Leading the conversation was Dr. Nikos Mylonopoulos, Professor of Digital Business at ALBA Graduate Business School, The American College of Greece, and Director of the SEV Center of Excellence in Creative Leadership. A seasoned expert in Digital Transformation, Social Media, and AI, Dr. Mylonopoulos brought deep insight and practical examples drawn from his work with global business leaders and top academic institutions. He also integrates innovative teaching tools—such as simulations from Harvard Business School, INSEAD, and HEC Montreal—into his programs, bridging theory and practice in a compelling way.
Throughout the session, participants engaged in a lively and wide-ranging discussion that touched on many of the core issues shaping the future of AI in education and beyond. One of the key themes was the ethical dimension of artificial intelligence, with questions raised about whether AI could eventually become a fully rational decision-maker—one that might risk sidelining essential human qualities like empathy, ethics, and emotional understanding.
There was also thoughtful debate around how best to prepare academic and administrative staff to use AI effectively at an operational level, and how institutions can ensure that these tools are integrated in ways that add value rather than complexity. The role of AI in academic research sparked further discussion, particularly regarding its acceptability in producing scholarly work and the ethical guidelines that should govern its use.
Generational preferences and digital behavior came into focus as well, with participants considering how different age groups interact with technology and whether digital platforms will evolve to retain users as they grow older—or if new platforms will emerge to meet shifting expectations.
In addition, the conversation explored the growing number of applications for AI in higher education, from personalized learning environments to administrative automation. This naturally led to reflections on pedagogy itself: in a world increasingly influenced by intelligent systems, should educators place more emphasis on delivering content or on cultivating students' capacity and motivation to learn independently?
Other key questions included whether the rise of AI threatens to diminish the quality of business education, how human resources departments are adapting their practices through gradual AI implementation, and the broader environmental implications of AI technologies, particularly in terms of energy consumption.
As always, the Conversations Over Coffee format encouraged open, peer-to-peer dialogue, reinforcing CEEMAN’s commitment to creating spaces where members can engage with critical issues, share institutional insights, and support one another in navigating change.
We thank all participants for their thoughtful contributions to this session and look forward to welcoming you to future Conversations Over Coffee, where together we’ll continue exploring the most relevant and forward-looking topics in management education.