The Future of Data & AI

Data & AI Think Tank

June 16, 2026 - Chicago, IL

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Past Visionaries

Charles Wiggins (filler) AlterEnable
Charles Wiggins

Founder & CEO

AlterEnable

About Me

As the Founder and CEO of AlterEnable, Charles Wiggins helps organizations modernize at scale without losing control in the process. For over 20 years, he has led complex enterprise technology transformations across global, regulated, and high-stakes environments. His work sits at the intersection of AI, cloud, cybersecurity, data, and operating models, helping organizations grow while maintaining trust, resilience, and governance. Most recently, as CIO at the American Marketing Association, he led a significant digital shift, re-architecting infrastructure and applications while embedding AI to power personalization and predictive analytics. Through his advisory work, Charles partners with CEOs and executive teams to operationalize AI, modernize security foundations, and align technology strategy to business outcomes. A battle-tested operator who leads with clarity, calm, and conviction, he specializes in creating clarity, reducing risk, and unlocking growth through fractional CIO/CTO leadership and real-world mentorship.

Yael Gomez (filler) Pet Madness
Yael Gomez

CIO/CISO

Pet Madness

About Me

Yaël Gomez is a fractional CIO/CTO and former Vice President, Global IT, Integration & Intelligent Automation at Walgreens Boots Alliance. As an accomplished technology executive, technologist, and strategic business partner across large-scale enterprise organizations, Yaël has proven expertise in successfully developing technology delivery centers, delivering complex technology strategies and transformations generating business growth. He is skilled at driving global strategies whilst meeting business specific local requirements, with the goal of enabling business innovation, agility and performance with the right technologies. Yael finds his energy at the intersection of people, business and technology, and taps into 25 years of experience in small and large organizations such as Walgreens, in aligning business and technology, and in bringing clarity to complex problems to drive growth, operational excellence and product/service leadership for the businesses he serves.

Jason Clark LaunchDarkly
Jason Clark

Solutions Engineer

LaunchDarkly

About Me

Jason Clark is a creative solutions engineer and former architect specializing in driving business value through innovative, out-of-the-box thinking. With a strong focus on AI, agentic engineering, and automation, he stays at the forefront of technological advancement. At LaunchDarkly, Jason has carved out a niche as a thought leader, strategist, and collaborative visionary. He has partnered with numerous large enterprises to define best practices for feature releases, code enhancements, and modern software delivery. Prior to his time at LaunchDarkly, Jason worked in the cloud and Kubernetes security space, further deepening his expertise in scalable, secure systems.

Agenda

All times Central Time

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Registration


9:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Morning Networking


9:30 AM - 9:40 AM

Opening Remarks


9:40 AM - 10:05 AM
Keynote

Rearchitecting the Enterprise for Agentic AI: Control, Collaboration, and the Next Frontier of Automation

Agentic AI, autonomous systems that perceive, reason, and act with minimal human intervention is poised to redefine how work gets done. As these intelligent agents move beyond experimentation into enterprise-scale deployments, organizations must prepare to fundamentally rearchitect their digital environments.

This keynote will explore how leaders can operationalize agentic AI to drive efficiency, creativity, and strategic advantage while preserving oversight, governance, and trust. Discussion topics will include designing workflows around autonomous decision-making, managing human-agent collaboration, and navigating emerging risks such as bias, security, and operational drift. Join us as we unpack what it truly means to lead in an era of intelligent, action-oriented AI and how to ensure these agents serve both your innovation goals and core business values.


10:10 AM - 10:55 AM
Panel

The Human Side of Tech: Why Soft Skills Are the Real Superpower

In a world obsessed with digital transformation, AI, and automation, it’s easy to forget the power of human connection. But the truth is—technology doesn’t lead, people do. As roles evolve and teams become more cross-functional, the ability to listen, influence, adapt, and collaborate has become just as critical as technical expertise.

Today’s CIOs, CISOs, and tech leaders are expected not only to drive innovation, but to communicate across departments, manage diverse teams, and navigate uncertainty with empathy and clarity. Emotional intelligence, storytelling, active listening, and resilience are no longer “nice to have”—they’re essential for anyone leading in a fast-moving, high-stakes environment.

Nowhere is this leadership shift more relevant than in the US particularly in NYC, a city built on creativity, reinvention, and cultural diversity. Here, the ability to connect across perspectives isn’t just a professional skill—it’s a way of life. As tech and business worlds converge, NYC’s unique blend of innovation and human-centered thinking offers the perfect backdrop to explore how soft skills are reshaping the future of leadership.

