Registration & Breakfast

Welcome & Remarks

Speakers: Event MC/Special Guests

Why AI Often Seems Clueless

A comedic journey through the AI landscape

AI is disrupting entire industries. But is AI really as competent as the headlines say? At her AI humor blog, AIweirdness.com, Shane watches machine learning algorithms struggle to deal with the complexities of the human world. Through hilarious anecdotes, Shane illustrates the kinds of problems where AI will succeed, fail ... or succeed at solving the wrong problem entirely. Don't miss this entertaining perspective on the nature of AI.

Speakers: Janelle Shane

Lightning Rounds

5-min. presentations from Info-Tech experts on key topics and trends

Making Major AI Discoveries Through Explainable AI

No one will trust AI without explainable AI

At a time when generative AI is enjoying perhaps the strongest rollout in tech history, virtually all thought leaders involved have expressed the related need for safety against the system's known fails and risks through explainability. Explainable AI is also the most advanced technology today for making major new discoveries, without the "black box" problem of neural nets or the inherent risks of GPT. In this interview, Mark and Davin will discuss the proofs, demonstrations, and many use cases that true Explainable AI has achieved over the last year. At a time when there is already a strong backlash against "hallucinations," liability/privacy issues, safety, and the concept of Trustworthy Computing, this discussion will focus on the excitement, insights, and productivity available through new and complete instantiations of new forms of XAI, including TrueXAI(tm), NNXAI(tm), and PDXAI(tm). Mark will explain how Pattern's systems have created five novel and patentable drugs against the world's top five cancers per month, with at least one per month testing to be effective. How can this new technology improve the performance of any IT team? Pattern's development and application of true XAI is an object lesson in what IT teams can achieve, internally or for customers. We'll also share some new technical achievements, science breakthroughs, and next steps for IT leaders in the Pattern Discovery process.

Speakers: Davin Juusola & Mark Anderson

Networking Break

AI Is Not a Silver Bullet! But There Are Immediate Benefits for Sales and Marketing.

This session explores AI, the hype, what is proven and currently available, and what will be available soon. Customer case studies and results will be presented. Viamedici provides MDM, PIM, and Guided Selling Solutions and has been providing AI/ML solutions to global organizations for years. Additionally, Viamedici, through our AI Center of Excellence, works with customers on both proven AI solutions and leading-edge/emerging AI concepts.

Speakers: Al Bissmeyer, VP of North America, Viamedici

Automating Transformation So You Don’t Have To

You're asked to do a lot, from modernizing portfolios to providing coherent overviews to management. It's difficult to keep up with all of this, especially with tangential elements like disconnected, out-of-date data. Ardoq can help automate and simplify this process with a dashboard to track KPIs and real-time data updates. This connected technology can help you seize opportunities and position your company for growth.

Speakers: Deena Freed, Solution Specialist, Ardoq, and Jon Manning, Distinguished Architect, Republic Services

Bridging the Business Gap: Showcasing IT's Value in Emerging Organizations

Discover and discuss how your peers deliver business value

In this insightful panel discussion, we’re putting the spotlight on the pivotal role that IT can play in bringing value to organizations. Join us for practical insights and a new perspective as we explore use cases where IT leaders in emerging and small/medium enterprises partnered effectively with the business to enable organizational value.

Speakers: Sharon Foltz, Christian Golez

Make Every Dollar Count: Optimize Your IT Costs

Find immediate savings and reclaim your budget!

Use Info-Tech's framework to reveal hidden expenditures in your IT budget. In this insightful session, we’ll guide you through the process of uncovering and evaluating hidden and unnecessary costs to find immediate savings and reclaim your budget for greater value and impact.

Speakers: Angela Reynolds, Dave Kish

Take Action on Customer Feedback

Improve service desk customer satisfaction by addressing user feedback effectively

Whether you are trying to implement a new service desk customer feedback program or improve your existing one, asking your customers for feedback and then doing nothing with it is worse than not asking for feedback at all. This session will provide you with best practices and templates for designing both transactional (ticket) surveys and relationship (annual) surveys to maximize response rates along with sample workflows and tips for acting on that feedback to achieve the true value of the customer feedback program.

Speakers: Benedict Chang, Scott Houle

Build Resilience Against Ransomware Attacks

Cultivate ransomware resilience to protect assets, detect incursions, and respond and recover quickly

Ransomware resilience requires coordination between protection, detection, response, and recovery. In this session, our analysts will review ransomware trends to better assess your risk and then walk through the reality of a ransomware scenario, what it would mean to the business, and how you would respond.

Speakers: Michel Hebert, Bob Wilson, Aaron Shum

Scaled Agile in Practice

Expert panel: Victory from the trenches

Organizations are turning to Scaled Agile Frameworks (SAFe) to improve value delivery. However, they are finding that legacy practices all too often stand in their way. In this session, you will learn from thought leaders and organizations like NASA about what it takes to successfully apply SAFe to solve critical delivery challenges.

