Conference agenda details for FutureIT Chicago event

Pre-Conference Workshop Registration

Pre-Conference Workshop: Persuasive Communication

A crucial – yet underdeveloped – skill for IT leaders is negotiation. Knowing how to persuasively communicate strategy, goals, ideas, and budget needs comes up during conversations with board members, vendors, colleagues, and with teams. How do you influence other stakeholders effectively?

This in-depth, interactive workshop will explore subjects such as:
• How to lose a winner-takes-all mentality
• Using diplomacy instead of arguments
• Building trust to achieve the best scenarios for everyone
• Determining your desired outcome before contentious conversations
• Gaming out worst-case results to determine best outcomes
• Understanding the incentives and motivation of others
• Mastering politics to navigate relationships with peers

Larry Bonfante, Senior Consultant, Ouellette & Associates

Dan Roberts, Host, Tech Whisperers Podcast; CEO, Ouellette & Associates

** Requires a Conference + Workshop Ticket

General Registration

Welcome Remarks

Anne McCrory, Group Vice President, Customer Experience & Operations, Events, Foundry, an IDG Inc. company

Beth Kormanik, Event Content Director, Foundry, an IDG Inc. company

Nincompoopery

Terrible customer service, idiotic business processes, and soul-crushing management practices surround us. We lose time, patience, and profits as stuck-in-the-past organizations actively prevent us (and our customers) from getting the value we (and they) crave. Can anybody change this? Drawing from his book Nincompoopery, CEO and award-winning business writer John R. Brandt says we can. Leveraging research across thousands of companies to show leaders how to find and kill the corporate stupidity that drives customers crazy, he offers concrete examples of how any organization can innovate in ways that delight customers and attract top-level talent. In this blunt (and funny) presentation, John shares his unique blueprint for success.

John Brandt, CEO, MPI Group, Author of “NINCOMPOOPERY: Why Your Customers Hate You—and How to Fix It”

Guided Networking

The CIO as Mobilizer: Gaining Tech Advantage

This lively panel discussion, featuring IT leaders across industry sectors, will cover several different strategies being used to lead the digital journey. Topics to be covered include: how to succeed by mastering change management; a view from the top of the future of the workforce; dealing with burnout – yours and your team’s; how to find opportunity in chaos and volatility.

Sabina Ewing, VP & CIO, Abbott

Swati Shah, Chief Information Officer, US Markets Technology, TransUnion

Dani Brown, SVP & CIO, Whirlpool Corporation

Moderated by:

Dan Roberts, Host, Tech Whisperers Podcast; CEO, Ouellette & Associates

Cloud Governance: The New Cloud Frontier to Master

It’s official: Cloud governance is the new cloud frontier to master. Why? Because it allows you to embrace cloud with confidence—not fear. Cloud governance is also critical for fronting the innovation curve of hyperscalers (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, etc.). In this session, Robert Ford, CoreStack’s Chief Strategy Officer, will break down how governance allows you to recognize greater cloud value and how a platform approach is needed to future-proof your business. Join us and learn how to master this new frontier.

Robert Ford, Chief Strategy Officer, CoreStack

Lunch and Exhibit Time

Pull up a chair and enjoy lunch with your new contacts! Be sure to leave time to visit our Headshot Studio for a new professional headshot you can use on LinkedIn, your professional bio and anywhere you need to post a photo. Plus meet our sponsors and learn how their solutions can help you overcome your latest challenges.

Navigating the AI Landscape: Where to Invest to Realize the Greatest Gains

The key to unlocking value using AI is to ensure that you are using the right tools to solve particular problems. This session will cover examples of how to make the most of AI’s potential and will identify the key roles that need to be involved for successful implementation. You will also hear strategies for moving more quickly from pilot programs to integrating AI into business strategies across your organization.

Christopher Boone, Vice President, Global Head of Health Economics and Outcomes Research , AbbVie

Discussion Groups: Hot Topics in Chicago

Join a discussion topic that best meets your needs. Facilitated by our partner subject matter experts, take a deep-dive into ideas, common questions, and proven solutions in an interactive, peer-sharing environment.

Cloud Governance with CoreStack
Hybrid Work Environments with BeyondTrust
Optimizing Your Managed Workplace Experience with Tanium
The Power of Cloud Cost Optimization with NTT
AI & ML with Aware
Applied, Practical AI – Large Language Models & Multimodal Applications for Enterprise Use Cases with 2nd Watch

Networking Break

Location: Conservatory

Enjoy coffee and snacks in our exhibit area. Remember to visit our sponsors booth and learn how their solutions can help you overcome your latest challenges.

The Impact of Trust on Emerging Technology Adoption

Trust is emerging as the number one factor in acceptance of automation, in AI and ML, and in customer retention and business growth – but what does it mean? How do we know whether we have it? In this session we will describe how trust has changed and how it may change as emerging technologies are more widely adopted. We will also present findings from the IDC Trust Perception Index and the implications of these findings for the maintenance of trustworthy businesses.

Grace Trinidad, Research Director, Future of Trust, IDC

Enabling the Data-Driven Enterprise: Getting Your Processes and People Ready

To get maximum value out of data and analytics, companies need to have a data-driven culture permeating the entire organization, one in which every business unit gets full access to the data it needs in the way it needs it. Doing this right requires thoughtful data collection, careful selection of a data platform that allows holistic and secure access to the data, and training and empowering employees to have a data-first mindset. Security and compliance risks must also be priorities. No matter where you are on your data-democratization journey, you will get practical tips and key insights from this data-driven presentation.

Laura Kohl, CIO, Morningstar

Vince Marin, Global CIO, Sidley Austin LLP

Moderated by:

Anne McCrory, Group Vice President, Customer Experience & Operations, Events, Foundry, an IDG Inc. company

The Evolving Role of the CIO and IT Leaders

Today’s IT leaders have to be multidimensional, strategic, and collaborative. Reporting lines and mandates have changed, raising their prominence – and responsibility – within the organization. Join us for an inside look at the IT Executive job landscape and the latest hiring trends to help you recruit and retain top IT talent.

Mark Pfeiffer, VP & Practice Director, Robert Half

Alexandra Burns, Recruiting Manager, Robert Half

Cocktail and Networking Reception

Wrap up the day with refreshments while making those final connections as part of your event experience. And it’s the last chance for photos at our Headshot Studio!

Reception sponsored by Compucom