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October 1st, 2026
What does it mean to build a meaningful career in a world of rapid technological change and uncertainty?
That question was at the center of a recent event featuring Arun Gupta, CEO of the NobleReach Foundation and co-author of “The Mission Generation: Reclaim Your Purpose, Rewrite Success, Rebuild Our Future.” Gupta joined Purdue students on September 24 for a reading, conversation, and book signing in the Humanities, Social Science and Education Library.
Gupta challenged students to rethink the traditional idea of a linear career. With artificial intelligence, longer working lives, and rapid changes across industries, he encouraged students to focus less on titles and institutions and more on the problems they care about solving.
“You can’t just wait for clarity and then go act on it. You’ve got to put yourself out there and be acting and getting feedback.”
His emphasis on experimentation, curiosity, and continuous learning has strong ties to the values of Purdue Libraries and School of Information Studies. In a world where information and technology are changing rapidly, information literacy is not simply a skill students develop for a particular course or assignment. It is a foundation for lifelong learning—helping people ask meaningful questions, evaluate information, adapt to new circumstances, and make informed decisions throughout their careers.
As Gupta put it, “You’re learning for the rest of your life.”
From Purdue to public service
Purdue alumnus Tarun Prakash joined Gupta for the conversation and provided a firsthand example of these ideas in practice. After graduating from Purdue with a degree in mechanical engineering, Prakash became part of NobleReach’s inaugural cohort and spent a year working with the U.S. Space Force in El Segundo, CA.
He described the experience as a “force multiplier” for his career. Working in government gave him an understanding of public-sector priorities and relationships that later became valuable when he moved into the private sector.
Prakash’s experience illustrated Gupta’s argument that an unconventional career experience can become an important source of learning, relationships, and perspective rather than a detour from a traditional career path.
Connecting NobleReach and Purdue
Prakash’s experience also reflects the growing connections among NobleReach, Purdue Libraries and School of Information Studies, and the Purdue University College of Engineering.
The College of Engineering’s Innovation for Public Service Certificate, developed in collaboration with NobleReach, gives students opportunities to explore how technology, innovation, and public service intersect. Libraries courses ILS 230, ILS 300, and ILS 301 are selective courses in the certificate program.
These connections reflect a shared interest in preparing students to navigate complex problems that cross disciplinary and institutional boundaries. For Libraries and School of Information Studies, that work includes helping students develop the information-literacy skills and habits of lifelong learning needed to remain adaptable in a rapidly changing world.
The Mission Generation ultimately asks students to think differently about both careers and learning. Rather than waiting for certainty, Gupta encourages people to experiment, learn from experience, build trusted relationships, and continually reassess where they can contribute.
That message aligns closely with the role of Purdue Libraries: supporting students not only in finding information today, but in developing the curiosity, critical thinking, and lifelong learning practices they will need for whatever comes next.
Filed under: general, News and Announcements