Speakers: Hans Eckman, Ari Glaizel

Build Data Stewardship to Get More Value Out of Your Data

Learn how to leverage your organization's business subject area experts as data stewards to drive more impactful data use

Understand the key role of data stewardship in maximizing the value of your data and learn how you can help set data stewards up for success. Join this session as we explore how effective data stewardship can serve as a game-changer in your organization's data management strategy.

Speakers: Crystal Singh, Chris Dyck

Mega-Vendor Update PBN: Oracle, SAP, SF, SN & WD

Optimize Your Oracle, SAP, Salesforce, ServiceNow, and Workday license agreements

These mega-vendors are shuffling the deck and making changes across their product ecosystems, resulting in skyrocketing pricing on renewals. They are imposing rigid commercial and license models on their customers and their contracts contain hidden speed bumps that can derail the best planned technology acquisition strategies. Attend this session to ensure that you are up to date on the latest developments so you can proactively prepare for your next mega-vendor agreement.

Speakers: Scott Bickley, Josh Mori, Jeff Long

Cybersecurity Workforce Training Demo – Security Risk Management

Learn practical methods to assess risks to the security and privacy of your data and systems

With content created exclusively for Info-Tech’s Cybersecurity Workforce Development (CWD) Program, members of the CWD product and delivery team will deliver a live classroom session and case study on the highly relevant topic of security risk management. Join us to gain practical insights on risk management.

Speakers: Fritz Jean-Louis, Isabelle Hertanto

Build a Data Architecture Roadmap

Optimizing data architecture requires a plan, not just a data model

Join us as we explore data architecture needs in today's changing business landscape. Learn how a data architecture roadmap enables you to better leverage data as an asset and set up your analytics and AI programs for success.

Speakers: Rajesh Parab, Wayne Cain

Lightning Rounds

5-min. presentations from Info-Tech experts on key topics and trends

How Master Data Management at Jack Daniel’s Led to Better Product Insights

Join Brown-Forman, a leading manufacturing company of brands such as Jack Daniel’s, Old Forester, Woodford Reserve, and Diplomatico Rum, as they discuss the unique use case that led to better insight into their products. Hear from their Senior Manager of Master Data Management as they showcase their outside-of-the-box thinking to help solve challenges affecting business globally.

Brown-Forman had extensive third-party data where every data source had different definitions for thousands of products in locations worldwide. (The organization had over 4,000 master records in the Jack Daniel’s cluster alone!) When they included competitor data, the amount of data they needed to master was chaotic, siloed, incomplete, and inaccurate. They soon looked to Semarchy to migrate vast amounts of data into one single source of truth for better insights and competitive knowledge.

This session will cover:

• Brown-Forman’s complex data ecosystem
• The challenges that led the company to Master Data Management
• The technical strategy that went beyond data matching rules
• How the project is helping Brown-Forman today and into the future

Whether you're a business leader, data practitioner, or IT professional, this session will help you better understand how MDM can be your foundation for a data-driven, next-generation organization.

Speakers: Semarchy

Adopt the Right Digital Identity Ecosystem

Success of digital ID starts with the customer touchpoint

Understanding the digital identity ecosystem is key to formulating an approach to adopt it. You need to assess your readiness before starting your adoption journey. In this session, our analysts will provide an overview of the digital ID ecosystem, and we'll prepare you for the risks and challenges you'll face on your digital ID journey.

Speakers: Erik Avakian, Carlos Rivera

Drive Ongoing Adoption With an M365 Center of Excellence

Accelerate business process change and get more value from your subscription

The self-service architecture of M365 is at odds with centralized limits and controls, but a clearly defined M365 center of excellence that is somewhat decentralized could bring value and success to your M365 deployment. Join this practical session for tactics on how to measure and report on business value generated from M365 adoption.

Speakers: John Annand, P.J. Ryan

Address Security & Privacy Implications of Enterprise Gen AI Deployments

Avoid impacts to your data and compliance posture with responsible use of AI

Rapid generative AI development is triggering expansive use of this technology in all types of organizations. IT leaders responsible for resilient operations must enable the business while addressing risks associated with how AI consumes critical data and PII. Our analysts will explore the risks and impacts and provide a framework for the safe and responsible use of AI technologies.

Speakers: Isabelle Hertanto, Alan Tang, Aaron Shum

Improve Business Application Adoption: Kick-Start Your Low- and No-Code Journey

The way we work is changing – let's give people the tools they need to be productive

Low-code/no-code development can put application development into the hands of users across the business. Join this insightful session to understand what you need to start embracing low and no-code solutions in your environment.

Speakers: Ari Glaizel, Vince Mirabelli

Using ROI to Maximize the Impact of Data & Analytics Initiatives

Set your data and analytics programs up for success by anchoring them in delivering significant ROI for your business

Join this session to learn how to determine an appropriate cadence to continuously optimize the ROI program for data and analytics. We'll discuss how to collaborate effectively with your business partners to ensure mutual success.

