team is responsible for mining Expedia Group’s exclusive first-party search and booking data and market insights to inform partners’ strategies, product selection, and audience targeting. Prior to overseeing the global Media, Insights, and Planning team, Richard led Business Development and Account Management teams in display and sponsored listings across EMEA and APAC. He has postgraduate degrees in Anthropology from the University of Sussex and Business Administration from Warwick Business School – and lives with his family in Redmond, Washington.
Giselle Doolan
Director, Strategy, Expedia Group
Giselle has 17 years of experience in technology, with a background in program management, operations, and strategy. Her past employers include The New York Times, Ancestry, Vivint Smart Home, and Google. She has been with EG for 2.5 years, and is currently the Director of Business Operations for the Data & AI organization at Expedia Group, and the Chair of EG's Women in Data Community Group.
Hilary Lurie-Malina
Sr. Director, Machine Learning, Expedia Group
Expedia Group
Why Expedia Group?
Expedia Group, Inc. brands power travel for everyone, everywhere through our global platform. Driven by the core belief that travel is a force for good, we help people experience the world in new ways and build lasting connections. We provide industry-leading technology solutions to fuel partner growth and success, while facilitating memorable experiences for travelers. Expedia Group’s three flagship consumer brands include: Expedia®, Hotels.com®, and Vrbo®.
Open culture, open world
We're a diverse community, and we share a vision: to create the products, platforms, and experiences the rest of the industry looks to for inspiration. We’re not doing this for its own sake. We’re doing it because it makes a positive difference to every single traveler we serve. Expedia Group is a place where everyone can feel safe and empowered. We’re incredibly proud of the open culture we’ve built, and we’re united behind the belief that travel is a force for good. The experiences we create bridge divides and broaden horizons – making the world a better, more open place.
Our work of driving inclusion at Expedia Group and designing a more equitable workforce would not be possible without our Inclusion Business Groups (IBGs), a subcategory of our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs—the commonly used industry term), who are specifically dedicated to systemic inclusion of historically excluded identities. These employee-led groups provide spaces for our employees to connect through lived experiences and cultivate a sense of belonging and, furthermore, their charters guide them to empower their members, collaborate across intersectional identities within their communities, and promote allyship to all employees across the company.
At Expedia Group, there are eight Inclusion Business Groups:
- Latinx Education And Development
- Asian Community at Expedia
- Ability Inclusion Movement, PRIDE (LGBTQIA+)
- Women at Expedia Learning and Leading
- Black Expedia Allied Movement
- Expedia Veterans Friends and Family
- Indigenous Diversity Expedians and Allies
Impact & Sustainability
Expedia Group’s Open World™ global social impact and sustainability strategy is grounded in the pursuit of three pillars – access for underserved travelers, economic advancement for communities underrepresented in the travel industry, and a more prosperous planet for generations to come.
Open World combines Expedia Group’s mission, purpose, and values with its traveler-centric mindset to help bridge divides and strengthen connections.
Learn more about our Global Social Impact and Sustainability Strategy
Benefits:
- Competitive paid time off programs for vacation, holidays and illness
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Confidential 24/7 assistance for you and your household members at no cost
- Retirement/Pension Plan: Saving for your future financial wellbeing
- Insurance: Comprehensive coverage for your medical/health needs
- Global Travel & Wellness Reimbursement: Annual reimbursement for eligible travel and wellness expenses for you and your immediate family
- Service Award Program: Recognizes effort and commitment with additional travel reimbursement at key service milestones
- EG Traveler Program: Discounts on Expedia Group hotels, activities and attractions. 20% Employee Discount, 10% Family and Friends coupons
- Discover EG Program allows Expedians to explore our amazing offices around the world and work from another location for up to four weeks each year (max two weeks outside your country)
- International airlines travel agent network (IATAN) membership
- Business Travel Medical and Accident Insurance: Immediate assistance and coverage for unexpected medical care during business trips, including accident insurance
- New Parent Benefit: Maternity, paternity and adoption leave
- Transition Back Benefit: Flexibility to work part-time with regular full-time pay for the first 30 days after returning from parental leave
- Reimbursement Wallet: Up to $10,000 USD per lifetime for Fertility/Family Planning and/or Transgender Medical Services
- Cleo: Program offering guidance and expert assistance for working parents or adult caregivers
- Bereavement Leave: 10 days paid leaves granted upon the death of a close family member
Pet Benefits:
- Pet Perk: Allows two weeks of work schedule flexibility when you adopt/bring home a new dog or cat or any pet requiring initial settling-in care
- Bereavement Leave: Family pets are recognized as family members and when a family pet passes away, we provide 3 working days of paid leave
- Wellness Reimbursement benefits can now be used towards the wellbeing of pet
Let's stay in touch!
If you haven’t found the perfect opportunity yet, or you aren’t quite ready to apply, stay in the loop by joining our Career Network. You’ll get a heads-up about new opportunities, and we'll keep you up to speed with what’s happening at Expedia Group as we transform travel through tech.
Connecting professionals to the work that matters most.
PowerToFly connects professionals with hiring and upskilling opportunities across every industry, through events like this one, an active community, and direct matches.
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190 A truly global community, so you can connect and grow your network without borders.
75%+ More perspectives across the network means better outcomes for everyone.
12+ Since 2014, building infrastructure for professionals to do meaningful work.
Everyone's welcome, and we'll help you take part.
All registered attendees are welcome, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, pregnancy, disability, or age. If you need any assistance to fully take part, tell us what would help. Email hi@powertofly.com and we'll make it work.