The Mentoring Roundtables program is aimed at creating meaningful connections between early-career professionals and experienced leaders through focused, small-group conversations. This interactive format gives FIRE participants direct access to mentors across diverse sectors, creating space for authentic dialogue, personalized guidance, and career-building insights.

Mentors will be recruited through two main channels:

1. FIRE participants who apply through the “Peer Mentorship” avenue, and

2. Professionals from outside FIRE, including keynote speakers and representatives from UKC programs such as TGS, IES, UKIS, SEED, and Sponsor Forums.

Each roundtable will center around a specific theme related to the mentor’s expertise—such as leadership in science and tech, navigating uncertainty in emerging fields, thriving in academia, advancing in industry, achieving work-life integration, or building long-term professional resilience.

As a “Peer Mentor”, you will:

• Begin with a brief 5–10 minute introduction to share key lessons from your personal and professional journey.

• Facilitate discussion around a selected topic by offering insights, asking thought-provoking questions, and encouraging participant engagement.

• Provide actionable advice or resources based on your experience, tailored to the interests of your group.

FIRE participants applying as Peer Mentors should meet the following:

• Have substantial professional or academic experience in their field (e.g., professionals with 5+ years of work experience). We highly encourage experienced professionals in industry and healthcare/medicine to apply as Peer Mentors!

• Be able to speak meaningfully about career development topics from a peer-leadership perspective.

• Be enthusiastic about mentoring junior participants and committed to preparing a brief opening talk and set of guiding questions to foster conversation.

• Demonstrate strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Participant Outcomes: By the end of the session, participants will have gained fresh perspectives on career development, learned strategies they can apply immediately, and connected with professionals across disciplines. The Mentoring Roundtables program provides a rare opportunity to engage in meaningful, face-to-face mentorship to bridge generational and professional gaps between established leaders and the next generation of innovators.

The AI Build Challenge is a new no-code/low-code hackathon that invites FIRE participants to collaborate in small teams to build a working AI prototype before the conference.

Once accepted, organizers connect participants into teams of 1–4 before the build period begins. Participants will choose to be in a group or work independently. Teams meet virtually, align on their approach, and then have one week to bring their solution from concept to working prototype. Teams receive a single, open-ended problem prompt and organizers support the process through an onboarding session, an initial check-in, and a midpoint check-in providing coordination and light guidance.

Suggested project directions include:

• A ride-sharing or meetup coordination platform for unofficial gatherings around the conference

• An LLM-powered chatbot for pre-, during-, and post-event Q&A support

All projects will be showcased on the FIRE website. Selected finalists will be invited to present on-site at FIRE 2026. Selected products may be deployed for actual use by FIRE attendees during UKC.

Expectations:

• Attend the onboarding session and both check-ins throughout the build period

• Submit a demo video and product repository by the provided deadline

• Deliver a live presentation at FIRE covering: problem identification, development process, and a working live demo, followed by Q&A

No prior engineering experience required; the challenge is designed to be accessible across backgrounds. Suggested tools include Claude, Figma, and other no-code/low-code AI platforms.

Participant Outcomes: 

Participants will experience the process of building with AI tools, develop skills in problem scoping and rapid prototyping, and practice communicating technical work to a general audience. The AI Build Challenge bridges the gap between AI familiarity and AI fluency providing direct development experience.

The Career Flash Talk program offers a high-energy platform for professionals to share targeted insights from their leadership experiences or career journeys. In just five minutes, presenters will deliver concentrated wisdom that can help others advance their professional growth and development. This format provides a forum for sharing concise, impactful career insights and showcases diverse pathways to professional growth and leadership, all aligned with the theme "Strengthening the Next Generation of Leaders."

Each presenter will deliver a focused 5-minute talk using simple PowerPoint slides, share specific experiences, and actionable takeaways. Potential topics include building professional networks, navigating career transitions, addressing work-life balance challenges, and developing leadership skills in non-leadership roles.

Presenter Guidelines: 

Create concise, visually appealing slides that enhance your narrative, focus on specific applicable lessons rather than general advice, include concrete examples from your personal experience, and design your talk to resonate with participants from diverse backgrounds. Practice to ensure your delivery fits precisely within the 5-minute timeframe.

Additional networking opportunity:

Instead of individual Q&A sessions, we will facilitate career group-based networking circles before and after the Flash Talk session. Participants will be pre-assigned to tables based on their career interests, with seating reflected during Day 1 activities, for a smoother transition from the icebreaker sessions to meaningful, peer-driven discussions after the talks.

Participant Outcomes: 

Attendees will gain practical career advancement strategies from a variety of perspectives, learn from others' experiences in navigating professional challenges, and collect a diverse portfolio of approaches they can apply to their own career development.

The Career Poster Presentation session creates a platform for participants to showcase topics of personal or professional significance while engaging in personalized discussions. This format combines visual communication with interactive dialogue, creating opportunities for deeper discussions on topics related to career development and professional growth, and personal exploration.

Each presenter will:

1. 1. Design and prepare a visually engaging and professionally formatted poster on their chosen topic

   2. Follow organizer guidelines for transporting and setting up their display

   3. Prepare a brief 5-minute verbal overview to introduce their poster

   4. Remain at their station to engage visitors and respond to questions throughout the session

Topics can include but are not limited to:

• Career development strategies

• Professional skill-building techniques

• Creative or interdisciplinary projects

• Personal interests that have informed professional growth

Important Note: 

*Technical & research posters in specialized fields (e.g., cancer therapeutics, machine learning, battery science) should be submitted to the respective Technical Group Symposium (TGS) instead. Participants must apply to either TGS OR FIRE, as sessions run concurrently.

Participant Outcomes: 

Presenters will refine their ability to communicate complex ideas visually, gain experience answering spontaneous questions about their topic, and build their network through meaningful one-on-one conversations. Visitors will benefit from personalized explanations tailored to their specific interests and questions.

There is a non-presenter option in our application, which does not require a presentation. However, you are still expected to be an active participant in discussions, icebreakers, Q&As, and all sessions at UKC. The non-presenter option has an increased registration fee, and no support for lodging, travel, nor meals. More details can be found on our Cost to Attend page.