Organizations globally are realizing that success in the age of AI and digital transformation depends on something deceptively simple: alignment. Business strategy, technology strategy, and data strategy can no longer operate as separate tracks. When silos persist, organizations lose speed, waste resources, and miss the opportunity to turn transformation into measurable results.

That is the context for one of the most anticipated sessions at the upcoming CDO Magazine Columbus Leadership Summit, taking place on November 5, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency – Columbus Downtown. The panel — “From Silos to Synergy: Aligning Data, Tech & Strategy for Real Impact” — will bring together senior executives to explore how leaders can unify priorities across the C-suite, manage risks effectively, and build organizations capable of competing at the highest level in 2026 and beyond.

Why this conversation matters

The stakes are clear. As enterprises accelerate AI adoption, modernization, and digital resilience, gaps between leadership functions have become one of the greatest barriers to impact. This panel will examine how CDOs, CTOs, CISOs, and COOs are breaking down silos through governance frameworks, risk strategies, and cultural change.

Equally important, the discussion will highlight the power of storytelling and engagement — the ability to rally organizations around transformation, ensuring not just adoption but belief in a shared direction. Attendees will walk away with ideas they can immediately apply to strengthen collaboration inside their enterprises.

Leaders guiding the dialogue

This high-stakes conversation will be led by executives who know firsthand the challenges of scaling transformation in complex organizations:

• Tom Marlow, Liberty Mutual VP, Global Data & Analytics
• Justin Windle, First Citizens Bank Head of Data Oversight
• Jenni Wheeler, Cardinal Health VP, Data Office
• Corwin Smith, Wallick Communities Director, Business Intelligence & Analytics

Together, they represent industries where the cost of misalignment is measured not just in dollars, but in customer trust, regulatory resilience, and the ability to innovate at pace.

A summit with purpose

The Columbus Leadership Summit is more than a gathering — it is designed as a catalyst for change. With leaders from across organizations like Wells Fargo, Nationwide, Humana, Liberty Mutual, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, Cardinal Health, Huntington Bank, and JPMorganChase in attendance, the event will provide a platform for candid dialogue and peer-to-peer learning.

“Summits like this are where the most important conversations in data leadership happen,” says Lisa Runkle, Global Event Manager at CDO Magazine. “From Silos to Synergy isn’t just another panel — it’s a forum for leaders to think differently about alignment and leave with ideas that can drive real organizational impact.”

Why you should be in the room

The future belongs to enterprises that turn data into strategy and strategy into execution — seamlessly. This panel offers a front-row seat to the leaders who are proving it can be done. For anyone tasked with driving AI adoption, digital modernization, or enterprise-wide change, the conversation in Columbus will be impossible to ignore.

Register Now to secure your place at the CDO Magazine Columbus Leadership Summit and gain access to the insights that will shape how enterprises compete in 2026.