Speakers: Steve Willis, Ibrahim Abdel-Kader

Vendor Management and Contract Review (CR/VM) – Ask Me Anything

Half of your contract’s value is rooted in the terms and conditions

Did you know that 50% of your contract’s value lies in the terms and conditions? Price is important, but it's only half of the story. Bring all your burning questions to this session and find the answers you seek to all things related to vendor relations. Ask our team of experts to discover which T&Cs in your IT contracts will derail your initiative and result in massive value leakage if not properly negotiated.

Speakers: Scott Bickley, Frank Sewell, Donna Glidden

Redefining the CIO: Driving Business Success as a Business Advisor

From Trusted Operator to Innovator, discover the new role of CIO in business transformation

Attend this session to learn how the modern CIO can take on the mantle of a technical chief operating officer (COO), driving business success by focusing on tangible business outcomes and leveraging groundbreaking technologies such as AI. Unleash the power of autonomization and position yourself at the forefront of innovation for a future of unprecedented business capabilities.

Speakers: Denis Goulet, Manish Jain

From the “Metaverse” to “Spatial Computing”

Deconstructing Big Tech’s vision of the future of computing and identifying value potential

Attend this engaging session as we provide a framework for the underlying building blocks of digitally immersive experiences and the most compelling business benefits that can be currently realized. You will enter into the metaverse and experience four use cases demonstrating value in different contexts.

Speakers: Brian Jackson

The Exponential IT Impact on Data & Analytics

How Data & Analytics leaders can capitalize on Exponential IT

Our panel of senior researchers and analysts discuss how IT leaders in the data and analytics space can prepare for and leverage technology escalation as this most recent Gen AI catalyst drives a need for Exponential IT.

Speakers: Andy Neill, Tom Zehren

Lightning Rounds

5-min. presentations from Info-Tech experts on key topics and trends

Establishing Your Operating Model as a Core Strategic Asset

The modern enterprise is in a state of constant transformation. With organizations facing unrelenting pressure to innovate and adapt to a continuously evolving digital landscape, competitive advantage is shifting to those organizations that can dynamically adjust and adapt their business operating models to capture and maintain market leadership. Operational agility has become essential to success; there is no room for slow and steady. This agile imperative demands a new integrated approach that breaks through siloed perspectives with holistic insights into the complex interdependencies of the business operation.

Speakers: Terry Roach, Founder and Chief Innovation Officer, Capsifi

Get the Most Out of Your Info-Tech Membership

Take a closer look at Info-Tech products and services

Get ready to discover the wide range of products and services included in your Info-Tech membership. In this informative session, we’ll help you unlock the power of your membership to boost the value to your organization.

Speakers: Matt Mandich

Extracting Gold From Your ITSM Ticket Data

Your service ticket data contains many hidden nuggets of business-enabling insights

Your ITSM ticket data is not just a source for reporting on incident and problem types. It contains valuable insights that can help drive process improvements, identify opportunities for shift-left enablement, quantify value to the business, and more. In this session, we will review common challenges and identify key tactics and KPIs to watch for in your ITSM data set.

Speakers: Benedict Chang, P.J. Ryan

Become a World-Class CISO

Your organization is waiting for you to step into the role of a strategic security-focused leader

The role of the CISO has changed. Security is no longer just a set of controls – it must enable the business amid an ever-changing world. Whether you are an IT leader responsible for security or a dedicated security leader, developing strategic thinking while balancing tactical capability is critical. Join this session to learn how you can become a world-class CISO.

Speakers: Fritz Jean-Louis, Fred Chagnon

Project & Program Management Are Not Dead

Learn how project and product management can live together in harmony

When moving to more product-centric delivery practices, many assume that projects are no longer necessary. That isn’t necessarily the case! Product delivery can mean different things to different organizations. In this session, you will learn how you can balance product delivery practices with effective project management practices.

Speakers: Ari Glaizel, Hans Eckman

Foster a Data-Driven Culture With Data Literacy

Data literacy is an essential part of a data-driven culture, bridging the data knowledge gaps across all levels of the organization

Data literacy is not a one-off exercise. It's a change commitment. Join this session to learn about Info-Tech's approach to building data literacy and increase the impact of your digital transformation and AI analytics initiatives.​

Speakers: Crystal Singh, Chris Dyck

Price Benchmarking and Guided Negotiation – Ask Me Anything

Solve your trickiest negotiation, licensing, or price benchmarking problems with the help of our expert analysts

How does Info-Tech’s Price Benchmarking and Guided Negotiation service assist your organization in achieving a best-in-class deal for your major IT contracts? Bring your most difficult questions and challenges you face in your daily IT negotiations with your software and hardware vendors. Our practice reviews hundreds of deals per year for our clients, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in hard savings. Attend this session to explore how we can help you!

Speakers: Travis Hillpot, Jeff Long, Josh Mori

Transforming Risk in an Exponential IT World

Dynamic Risk: The foundation for scaling to Exponential IT

Emerging technologies bring new opportunities, but they can also amplify existing vulnerabilities and introduce new and emergent risks. Many of these tools and technologies are being developed across a wide range of platforms and for different services and applications, ultimately reshaping the business landscape. In this keynote, Donna will discuss the implications of emerging technology adoption, the new types of risks they may present, and what it will take for organizations to manage risks in a world of Exponential IT.

