IENYC Employer Forum 2025: Shaping the Future of Recruitment and AI Innovation

The second-ever IENYC Employer Forum took place on May 7 at the Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, gathering nearly 100 employer partners, including employers, alumni, headhunters, and AI industry experts. The event was hosted by the Employer Partnerships team at IE Talent & Careers, in close collaboration with IENYC. The event featured a panel discussion, “Recruiting in the Age of AI: What’s Next for NYC’s Talent Market,” which discussed how AI and emerging technologies are transforming U.S. job market trends, recruitment cycles, and the future of workplaces.

The panel brought together Nadine Taha, an HR consultant with more than seven years of global experience; Matthew Davis, senior associate at True Search NYC; and Venu Kannan, a leader in automation and AI with over 25 years of experience. 

The IENYC Employer Forum has become a cornerstone of IE’s employer partnerships strategy and plays a vital role in strengthening connections between employers, alumni, and students across IE’s global network. Beatriz Garcia-Bernalt De La Cruz, deputy head of Talent & Careers, highlighted the significance of these gatherings. 

“The IENYC Employer Forum is at the heart of our Employer Partnerships activity across our global hubs,” she said. “It brings together students, alumni, and companies — forming a powerful triangle that fosters networking, recruitment, and industry knowledge sharing.”

This edition also welcomed a special group of attendees: the first cohort of students from the Master’s in Business for Social Impact and Sustainability. These students engaged with alumni and recruiters from sectors including finance, consulting, technology, and diversified industries. According to Garcia-Bernalt De La Cruz, the increasing interest from recruiters and alumni reflects the growing strength of the IE NYC brand and its expanding influence in the U.S. market.

“Our ecosystem in New York is growing stronger every day,” she said. “We are applying the global expertise developed over decades and are well on our way to becoming a Global Talent Hub.”

Participants praised the event’s focus on pressing industry trends and the opportunities it provided for both exchanging ideas and professional networking. Several employers expressed interest in future collaborations with IE, including internship and recruitment partnerships to connect with talent and experts within the IE community. As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the workplace, IENYC remains committed to fostering dialogue and strengthening industry ties through initiatives like the IENYC Employer Forum.