CIO & CISO Think Tank

Bridging the gap between business and technology is not easy and requires discipline and balance between technology, people, and the business. For so many organizations today, technology is the business. Technology needs to be understood as a critical enabler in every part of the organization from the front line to the back office. It creates new value by crunching data to deliver new insights, it spurs innovation, and it disrupts traditional business models. For business and technology leaders alike, new actions and behavioral changes can help their organizations make this shift. CIOs must take responsibility for problems, they should convey that when technology fails, many people typically share responsibility.

Enterprises are at a pivotal moment in their security and networking evolution. Hybrid work is permanent, cloud and SaaS adoption continue to accelerate, and AI-driven threats are increasing both in speed and sophistication. As users, applications, and data move beyond the traditional perimeter, enterprises must deliver consistent security and optimized access—everywhere—without increasing operational complexity.

This keynote explores how Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) provides a unified, architecture-driven approach to converging networking and security. Attendees will gain a practical roadmap for evolving toward a scalable SASE strategy in 2026—one that strengthens identity-centric controls, simplifies operations, reduces architectural sprawl, and enables enterprises to modernize incrementally while protecting existing investments.

This session explores the pivotal role of CIOs in modernizing data to unlock its full value. In the contemporary digital landscape, data stands as a strategic asset, and CIOs are at the forefront of harnessing its potential. The abstract emphasizes the CIO's responsibility in implementing cutting-edge technologies and data management strategies that go beyond mere storage, enabling organizations to derive actionable insights. By adopting innovative approaches, such as advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and cloud solutions, CIOs can transform data into a valuable resource, driving efficiency, innovation, and informed decision-making across the enterprise. The discussion delves into the evolving responsibilities of CIOs in leading the charge towards data modernization, ensuring organizations remain competitive and agile in an increasingly data-centric world.

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.

In this session, we delve into the imperative for CIOs to prioritize cloud engineering in the contemporary digital landscape. As organizations increasingly rely on cloud computing for operational efficiency and innovation, CIOs play a central role in shaping robust strategies. The session emphasizes the strategic importance of cloud engineering in optimizing infrastructure, ensuring scalability, and fostering agile application development. Attendees will explore practical approaches to resource management, automation, and aligning cloud initiatives with overarching business goals. The discussion navigates the evolving realm of cloud technologies, highlighting how CIOs can strategically prioritize cloud engineering to drive competitiveness and resilience in the dynamic digital ecosystem.

In this dynamic session, we explore the symbiotic relationship between business evolution and the strategic role of Chief Information Officers. Focused on scaling generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) for new business models, the discussion delves into how CIOs can harness the transformative power of AI to drive innovation and reshape business paradigms. Participants will gain insights into practical approaches for integrating scalable GenAI solutions, exploring its potential to revolutionize operational efficiency, customer engagement, and overall competitiveness. The session places a spotlight on the pivotal role of CIOs in navigating the intersection of technology and business strategy, showcasing how they can spearhead initiatives that propel organizations into the next frontier of success.

CIOs face increasing pressure to deliver on the promise of generative AI while maintaining strong governance, visibility, and compliance. As browser-based AI tools proliferate across the workforce, the challenge has shifted from adoption to responsible enablement. Employees are integrating AI into workflows to achieve new efficiencies, but often through unapproved or unmanaged applications that expose the enterprise to data leakage and compliance risks.

In this session, CIOs and IT decision-makers will learn how to strike the right balance between productivity and control. This session will explore the operational, security, and compliance implications of “Shadow AI,” reveal how sensitive data finds its way out of the enterprise and into unauthorized AI tools, and share strategies for establishing policies that unlock AI’s potential safely. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of how to maintain governance and visibility while empowering their organizations to capture the full business value of AI.

As businesses increasingly adopt the Internet of Things (IoT) to optimize operations and improve customer experience, CIOs play a critical role in evaluating the benefits and risks of IoT adoption. They must carefully assess the security risks associated with IoT devices and ensure data security is adequately addressed. Furthermore, CIOs must possess the necessary expertise to effectively integrate IoT devices with existing systems and address issues related to data management, network connectivity, and interoperability. By taking a strategic approach to IoT adoption, CIOs can help their organizations unlock the full potential of this transformative technology while mitigating risks and ensuring data security.

Most companies are rushing headlong into AI projects. The BOD and Executives would rather get a speeding ticket than a parking ticket! They demand the ROI, efficiencies, and competitive advantages that are obtained with a well-planned and executed AI Project. In this fireside chat, a long-time AI expert will describe the phases of AI adoption and the risks encountered, as well as the various AI Risk Frameworks that can be used to identify risks that your project will encounter. Next, he will dive into countermeasures that are necessary to prevent the next AI-enabled security event. Multiple resources will be shared that you can use immediately.

