Informal networking and welcome, setting the tone for a strategic day.

Our hosts welcome you to the CIO Summit New York. Setting the stage for the program, they’ll provide an overview of the strategic insights and tech trends you can expect to hear about during the day.

Scaling AI for the agentic future requires organizations to move beyond isolated pilots and fragmented automation, embracing systems capable of autonomous decision-making and continuous learning. While 40% of enterprises are already investing in agentic AI and another 44% are piloting use cases, significant gaps remain in governance, talent, infrastructure, and business alignment. Closing these gaps demands a holistic approach: robust data governance, upskilling the workforce for AI-driven roles, modernizing IT architectures, and embedding responsible AI practices across the enterprise. As agentic AI is projected to account for more than 26% of worldwide IT budget growth by 2029, CIOs must ensure that scaling AI delivers measurable business value, operational resilience, and sustainable innovation.

Agentic AI is advancing faster than enterprise governance can keep up. ServiceNow and AWS are closing the gap — combining identity, workflows, and guardrails into a unified approach. The real advantage will go to organizations that build trust architecture early — turning governance from a constraint into a competitive edge.

Most enterprise AI initiatives stall. Not because the models are wrong, but because the data underneath them is fragmented, ungoverned, and inconsistent. In this session, we share how global organizations like Pfizer are scaling AI across 27 markets and 15,000 users by investing first in a governed, unified data foundation. You’ll leave with a practical framework for building the AI-ready data infrastructure that turns pilots into enterprise-wide transformation.

A unified technology platform enables organizations to extend existing systems, integrate applications and business processes, and build AI-supported solutions across the enterprise. Serving as the foundation for modern business operations, it unlocks the full potential of your applications, data, and AI. In this session discover how to leverage an integrated platform approach to accelerate business agility, drive innovation, and future-proof your organization for whatever lies ahead.

AI is rapidly becoming a cornerstone of the CIO agenda, evolving from isolated experiments to a driver of enterprise-wide transformation and measurable business value. IDC research shows that while 45% of organizations are investing in or piloting GenAI initiatives and 40% are already investing in agentic AI, only a small percentage of AI proofs-of-concept progress to full production. To unlock the full potential of AI, CIOs must lead with strategic vision, embed robust governance, and align technology initiatives with business outcomes. By operationalizing AI across the enterprise, CIOs can accelerate innovation, enhance decision-making, and deliver sustainable competitive advantage in a digital-first economy.

Siloed data is a strategic liability in the age of AI. Traditional MDM can’t keep pace. Agentic MDM is emerging as the next evolution: autonomous platforms that deliver continuous sync, continuous data quality, and seamlessly connected master data across AI workflows while lowering the cost of enterprise data operations. Caribou Coffee CTO Soumil Deshmukh and Syncari CEO Nick Bonfiglio explore what this shift demands from enterprise data strategy and why CIOs can’t afford to wait.

The unprecedented pace of innovation is forcing enterprises to rethink business workflows, data management practices, and core infrastructure strategies. Based on our own real world deployments, this session will share Dell Technologies’ and AMD’s perspective on the repeatable best practices and lessons learned for designing an AI-ready data center strategy. Specific focus areas will include Cloud Optimization, Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity & Resilience.

AI is not just a tool, it is a catalyst for redefining workforce capability. In this session, IDC moderates a discussion with enterprise leaders who are rethinking how talent is developed, deployed, and empowered in the age of intelligent systems. The conversation will examine how organizations are aligning AI investments with workforce strategy, enabling continuous learning, and driving measurable gains in productivity and collaboration. Learn how leading organizations are closing skills gaps and preparing their workforce to thrive alongside AI.

Join this fireside chat to learn how to measure ROI, scale successful AI and data initiatives, and align innovation with strategic business outcomes to create lasting competitive advantage in US digital economy.

Hybrid work, AI workloads, and vendor disruption are reshaping application delivery. This session shows how flexible digital workspace strategies reduce complexity, control costs, and enhance security across any environment. Discover how to avoid lock-in, support AI-driven use cases, and deliver applications seamlessly – anywhere, on any device.

Measuring digital success requires organizations to move beyond traditional IT metrics and focus on business outcomes, operational efficiency, and innovation. IDC research highlights that CIOs are increasingly adopting frameworks that link technology investments to measurable value, such as revenue growth, customer experience, and agility. By leveraging data-driven KPIs and aligning digital initiatives with strategic objectives, enterprises can track progress, optimize performance, and demonstrate the impact of digital transformation. This approach enables leaders to make informed decisions, drive continuous improvement, and ensure that digital investments deliver sustainable business advantage.

IDC research shows that talent shortages remain the leading constraint for CIO-led modernization initiatives. To address this, CIOs are prioritizing workforce development through upskilling, reskilling, and fostering a culture of continuous learning. Aligning talent strategy with business objectives and emerging technology needs enables organizations to accelerate transformation, bridge execution gaps, and maintain a competitive edge in an increasingly digital economy.

Technical debt is often seen as a constraint on innovation, but leading organizations are reframing it as a strategic lever for modernization and growth. In this panel, IDC moderates a discussion with enterprise leaders on how they are systematically identifying, quantifying, and managing technical debt to drive better business outcomes. With nearly 40% of CIOs expecting to overspend on digital infrastructure due to technical debt, the stakes are high. Panelists will share how proactive technical debt strategies can unlock resources for innovation, improve operational resilience, and optimize IT investments. Attendees will gain practical insights into turning legacy challenges into opportunities for greater agility, scalability, and long-term competitive advantage.

Explore how AI is transforming workforce productivity across industries in Canada, from automating routine tasks to enhancing decision-making, while balancing efficiency gains with workforce readiness and trust.

AI investment is accelerating across every function, but financial visibility is not keeping pace. As technology consumption becomes decentralized and non-linear, organizations are struggling to connect AI spend to measurable business outcomes. This session introduces a new approach to managing AI-driven investment, one that connects cost, usage, and value, enabling leaders to move from reactive cost management to confident, outcome-driven decisions.

As AI adoption accelerates, CIOs must lead by embedding ethics, governance, and transparency into enterprise AI strategies to ensure responsible innovation and regulatory compliance. Robust frameworks and clear accountability not only mitigate risk but also foster trust and unlock sustainable business value.

Hear a full summary of the days’ takeaways and what’s to come during these final remarks from our Event Director.

Wrap up the day with delicious food & drinks with your new connections and our fantastic partners.