Speakers: Donna Bales, Carlene McCubbin

How to Successfully Replace Your ERP or Enterprise Application

Practical steps to enterprise application implementation success

The stakes are high when replacing an ERP or core enterprise application – the process has a reputation for being a career-killer. Attend this session to learn how Info-Tech can guide you through every step from initial strategy to go-live and ensure your ERP implementation is a career-maker.

Speakers: Robert Fayle, Lisa Highfield

AI In the Enterprise: How One CIO Is Facing the Challenge

Practical strategies to riding the AI wave

AI has become one of the most hyped trends in our lifetime. How do we, as stewards of our enterprise’s data privacy, security, and technology spend, approach these new tools and the demands from users and executives? Join us to discuss practical suggestions on how we can get ahead of the wave to avoid getting knocked over by it.

Speakers: Karl Mosfogian, CIO, Gainsight

The Exponential IT Impact on Security & Privacy

How CISOs and security leaders can capitalize on Exponential IT

Our panel of senior researchers and analysts discuss how IT leaders in the security & privacy space can prepare for and leverage technology escalation as this most recent Gen AI catalyst drives a need for Exponential IT.

Speakers: Aaron Shum

Build a NextGen IT Operating Model

Enable the delivery of a customer-first organization by transforming IT's operating model

The Exponential IT operating model supports organizations transforming their technology practices from digitalization to autonomation. Surviving and thriving in an Exponential IT world requires a new way of enabling value. Join us as we explore 6 key changes required to the IT operating model:

1. Move away from centralized to embedded IT
2. Unified experience and architecture are the new strategy
3. IT executive roles are lifted in the organization and compensation evolves to a P&L model
4. Adaptive flex pods rise in popularity to respond to embedded technologies
5. Culture, security, and risk are embedded into all practices with core oversight to enable flexibility
6. The new generation changes the employee expectations and intensifies the pace of change

Speakers: Carlene McCubbin, Brittany Lutes

Lightning Rounds

5-min. presentations from Info-Tech experts on key topics and trends

Digital Transformation & the AI Impact

No plan survives the battlefield

Join Charl Lombard, President of Digital Transformation Consulting at Info-Tech, as he discusses the impact of AI on the digital transformation landscape. Does digital transformation need a course correction? How will the exponential rise in AI applications impact an organization's digital footprint? Get the answers in this insightful discussion.

Speakers: Charl Lombard

Architecting the Transformation of NASA

Bringing together architects from across NASA to create our next generation platform that enables our missions of the future

Yasser Haridi, Chief Strategy Officer at NASA, and Andy Neill will discuss how NASA is transforming their technology environment by unifying and extending their secure cloud-based capabilities into a single integrated offering enabling missions, business operations, and partner collaborations on Earth and beyond.

Speakers: Yasser Haridi - Chief Strategy Officer for NASA OCIO

From Strategy to Execution: Overcoming the 3 Major Obstacles to Change

Faced with a continuously evolving business landscape, companies need to develop winning strategies that set them apart from their competitors. More importantly, they need to successfully execute these strategies. Unfortunately, the trouble starts as soon as the rubber hits the road. In this talk, LeanIX’s VP of Professional Services, Patrick Schober, will share what companies can do to realize their strategic vision. Patrick will describe the major challenges that companies face when it comes to strategic execution, show how a range of companies from different industries have met these challenges, and provide a framework for moving from strategy to execution that you can apply in your own organization.

Speakers: Patrick Schober, VP of Professional Services, LeanIX

Women in IT: Solving the Talent Crunch

Thinking creatively about building and recruiting talent in IT

Hear directly from a panel of experts who are active in the research of attracting more women to careers in STEM. They will share their personal experiences working in the field and the key to their success. In this conversation, we will also discuss trending solutions, including:

1. Hiring for competency over educational background to expand your talent pool.
2. How to make your workplace attractive to diverse candidates and set new employees up for success.
3. How to bring awareness to advancing and engaging women in the workplace and the criticality of male participation and sponsorship.

Speakers: Amanda Mathieson, Carlene McCubbin

Safeguard Your Equipment and Reduce Costs With Predictive Maintenance

Embrace predictive maintenance to unlock efficiency, future-proof your assets, and prevent downtime

Most companies are still using failure-based reactive maintenance combined with preventative maintenance. These options are extremely costly due to bloating of spare parts inventory, long downtimes, and catastrophic unrepairable failures. Join this informative session as we focus on the tools, techniques, and intelligence that will keep your production processes humming 24/7 now and into the future.

Speakers: Kevin Tucker

Improve Data Quality With Data Governance

Build trust and confidence in your data with data governance

Data quality has a direct impact on reliable, credible, and effective analysis and decision making in an organization. Join this session to learn about the fundamental elements of data governance and how they support data accountability, knowledge of data assets, and trust in traceable data.