This session dives into why the most successful executives are blending EQ with IQ to inspire trust, build alignment, and drive lasting impact.


10:55 AM - 11:15 AM

Networking Break


11:15 AM - 11:30 AM
Vision Voices

Securing the Rise of Agentic AI: Trust, Control, and Resilience in Autonomous Systems

As agentic AI systems evolve from experimental tools to enterprise-grade digital workers—capable of making decisions, taking actions, and adapting in real time—they introduce a new paradigm of both possibility and risk. Unlike traditional automation, agentic AI operates with greater autonomy, raising urgent questions for security leaders: How do we ensure control? How do we manage risk when systems learn, act, and adapt independently?

This panel will explore the security implications of deploying agentic AI across business operations—from data privacy and decision integrity to real-time threat mitigation and adversarial AI risks. We'll dive into the intersection of governance, identity management, and AI observability, and how CISOs can build frameworks that safeguard both the systems and the outcomes.



11:55 AM - 12:30 PM
Fireside Chat

Strategic Shifts: Reimagining Engineering Talent Deployment and Management in the Age of GenAI

Unlock insights into the evolving landscape of talent deployment and retention as board expectations drive CIOs to rethink traditional IT talent models. Explore the impact of GenAI on coding processes and the software engineering lifecycle, and discover strategies for optimizing talent allocation and headcounts. Gain actionable insights into defining new roles, cultivating essential skills, and charting GenAI-centric career paths to align with organizational goals and stay ahead in a rapidly changing technological landscape.


12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

Lunch


1:30 PM - 1:45 PM
Disruptor

Building a Resilient Digital Infrastructure

In the digital age, building a resilient infrastructure for business continuity is paramount. This involves redundancy and backup systems, robust cybersecurity measures, cloud solutions, and the ability to facilitate remote work. Scalability, real-time monitoring, and ongoing training are essential, as are compliance with regulatory requirements and strong vendor relationships. Effective communication strategies, continuous improvement, and the establishment of a crisis response team round out the key components. By embracing these insights, organizations can better withstand disruptions and ensure the uninterrupted operation of critical systems, all while maintaining the trust of employees, customers, and stakeholders in an increasingly dynamic business environment.

Together With:
Amplitude

1:50 PM - 2:35 PM
Panel

Chief Architect Network: Designing Adaptive Enterprises in the Future Age of Emerging Technologies

Emerging technologies are no longer isolated innovations, they are converging forces reshaping the enterprise core. From agentic AI and quantum computing to edge intelligence, composable architectures, and post-quantum security, today’s Chief Architects are redefining how organizations design for resilience, speed, and scale.

This high-impact panel brings together leading Chief Architects to explore how enterprise architecture must evolve to support autonomous systems, real-time data ecosystems, and cloud-native platforms—without compromising governance, interoperability, or long-term sustainability. The discussion will move beyond hype to focus on practical design patterns, modernization strategies, and architectural principles that enable innovation at scale.


2:40 PM - 3:15 PM
Fireside Chat

The Next Wave Agentic AI: Control, Collaboration, and the Future Frontier of Automation

Agentic AI, autonomous systems that perceive, reason, and act with minimal human intervention is poised to redefine how work gets done. As these intelligent agents move beyond experimentation into enterprise-scale deployments, organizations must prepare to fundamentally rearchitect their digital environments.

This panel will explore how leaders can operationalize agentic AI to drive efficiency, creativity, and strategic advantage while preserving oversight, governance, and trust. Discussion topics will include designing workflows around autonomous decision-making, managing human-agent collaboration, and navigating emerging risks such as bias, security, and operational drift. Join us as we unpack what it truly means to lead in an era of intelligent, action-oriented AI and how to ensure these agents serve both your innovation goals and core business values.


3:15 PM - 3:35 PM

Afternoon Networking


3:35 PM - 4:10 PM
Fireside Chat

Monetizing Digital Platforms

In the digital age, monetizing digital platforms is a fundamental challenge for businesses and content creators. These online spaces offer numerous revenue-generating avenues, including advertising, subscriptions, e-commerce, affiliate marketing, and the sale of digital products or services. Effective monetization strategies require a deep understanding of the target audience, the delivery of valuable content or services, and the creation of user-friendly experiences that encourage engagement and conversions. Finding the right balance between profitability and user satisfaction is central to realizing the potential of digital platforms in the contemporary digital economy.


4:15 PM - 4:25 PM

Closing Remarks


Together With