Leading with Insight: AI-Powered Intelligence for Smarter Leadership
AI-Powered Intelligence for Smarter Leadership
Proceedings
Overview
In today’s fast-evolving digital landscape, cross-functional collaboration has become increasingly complex. Information overload, fragmented communication, and the growing demand for faster, data-driven decision-making continue to challenge leaders across organizations. In this context, AI-powered collaboration tools are emerging as a key enabler of smarter, more connected workplaces. These tools empower leaders, board members, and executives to prepare smarter, collaborate better, and act faster, with real-time analytics, intelligent insights, and post-meeting continuity.
This trend is evident in IDC’s Worldwide Future of Work Spending Guide, with investments in AI-integrated workspaces expected to dominate enterprise spending through 2029. For EMEA organizations, operational efficiency, productivity, and innovation remain the primary drivers behind AI-enabled work initiatives.
This exclusive session brings together technology leaders and experts from Inception (a G42 company) & Microsoft alongside IDC analysts to explore how to leverage AI and intelligent tools to redefine collaboration and decision-making; and transform discussions into decisions and decisions into progress.
Agenda
Leading with Insight: AI-Powered Intelligence for Smarter Leadership
One day event
Registration & Networking
IDC Welcome Address
Harish Dunakhe
Senior Research Director, Software & Cloud (META), IDC
Inception & Microsoft Welcome Address
Alessio Bagnaresi
Senior Vice President – Growth, Inception (a G42 company)
Sherif Tawfik
Chief Partnership Officer, G42, Microsoft
Key Trends and Insights: Unlocking Value from Artificial Intelligence Investments and Building a Resilient Enterprise
AI is disruptively transforming the world, and it will change the way we work and live our lives significantly.
IDC’s research reveals that organizations in the UAE are not behind in embracing the power of this pathbreaking technology. In fact, Artificial Intelligence is the top investment priority for 59% organizations in the UAE. Quite understandably, technology leaders know that they can unlock efficiency, gain employee productivity, deliver superior experiences to their customers, and achieve sustainable business growth by adopting AI as part of their operating model. However, to do that they need relevant data, skilled people, management buy-in, and the backbone of right technologies.
Harish Dunakhe
Senior Research Director, Software & Cloud (META), IDC
Leading with Insight: AI-Powered Intelligence for Smarter Leadership
Irina Shabalina
Senior Product Director, Inception (a G42 company)
Tea-Coffee & Networking Break
Open Discussion
Harish Dunakhe
Senior Research Director, Software & Cloud (META), IDC
Irina Shabalina
Senior Product Director, Inception (a G42 company)
Summary & Close
Lunch & Networking
Speakers
Harish Dunakhe
Senior Research Director, Software & Cloud (META)
IDC
Read Bio
Harish Dunakhe
Harish Dunakhe leads IDC’s research & advisory practice for the software program in the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey (META) region.
He is responsible for a team of research analysts and manages the delivery of insights in IDC’s software program and syndicated research. Harish and his team have expertise in studying technology trends to provide our clients with thought leadership and actionable insights. He is based in Dubai.
Harish has a strong understanding of leveraging technologies to solve business problems in the public sector, travel & transportation, hospitality, IT, and retail. He has significant knowledge of emerging technologies such as blockchain, RPA, artificial intelligence, and cloud. He works with clients to understand the intricacies, opportunities, and challenges involved in their technology transformation journeys.
Harish brings more than 17 years of experience working with leading system integrators and other technology companies across the Middle East, South Asia, and India. Prior to joining IDC, he held senior roles spanning technology sales strategy, program governance, and large account business planning at Global MNCs such as Wipro, DXC Technology, and Sonata Software.
Event Sessions
Thursday, December 11 2025 10:50 am | Location:
Open Discussion
Thursday, December 11 2025 9:40 am | Location:
Key Trends and Insights: Unlocking Value from Artificial Intelligence Investments and Building a Resilient Enterprise
AI is disruptively transforming the world, and it will change the way we work and live our lives significantly.
IDC’s research reveals that organizations in the UAE are not behind in embracing the power of this pathbreaking technology. In fact, Artificial Intelligence is the top investment priority for 59% organizations in the UAE. Quite understandably, technology leaders know that they can unlock efficiency, gain employee productivity, deliver superior experiences to their customers, and achieve sustainable business growth by adopting AI as part of their operating model. However, to do that they need relevant data, skilled people, management buy-in, and the backbone of right technologies.
Thursday, December 11 2025 9:30 am | Location:
IDC Welcome Address
Alessio Bagnaresi
Senior Vice President – Growth
Inception (a G42 company)
Read Bio
Alessio Bagnaresi
Event Sessions
Thursday, December 11 2025 9:35 am | Location:
Inception & Microsoft Welcome Address
Sherif Tawfik
Chief Partnership Officer, G42
Microsoft
Read Bio
Sherif Tawfik
Sherif is a global tech leader with 30 years of experience spanning AI, Cloud, Digital Transformation, and Sustainability. As Chief Partnership Officer for G42 at Microsoft, he drives responsible AI and cloud adoption across emerging nations, enabling growth, innovation, and skills for the future.
He is also the Co-Founder & CEO of Fusion Minds AI, a platform accelerating sustainability through generative AI, skilling, and inclusive innovation. Sherif is passionate about creating impact at scale and bridging technology, business, and social good.
Event Sessions
Thursday, December 11 2025 9:35 am | Location:
Inception & Microsoft Welcome Address
Irina Shabalina
Senior Product Director
Inception (a G42 company)
Read Bio
Irina Shabalina
Event Sessions
Thursday, December 11 2025 10:50 am | Location:
Open Discussion
Thursday, December 11 2025 10:00 am | Location:
