My name is Robert Rex, I am an All-American dancer and advertising analyst passionate about the intersection of AI, faith, and business. Over the past three years, I have been inspired by a global movement that’s shaping how we bring our full, authentic selves—including our deepest beliefs—into the workplace.
Discovering Faith@Work
Robert Rex shares his experience with the Dare to Overcome conference, and encourages others interested in the intersection of faith and AI to attend.
In 2022, I met Dr. Brian Grim, the founder of the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation, when he visited my university. I was surprised to learn that many Fortune 500 companies, including Google, Intel, and American Airlines, actively promote religious diversity and inclusion at work.
Faith and belief are core to nearly every human being, including those with no specific religious affiliation. When people are free to express those values authentically at work, it energizes teams, enhances innovation, and contributes to better performance and business growth.
AI and Faith
When artificial intelligence is built on ethical foundations informed by faith and human dignity, it becomes more inclusive, trustworthy, and relevant. AI shaped by moral frameworks can better serve the common good and reflect the values that matter most in society.
Volunteering at Dare to Overcome
After meeting Brian Grim, I connected with his colleague Paul Lambert and learned about an opportunity to volunteer at the National Faith@Work Conference in Washington, D.C., known as Dare to Overcome. This event brings together a religiously diverse group of business leaders, employee resource groups (ERGs), and thought leaders from around the world to share best practices for building faith-friendly workplaces. One of the conference highlights is the presentation of the Religious Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) Index Awards, which honor companies who lead the way in welcoming faith into the workplace.
Friendly Competition, Shared Values
During my first year of volunteering, American Airlines took the top spot on the REDI Index. Intel came in second and, in good humor, said, “American Airlines is number one because they have ‘Intel Inside’.” The next year, Intel doubled down on its commitment to inclusion and earned the #1 spot, showing how healthy competition can inspire progress and create positive change.
Meaningful Connections
It was at this conference that I met David Brenner, the founder of AI and Faith, during a powerful panel on the role of faith in shaping AI. I was deeply inspired and later joined the editorial team. AI needs ethical stewards, and this community is one of the most thoughtful spaces I have found at the intersection of emerging technology and belief. This year, Ben Christensen and I from AI & Faith will be attending Dare to Overcome 2025, and we would love to meet others in our community who will be in Washington, D.C.
Join Us — May 20–22, 2025
The 2025 Dare to Overcome: National Faith@Work Conference will be held at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., from May 20–22, 2025. Registration is open now!
🔗 Click here to register and learn more
When we bring our whole souls to work—whether in boardrooms or in building technology—remarkable things happen.
The future is bright. I hope to see you at Dare to Overcome 2025!
Views and opinions expressed by authors and editors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of AI and Faith or any of its leadership.