Speakers: Crystal Singh

Higher Education 2023 Technology Trends

The future is as simple as 3D chess

As a research and advisory organization, we have a unique perspective on key trends in technology. This talk addresses the three core issues facing higher education: the economy, trust, and data. These issues set the stage for a discussion of the EDUCAUSE Top Ten themes and how those themes interrelate with Info-Tech’s 2023 key technology trends. The trends discussion focuses on generative AI, zero-trust security, recession preparation, the metaverse, digital processes, industry-based data models, recession preparation, and environmental/social governance. Each of these trends is specifically linked to issues faced by higher education IT organizations.

Speakers: Mark Roman

The Next Horizon for Digital Transformation

Going digital is mere table stakes today – leaders must now apply AI to completely reshape how work is done

Four forces have converged to create a new normal: cloud computing, big data, IoT, and of course, AI, which has quickly evolved from the realm of sci-fi novelty to mainstream reality. Those who will lead in the future aren’t simply digitizing processes, they’re entirely reshaping how work is done though the use of AI. Join us as we explore the new AI frontier and discuss how the principles for successful digital transformation still apply.

Speakers:Michael Alemany

Climbing the IT Career Ladder: How to Get Promoted

Preparing for your next promotion

Are you looking to expand your career by getting that next promotion or role change? To reach the next step in your career, you need more than the right skills, excellent performance, and the boss's attention. This panel of respected IT executives representing multiple organizations will help you discover best practices in preparing for your next chapter.

Speakers: Sallie Wright, Client Panel

How to Leverage Capability Reference Models to Build Better Police Services

A reference architecture for public safety

Capability reference models are much more than boxes on a page. They are the building blocks for transformation and optimization of police services in the face of rapidly evolving public safety in the 2020s. Join Patrick Spencer, Info-Tech’s head of public sector research, to explore how to leverage the police reference model Info-Tech has collaboratively built with multiple large police services to transform your organization.

Speakers: Patrick Spencer, Cole Cioran

Evolving IT Process Maturity

The COBIT 19 Imperative

Black & Veatch make extensive use of the Info-Tech Management & Goverance framework to manage, measure, and improve Core IT Processes. Join John Kemp and Valance Howden as they discuss how Info-Tech's framework should adapt to continue to be a driving force in IT process maturity.

Speakers: John Kemp, Valence Howden, Black & Veatch Representative

The Exponential IT Impact on Vendor Management

How vendor management leaders can capitalize on Exponential IT

Our panel of senior researchers and analysts discuss how IT leaders in the vendor management & IT procurement space can prepare for and leverage technology escalation as this most recent Gen AI catalyst drives a need for Exponential IT.

Speakers: Rick Pittman, Scott Bickley

Lightning Rounds

5-min. presentations from Info-Tech experts on key topics and trends

Accelerating DevOps With AI: A Roadmap for Success

In this engaging presentation, we will explore how AI is reshaping the landscape of DevOps. Discover the implications of incorporating AI into your organization’s DevOps practice and explore its potential in enhancing your products and services. Through real-life examples, we will present how cutting-edge tools like GitHub Copilot for developers, Copilot4DevOps for product owners and testers, and Codeless ONE for no-code app development revolutionize productivity. Uncover tangible use cases and practical implementations that highlight the transformative power of AI technologies. Join us for an exciting and invaluable opportunity to be part of the unstoppable AI revolution!

Speakers: Modern Requirements

Optimizing AI Adoption to Develop Oil & Gas Business Solutions

AI solutions – A checklist for success

Join this dynamic session to gain valuable insights from an industry-driven checklist that will guide you as you embark on your AI journey. This proven checklist will help you navigate elements that are critical to creating successful AI solutions that address industry challenges.

Speakers: Scott Holland

The Golden Parachute: Optimizing Your CIO Contract Negotiations

How to negotiate your CIO contract

This panel will discuss how to negotiate in your favor when accepting a new position or expanding your scope in your existing company. We'll explore key strategies and skills to steer negotiations to your advantage.

Speakers: Sallie Wright, Client Panel

Public Safety Roundtable: Exploring NextGen Public Safety

Reimagining public safety capabilities to drive exponential performance

Are you building the next generation of police and public safety capabilities that seamlessly integrate the front line with leading-edge technologies such as AI? Looking to explore what your colleagues from police, fire, paramedics, and other first responders are doing to respond to rapid changes in our communities? This is your chance to join business and IT leaders from among some of the largest police and public safety organizations and key industry partners for an interactive panel discussion on these topics and more. We will explore the opportunities, challenges, and pitfalls of driving exponential performance of public safety organizations from across North America.

Speakers: Cole Cioran, Patrick Spencer, Tony Ventura, Scott Porter, Thomas Lo

Kick-Start Your Exponential IT Initiatives

Info-Tech’s technical counselors provide exponential value

Meet our technical counselors as they discuss how Exponential IT will impact your organization and how a dedicated technical counselor can help guide you through your most challenging IT initiatives. Part presentation and part Q&A, this session will also feature a client case study and technical domains such as Data, Applications, Security, Vendor Management, and Infrastructure & Operations.

