IDC & HPE Executive Dinner
The Self-Driving Network: Leading the Shift to Autonomous, AI-Ready Infrastructure
In collaboration with
IDC finds that AI already augments or automates 31% of campus and branch network management tasks today, a share expected to reach 54% within two years as IT teams shift from reactive troubleshooting toward AI-driven, self-optimizing operations. Nearly half of enterprises (48%) now want AI network management that can determine and execute corrective actions outright, not merely recommend them, a decisive step toward full autonomy.
Yet ambition is outpacing readiness. Network security remains the leading investment priority as AI expands the attack surface, and European datacenter capacity must grow roughly a third every year through 2030 to keeppace with AI workloads. The organizations that move fastest will be those that close the gap between automation ambition and operational trust.
A peer-to-peer roundtable
This exclusive dinner offers a confidential setting for senior IT leaders to compare notes on the journey to self-driving networks. Participants will gain perspectives from IDC and HPE on how European enterprises can move from early automation toward trusted, AI-native network operations, and what it will take to get there.
Key Discussion Topics
From Automation to Autonomy
How AI is moving network operations beyond scripted automation toward self-driving, self-optimizing infrastructure, and what ‘autonomy’ really means in practice today.
Securing the AI-Driven Network
Why network security remains the top investment priority as AI expands the attack surface, and how AI-powered threat detection and zero-trust approaches are evolving to keep pace.
Building AI-Ready Network Infrastructure
What it takes to re-architect bandwidth, latency, and capacity for distributed AI training and inference, and why network readiness is now a precondition for AI success.
Closing the Trust and Skills Gap
The real barriers to scaling AI-driven automation: legacy system integration, process change, and the organizational confidence to let AI act, not just recommend.
Speakers
Luis Fernandes
Senior Research Manager, Infrastructure
IDC Europe
Read bio
Luis Fernandes
Event Sessions
One Day Event 9:00 pm
Summary of discussions and key takeaways
One Day Event 5:50 pm
IDC & HPE Welcome Address
Sujai Hajela
Executive Vice President and General Manager for Campus & Branch
HPE Networking
Read bio
Sujai Hajela
Sujai Hajela is Executive Vice President and General Manager for Campus & Branch at HPE Networking. He has a track record in driving AI, automation, and cloud-based transformation and is passionate about building self-driving networks that simplify operations, reduce complexity, and deliver reliability at scale.
He was CEO and Co-founder of Mist Systems (acquired by Juniper) and was instrumental in shaping the AI-driven enterprise. He has held senior leadership roles at Cisco, Motorola, Nortel, and Hewlett Packard.
Sujai holds a degree in Computer Science from Bangalore University and an MBA from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.
Event Sessions
One Day Event 9:00 pm
Summary of discussions and key takeaways
One Day Event 5:50 pm
IDC & HPE Welcome Address
Agenda
IDC & HPE Executive Dinner
Tue, Oct 20
Welcome Reception
IDC & HPE Welcome Address
Luis Fernandes
Senior Research Manager, Infrastructure, IDC Europe
Sujai Hajela
Executive Vice President and General Manager for Campus & Branch, HPE Networking
Starter Courses – First Discussion Topic
Main Course – Second Discussion Topic
Dessert – Third Discussion Topic
Summary of discussions and key takeaways
Luis Fernandes
Senior Research Manager, Infrastructure, IDC Europe
Sujai Hajela
Executive Vice President and General Manager for Campus & Branch, HPE Networking
Thank you for tonight
Host Partner
HPE
HPE (NYSE: HPE) is a leader in essential enterprise technology, bringing together the power of AI, cloud, and networking to help organizations achieve more. As pioneers of possibility, our innovation and expertise advance the way people live and work. We empower our customers across industries to optimize operational performance, transform data into foresight, and maximize their impact. Unlock your boldest ambitions with HPE.
Discover more at www.hpe.com