PROPEL Center President & Chief of Strategy Harriette K. Burrell joins Houston City Beat to discuss HBCU innovation, career opportunities, and the changing world of technology.
Houston will welcome some of the nation’s emerging technology talent when AfroTech arrives November 2, 2026, at the George R. Brown Convention Center, bringing together students, innovators, industry leaders, and professionals for a week focused on technology, innovation, and career opportunities.
During a recent episode of What’s Happening with HOU, Houston City Beat’s Lisbet Newton spoke with Harriette K. Burrell, President & Chief of Strategy of the PROPEL Center, about the organization’s work with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), its participation in AfroTech, and the growing influence of artificial intelligence on the future workforce.
Watch the Conversation
Creating Opportunities for HBCU Students
The Propel Center works alongside HBCUs to help students prepare for careers in a rapidly changing economy.
Founded with support from Apple and Southern Company, the organization has also received support from Disney. Burrell shared that Amazon and Salesforce have also supported the organization. Its mission centers on helping students gain access to the education, technology, industry relationships, and practical experiences needed to succeed in today’s workforce.
For Burrell, supporting HBCU students is about more than education. It’s about ensuring talented young people have opportunities to put their knowledge and abilities to work.
The organization develops programs that connect students with industry partners, introduce emerging technologies, and encourage innovative thinking through hands-on challenges.
Artificial Intelligence Is Changing the Career Landscape
One of the most compelling parts of the conversation focused on a concern facing college students today: What happens when the careers they’re preparing for are being transformed by artificial intelligence?
Newton raised the question of the significant investment students make in their education, particularly the years they dedicate to earning a degree, while technology continues to reshape employment opportunities.
Burrell acknowledged that the challenge is significant.
Graduating students are no longer competing only with other recent graduates. They are entering a job market that also includes experienced professionals, managers, and executives whose careers are being disrupted by AI.
At the same time, automated recruiting systems are changing how employers screen applicants, sometimes creating additional barriers for qualified candidates.
Burrell explained that the Propel Center is responding by helping students move beyond simply being considered entry-level talent.
The goal is to develop what she calls “ready talent,” students who can enter the workforce with practical experience, industry exposure, and the ability to apply emerging technologies to real-world challenges.
Bringing Real-World Experience Into the Classroom
Rather than waiting until graduation to introduce students to professional environments, the Propel Center is working to bring industry experiences directly into higher education.
Through classroom challenges and national competitions, students have opportunities to work on real problems, explore practical applications of artificial intelligence, and develop skills that employers increasingly need.
These experiences also allow students to demonstrate their abilities to industry partners before beginning their professional careers.
The approach reflects an important shift in workforce preparation. Education remains essential, but the ability to apply knowledge, adapt to new technologies, and solve problems is becoming increasingly valuable.
The HBCU Innovation Challenge Comes to AfroTech
The Propel Center’s participation in AfroTech is an opportunity to showcase the creativity and talent emerging from HBCUs across the country.
Burrell explained that, working in partnership with AfroTech, the organization has transformed what was previously a hackathon into the HBCU Innovation Challenge.
The initiative gives students an opportunity to demonstrate their problem-solving abilities and develop innovative solutions.
During AfroTech, the Propel Center will participate in activities Monday, November 2, through Wednesday, November 4.
Burrell also shared that the organization will join Apple on the conference’s innovation stage, accompanied by a winning student who will discuss their project.
Burrell said the presentation will also introduce the organization’s upcoming national innovation challenge, planned for spring 2027.
For students, the experience offers more than recognition. It creates opportunities to connect with industry leaders, share ideas, and gain exposure that could influence their future careers.
The Impact Goes Beyond One Student
As the conversation came to a close, Newton reflected on something that often gets overlooked when discussing education and workforce development: the impact that one person’s success can have on an entire family and community.
Helping a student find a meaningful career can create opportunities that extend far beyond that individual.
Their success can influence younger siblings, provide greater financial stability for their families, and inspire others to pursue their own educational and professional goals.
It’s this ripple effect that makes initiatives such as those offered by the Propel Center especially meaningful.
As Houston prepares to host AfroTech, the event represents an opportunity to celebrate innovation while recognizing the organizations and individuals working to make the future of technology more accessible.
And for students preparing to enter an AI-driven workforce, those opportunities may help shape careers that are only beginning to emerge.
Learn More
AfroTech Conference
November 2–6, 2026 · George R. Brown Convention Center · Houston, Texas
Visit afrotechconference.com for conference information and registration details.
Propel Center
Learn more about the organization’s programs and initiatives at propelcenter.org.
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