Speakers: Andy Neill

Advancing Your Career in a New Technology Landscape

A different perspective on adapting to Exponential IT

A panel discussion on "Advancing Your Career in a New Technology Landscape," where Black industry leaders share insights and strategies to thrive amid evolving technological advancements. Discover the keys to adaptability, upskilling, and navigating emerging fields, empowering you to shape a successful and fulfilling career in the ever-changing tech industry.

Speakers: Ugbad Farah, Client Panel

Develop an AI Strategy That Makes Business Sense

Don't ask how you can use AI in your business; ask instead how AI can advance your strategy

Join this insightful session to explore what a rational AI strategy that is aligned with business objectives looks like. We will tackle how to advance strategic objectives using AI and how to govern AI within the organization.

Speakers: Jack Hakimian

Navigating the Gen AI Marketplace: A Comprehensive Buyer's Guide

Simplifying the Gen AI solutions space

Generative AI solutions are suddenly everywhere. Join us as we demystify the myriad AI solution vendors on the market by understanding the key contours, features, and trends in the Gen AI space.

Speakers: Thomas Randall, Austin Wagar

Data Excellence: Exploring the Key Ingredient to Success in AI

The impact of data on organizational goals

Big data continues to drive discussions around how organizations work to improve their operations and, ultimately, provide better experiences for their customers. As the demand for artificial intelligence grows, the need for more readily available, accessible and clean data will only expand. This presentation explores the concept of “data-centric artificial intelligence” and how AI becomes a larger field of exploration for organizations as more data becomes available for learning and analysis.

Speakers: Daren Hubbard, CIO at Georgia Tech

The Exponential IT Impact on IT People & Leadership

How IT leaders can capitalize on Exponential IT

Our panel of senior researchers and analysts discuss how IT leaders can prepare for and leverage technology escalation as this most recent Gen AI catalyst drives a need for Exponential IT.

Speakers: Jack Hakimian

Celebrating Women Trailblazers in Tech to Inspire the Exponential IT Mindset (Roundtable)

Identify opportunities to adopt an Exponential IT mindset in your organization

This session will highlight and honor the accomplishments of women who have made significant contributions to the tech industry. By showcasing the achievements of these trailblazers, this interactive session aims to inspire participants to identify opportunities where they can adopt an Exponential IT mindset to think big, embrace innovation, and strive for transformative impact in their own tech careers. People of all gender identities and expression are welcome.

Speakers: Heather Leier-Murray, Sallie Wright, Sarah Pletcher, Carlene McCubbin

Lightning Rounds

5-min. presentations from Info-Tech experts on key topics and trends

Networking Break

Leadership Lessons From an Irish Lass

The pivotal role of women in leadership

Since arriving in the US from Ireland in the 1980s, Helen Norris has worked in information technology in both the corporate world and higher education. She currently serves as the Chief Information Officer at Chapman University. In this dynamic keynote, she will share leadership learnings from her journey, focusing on the special role that women leaders need to play.

Speakers: Helen Norris

Unleashing Innovation: Robotics as a Catalyst for Creative Digital Transformation

Embracing robotics to drive transformation

In the realm of digital transformation, companies strive to align their strategies with business objectives. However, the challenge lies in harnessing innovation and creativity to maximize human resources and overcome obstacles such as labor shortages, outdated equipment, and worker safety concerns. This presentation invites you to explore the transformative power of robotics in driving creative digital transformation. Witness the undeniable progress achieved through robotics automation in various sectors, most notably in manufacturing and production. Embrace the opportunity to discover how robots can transcend traditional boundaries, becoming invaluable assets capable of monitoring operations, capturing critical data, and accessing hazardous environments that pose risks to human workers. By implementing an innovative robotics strategy, organizations can reallocate human capital to focus on the most crucial challenges of digital transformation and enhance core business operations. This presentation unveils the untapped potential of robotics as a catalyst for creative problem solving and transformational growth.

Speakers: Chad Wright - Boston Dynamics

Disrupt Your Thinking. Defy Barriers. Inspire Delight.

Nurturing creativity, driving change, and embracing the power of ideas

From the moment Chris Barton dreamt up Shazam, he was told identifying songs out of thin air was impossible. His path from a dream to a $400-million acquisition by Apple is a story out of a Hollywood movie. Chris’s story and insights give people the inspiration and tools to accomplish big things within their own organizations. Join us for an exciting session as Chris shares lessons learned from founding Shazam as well as his pioneering involvement with Android at Google and mobile partnerships at Dropbox. His concepts like “creative persistence” and his "Start from Zero" methodology are new ways of thinking and overcoming barriers. Make big things happen and create Shazam-like magic in defiance of all odds.

Speakers: Chris Barton (Shazam)

Speaker:

Event MC

Registration & Breakfast

Welcome & Remarks

Speakers: Event MC/Special Guests

Lean Into the Curve: Get Exponential IT Value Today

Tactical advice on bridging theory and practice

The current trend of exponential technology innovation poses both an existential risk and exponential opportunity for all IT leaders. We recommend leaning into the technology curve to exploit this rare opportunity and lead your organization. In this session, we synthesize our advice across all core IT practices and share tactical advice on how to actually get started and get it done. From theory into practice. Today, not tomorrow.

Speakers: Jeremy Roberts

Lightning Rounds

5-min. presentations from Info-Tech experts on key topics and trends

Survive and Thrive Through Uncertainty

How to manage your IT organization through modern uncertainty

As we navigate an era of uncertainty, traditional strategies of cost-cutting, staff reductions, and frozen spending are no longer effective. It's time for a shift in perspective. This session will redefine how you manage IT amid change, with strategies that keep your focus trained on what your contribution should look like in 3-10 years. Learn how to withstand and even flourish amid modern day uncertainty.

Speakers: Amanda Mathieson

Assess Infrastructure Readiness for Digital Transformation

You organization has a plan for digital transformation – can your infrastructure meet their needs?

Many businesses think of digital transformation as just an investment in technology, with no vision of what they are trying to achieve or transform. Align the vision and mission of the organization, hire staff that will be experts in their field, and drive process improvements. Only then can you evaluate and implement the right technology to meet the needs of a digital transformation. Attend this session to learn critical steps to readiness for digital transformation.

Speakers: John Annand

Stop Focusing on Software; Focus on Solutions

Improve your relationship with the business by focusing on what matters

As solutions move from being tools to being the core of the business, your solution delivery lifecycle needs to focus on business collaboration and shift from development driven to value driven. Join us to learn how Info-Tech can help you get started on your journey to business-first, value-driven solution delivery.

Speakers: Hans Eckman

From Zero to Hero – Using Zero Trust to Help Security Bring Business Value

Lessons learned from roadmapping Zero Trust with NASA and other enterprises

The security benefits of Zero Trust are well understood, but you may be surprised at the business enablement benefits and approachability of Zero Trust. In this session, we will share our perspective on Zero Trust, and lessons learned from building Zero Trust plans with Info-Tech members across a wide range of industries.

Speakers: Cameron Smith

Identify and Build the Data and Analytics Skills Your Organization Needs

In the rapidly evolving space of D&A, knowing what skills you need can mean the difference between success and failure in executing your data strategy

Execute effectively on your data strategy and roadmap by understanding what key roles and skills you need to have in your program. Attend this insightful session to learn how Info-Tech's approach can help you understand which skills are the most critical to your success and why.

Speakers: Steve Willis

Drive Innovation With an Exponential IT Mindset

Unleash innovation to bridge emerging technologies with business opportunities

IT leaders must develop the capabilities necessary to drive innovation at their organization and facilitate the adoption of disruptive technologies such as AI, blockchain, extended reality, and quantum computing. With a focus on practical applications and case studies, this talk will provide actionable insights and best practices for IT leaders who wish to build transformative IT organizations. Attendees will leave equipped with the knowledge and tools to connect emerging technologies with business opportunities, foster collaboration and cross-functional partnerships, manage risks, and drive innovation at all levels of their organization.

Speakers: Kim Osborne Rodriguez

Cybersecurity and Geopolitics: The Evolving Battlefront

The "secret sauce" for nation-state cyberthreats

In this engaging panel discussion, we’ll explore the impact of nation-state activities on corporate cybersecurity strategies. Our panel of experts will discuss the "secret sauce" for navigating the complex landscape of cyberthreats and securing your organization against nation-state intrusions.

Speakers: Sallie Wright, Christine Coz, Client Panel

The Exponential IT Impact on IT Financial and Vendor Management

How ITFM and Vendor Management leaders can capitalize on Exponential IT

Our panel of senior researchers and analysts discuss how IT leaders in the ITFM and Vendor Management space can prepare for and leverage technology escalation as this most recent Gen AI catalyst drives a need for Exponential IT.

Speakers: Jack Hakimian, Dave Kish

The Exponential IT Impact on Project & Portfolio Management

How PPM leaders can capitalize on Exponential IT

Our panel of senior researchers and analysts discuss how IT leaders in the PPM space can prepare for and leverage technology escalation as this most recent Gen AI catalyst drives a need for Exponential IT.

Speakers: Mark Tauschek, Matt Burton

Canadian Perspectives on Exponential Technology Leadership

Is there a Canadian X-Factor?

Join IT leaders from across Canada for an interactive discussion of the realities of creating exponential returns from technology through collaboration across levels of government, crown corporations, and industry partners. Cole Cioran and Matt Bourne, Info-Tech's Managing Partners for Canadian public sector, will facilitate an open panel discussion with David Barr, Chief Digital Officer of New Brunswick (+4 more) around:

• The state of adoption of Artificial Intelligence in Canadian organizations
• Key use cases under consideration
• Barriers to the adoption of new technologies

In addition, this session and your experiences will be a key input into Info-Tech’s ongoing research on exponential technology leadership!

Speakers: Cole Cioran

Embed Business Relationship Management in Your Organization

Roundtable insights into using BRM to drive IT success

Join Info-Tech's Allison Straker as she hosts a discussion with Info-Tech clients on how CIOs can successfully improve organizational outcomes through effective business relationship management. Learn how to create a value-filled practice that is embedded within the organization.