As organizations move beyond the initial wave of digital transformation, many face a new challenge: sustaining progress without burning out. This panel explores what comes after transformation - how to build digital foundations that endure.

In this session, embark on a transformative exploration of the evolving landscape of IT operations. Delving into the strategic imperative for Chief Information Officers to reshape and modernize their IT operating models, the discussion unfolds the critical role technology plays in driving business success. Participants will gain practical insights into the adaptive strategies CIOs can employ to enhance organizational agility, foster innovation, and align IT with overarching business goals. Join us for a dynamic conversation that unveils the power of evolving IT operating models, empowering organizations to thrive in the ever-evolving digital age.

In this strategic session designed for Chief Information Officers (CIOs), we delve into the transformative realm of "Innovate through Emerging Tech." As technology stewards, CIOs play a pivotal role in navigating the rapidly evolving landscape of emerging technologies—such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and the Internet of Things. The session provides CIOs with actionable insights into leveraging these technologies to drive innovation within their organizations. Attendees will explore practical strategies for implementation, addressing potential challenges, and ensuring ethical considerations in adopting these disruptive technologies. Join us to empower your role as a technology leader and discover how CIOs can strategically leverage emerging tech to propel their organizations into the forefront of innovation.

Addressing the multifaceted challenges faced by CIOs in the contemporary technological landscape, the imperative to develop transformational leaders takes center stage. The heightened demand for innovation, enterprise-wide transformation, and evolving technology capabilities poses significant hurdles for CIOs, often leading to an overburdened IT department. To navigate this complexity, the focus shifts towards fostering digital transformation leaders, referred to as digital trailblazers. Gartner highlights leader and manager development as a top priority for HR in 2024, emphasizing the need for CIOs to collaborate with HR in tapping into training and development programs. By cultivating leaders skilled in transformation and change management, CIOs can enhance their department's capacity to oversee initiatives, standardize platforms, and deliver faster results, ultimately reducing friction to change within the organization. Looking ahead to 2024, this strategic approach becomes essential for CIOs seeking to strike the right balance in their digital transformation programs, avoiding the pitfalls of overpromising and under delivering.

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.

The future of digital strategy in a rapidly evolving landscape is poised to be both dynamic and transformative. As technology continues to advance at an unprecedented pace, organizations must adapt their digital strategies to stay competitive and relevant. Data-driven decision-making, AI and machine learning integration, and a seamless user experience will be at the forefront. With the growing importance of sustainability and ethical considerations, digital strategies will also need to incorporate responsible practices. Furthermore, the rise of new platforms and communication channels, such as virtual reality and augmented reality, will require businesses to be agile and innovative in their approach. Success in this evolving landscape will depend on a proactive and flexible approach to digital strategy, ensuring that organizations can not only keep up with change but also lead in shaping the digital future.

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.

The terms "Artificial Intelligence" and "Advanced Machine Learning" are often thought of interchangeably. While there is a relationship between AI and AML, to say they are the same thing is an oversimplification and misclassification. Rather, one begets the other with AI being the basic principle upon which AML is developed. As AI begins to mature and migrate away from purely advanced mathematical operations into decision making paradigms, AML steps forward as the predictive ability of machines to process vast quantities of data. As data and analytics becomes foundational to the way every business operates, AI and AML will become foundational capabilities.

CIOs play a crucial role in driving their organization's digital transformation efforts. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital technologies, and CIOs must continue to lead the way to stay competitive and meet the evolving needs of customers and employees. This requires a deep understanding of the organization's goals, processes, and IT infrastructure, as well as collaboration with other business leaders. By successfully leading digital transformation, CIOs can position their company for long-term success in a digital world.

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.

Vulnerability exploitation has surged to the top of the initial access vector charts, CVE volumes are at a record high, and AI has collapsed the exploitation window to near zero. Yet most organizations are still running scan-and-patch programs built on CVSS scores that were never designed for this reality. The answer starts with data and context: runtime presence, internet exposure, business criticality, compensating controls, and threat intelligence. These are what separate signal from noise, and the foundation of the shift from traditional VM to Continuous Threat Exposure Management. Built on that foundation, agentic AI is the only answer that matches the scale of the problem, turning a manual, backlogged remediation process into an autonomous operation driven by intelligence.

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 Chicago, 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, Chicago’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.