As the pace of innovation accelerates, enterprises are learning that speed alone doesn’t guarantee success. Somewhere between the push for automation, AI adoption, and digital transformation, a critical question has emerged: When technology moves too fast, what happens to common sense?

That’s exactly what technology and business leaders will explore at the CDO Magazine Columbus Leadership Summit on November 5, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency – Columbus Downtown. The headline session, “A Commonsense Approach to Technology in the Time of Now,” brings together seasoned executives who know firsthand what it takes to move fast — without losing focus.

Designed for leaders across technology, data, and business transformation, this discussion goes beyond buzzwords to tackle one of today’s hardest leadership challenges: how to deliver innovation responsibly, sustainably, and at scale.

Why the time of “Now” demands rethinking

In today’s business climate, waiting is no longer an option. From AI and analytics to modernization and security, decisions must happen in real time — but the demand for speed often clashes with the need for governance, ethics, and enterprise reliability.

This headline session asks the question every executive has faced in 2025: How do we stay fast without breaking what keeps us stable?

A conversation with leaders who’ve done it

The panel features executives who have navigated transformation under pressure — in industries where “good enough” isn’t an option.

Panelists include:

• Michael Farrar, CIO, City of Westerville
• Brett Hudspeth, VP, Segment CIO, Medicare & Medicaid, Humana Inc.
• Gokula Mishra, Formerly VP, Data Science & AI/ML, Direct Supply
• Andrew Preston, Sr. Director, Data Strategy, Liberty Mutual

Together, they’ll unpack how organizations can:

• Balance control with speed to market
• Scale solutions quickly while maintaining reliability and trust
• Build governance that evolves alongside AI and emerging technologies
• Turn proofs of concept into measurable, enterprise-wide impact

The “Common-Sense” factor

As enterprises rush to adopt next-generation technologies, common-sense leadership has become the missing ingredient — a reminder that clarity, balance, and grounded decision-making remain the foundation of innovation.

“Technology evolves faster than governance structures, but that doesn’t mean leaders can’t stay ahead,” says Lisa Runkle, Global Event Manager, CDO Magazine. “This session is about what happens when experience, judgement, and practical wisdom meet the pace of modern technology.”

Attendees can expect a candid discussion on how leaders are blending discipline with agility — and finding smarter ways to deliver innovation that lasts.

Top participating organizations include: Wells Fargo, Nationwide, Humana, Liberty Mutual, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, Cardinal Health, Huntington Bank, USAA, JPMorganChase