Speakers: Allison Straker

Lightning Rounds

5-min. presentations from Info-Tech experts on key topics and trends

Networking Break

How to Become a Trusted Business Partner

Is your IT strategy aligned to your business goals?

This client panel will provide an overview of the IT strategy thought model process. Our analysts and clients will discuss their experiences, highlighting the most valuable moments in developing their IT strategies. We will review Info-Tech's best-of-breed approach to building an effective IT strategy, showcasing some examples harvested from our hundreds of client workshops.

Speakers: Mike Tweedie, Jack Hakimian

Align Your Infrastructure Investment to Organizational Goals

Building an infrastructure roadmap is a business exercise, not a technical exercise

The most common and often the hardest challenge in developing an infrastructure roadmap to secure funding is discovering organizational goals and aligning infrastructure investment to them. Join us for an informative session that will reveal proven strategies for dealing with these challenges.

Speakers: John Annand, P.J. Ryan, Andrew Sharp

The Rapid Application Selection Framework: Faster, Better, Cheaper

Software selection doesn't have to be complicated

In this session, experienced applications leaders will share their secrets using Info-Tech's RASF methodology. Learn how to rapidly accelerate the process of selecting the right software while driving significantly higher stakeholder satisfaction with the tools that you roll out.

Speakers: Ben Dickie, Austin Wagar

Align Your Security Program to Your Business

Analyze critical factors to refine the design of your security program and prioritize core program capabilities

Common security frameworks focus on operational controls, not business value. Join this informative session to learn how to tailor your security program to what makes your organization unique. Analyze critical design factors, refine the design of your security program, and ensure its components work together to build the program you need.

Speakers: Michel Hebert, Cameron Smith, Carlos Rivera

Get Value From Your Data

Your data strategy is the key to unlocking the value of your data

A robust and comprehensive strategy will ensure that high-quality data is available to fuel organization-wide decision making. Hear from analysts and clients as they discuss their experience with Info-Tech on building a data strategy and how it helped their organization derive measurable value from their data.

Speakers: Crystal Singh, Chris Dyck

Define Your Responsible AI Guiding Principles

Guide the ethics, quality, and trustworthiness of your generative AI program by establishing responsible AI principles

Set your generative AI up for success by following Info-Tech's industry-leading framework. Join this impactful session and let us help you develop responsible AI principles that will help to ensure your AI initiatives are human-centric, ethical, responsible, and trustworthy. Set the right foundations for how you will govern and manage AI development.

Speakers: Bill Wong, Irina Sedenko

Building an IT Strategy as a Trusted Business Partner

Align IT initiatives with business goals

In this session, our expert analysts will help you craft a "goals cascade" for use in your IT strategy document. We will quickly work through the process of gathering enough business context and details of new and existing IT initiatives to demonstrate how to achieve alignment.

Speakers: Mike Tweedie, Jack Hakimian

Build an Infrastructure Roadmap

Creating a visual that aligns infrastructure investment to organizational goals isn't as hard as you think

Join us for a hands-on session that will allow you to build your own roadmap that aligns your in-flight initiatives to your organizational goals. We'll discuss in detail the next steps necessary to transform this PoC into a completed strategy.

Speakers: John Annand, Mark Tauschek, Andrew Sharp

Pick an Application in an Hour

Select the right software using a proven framework

Select low-complexity software using the principles of our Rapid Application Selection Framework in a rapid-fire, one-hour session with your stakeholders.

Speakers: Austin Wagar, Thomas Randall

Build a Security Roadmap

Understand how your organization uses technology, how it opens it up to risks, and how to build a security roadmap that helps it do what it does best

Security enables the business by helping it take on the right risks in the right places. In this session, our analysts will help you understand how your organization uses technology, the risks it faces, and how to identify and prioritize initiatives to both secure and enable the business.

Speakers: Cameron Smith, Michel Hebert, Carlos Rivera

Build a Data Strategy on a Page

A hands-on experience to quickly demonstrate how you will get value from your data

Based on the concepts described in the earlier data strategy session, our analysts will show you how to create a single-page summary of the essential components of your data strategy.

Speakers: Crystal Singh, Chris Dyck

Build a Generative AI Roadmap

Identify new AI-enabled opportunities to transform the work environment to reduce costs, improve productivity, and transform your business​

Info-Tech’s human-centric, value-based approach offers a practical guide to the activities required for the successful deployment of generative AI solutions.​ Join us as we highlight how to leverage generative AI effectively to unlock the potential of AI for your business.

Speakers: Bill Wong, Irina Sedenko

Speaker:

Event MC, Special Guests

Closing Lunch: The Hidden Lives of Women in STEM

Charting your own path to career success

Grab your boxed lunch and come to an interactive session with author Lori Rodriguez about the lives, value, and strength of women in STEM and the three key lessons she learned through her research for her book Hidden Lives of Women in STEM. In this session, we will explore these key lessons and identify how we can show up authentically in our own lives and careers.

Speakers: Lori Rodriguez, Carlene McCubbin