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Data Leaders Weigh Agentic AI at CDO Magazine Chicago Dinner
Written by: CDO Magazine Bureau
Updated 5:09 PM UTC, Thu May 22, 2025
CDO Magazine’s exclusive Executive Boardroom Dinner in Chicago brought together leading data, analytics, and AI minds for an in-depth discussion of how the next iteration of GenAI is shaping the future of business. The May 13 event featured a panel discussion delving into the critical and timely topic of “Agentic AI – Exploring the Next Generation in Artificial Intelligence.”
Panelists addressed key questions on how Agentic AI is influencing enterprise decision-making, technology infrastructure, and the evolving relationship between advanced AI systems and the essential data foundations that support them.
They explored how organizations can harness the power of Agentic AI to drive innovation, and discussed strategies for integrating next-generation AI into existing business frameworks.
The panel of experts were:
- Patrick Chew, AIT Worldwide Logistics Vice President, AI and Data Science
- Mark Bennett, NVIDIA Sr. Data Scientist, AI, Financial Services Industry
The discussion was moderated by Clyde Gillard, Hewlett Packard Enterprise North American AI GTM Leader.
Moderator Clyde Gillard, Hewlett Packard Enterprise North American AI GTM Leader, and panelists Patrick Chew, AIT Worldwide Logistics VP, AI & Data Science, and Mark Bennett, NVIDIA Sr. Data Scientist, AI, Financial Services Industry, engage on “Agentic AI – Exploring the Next Generation in Artificial Intelligence” during the CDO Magazine Chicago Executive Boardroom Dinner on May 13.
Sharing his experience, speaker Chew, says that participants are feeling excited yet cautiously optimistic in this fast changing AI landscape —“Especially along technology updates (GPU, Cloud, OnPrem), ROI (measurement, value base outcomes), talent (upgrade, Organization Change Management), data exposure (security, IT/AI shadowing), Agentic AI vs AI agents vs ML (literacy, Use Cases, adoption) and data foundation (Domain Data Owners, accountability, Outcome driven).”
Chew elaborates: “We are reminded that AI started with embracing, and we are in between managing expectations and delivering some quick outcomes now with GenAI. No longer will it be a requirement as we all know AI isn’t going to replace our jobs, but your competitors will if they use AI effectively as a differentiating and competitive tool.
“The key is to continuously enforce your data foundation with ownership, quality, consistency, and reliability — treating and managing it as your enterprise asset and delivering on value or/and impact,” he adds.
Purvi Savera, Alliant Credit Union Director of Data, shares that the CDO Magazine Executive Boardroom Dinner sparked a great discussion around Agentic AI and the exploration of the next generation in artificial intelligence.
Savera says,“I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the awesome panel about the emerging trends and interesting stories about challenges with adoption of AI. Another great event and networking opportunity with fellow data, analytics and AI leaders!”
Allyson Alston, Mars Veterinary Health Global VP, Data & Analytics; Purvi Savera, Alliant Credit Union Director, Data; Micheal Oppenheim, Empower Chief Data & Analytics Officer; Dhruv Baronia, Northern Trust Corporation SVP, Head, Analytics, Wealth Management; and Anil Gutlapalli, Northern Trust VP, Enterprise Risk Data & Analytics.
Anthony Losanno, CDO Magazine SVP, Sales, highlights, “The speakers led a great discussion around Agentic AI, the importance of good data in driving AI, the need for investment and how to make that case within an organization, and more.”
Summing up the discussion, moderator Gillard emphasizes that any successful adoption of Artificial Intelligence—whether Generative, Agentic, or Physical—must begin with a strong data foundation.
He says,“Having the opportunity to discuss the topic of ‘data’ with the leaders of organizations across several verticals on how to best organize critical corporate information to support operations and leverage this data to drive innovation and digital transformation – while maintaining data security, compliance and governance – is a hot topic — made even more relevant and urgent by the emergence of agentic AI!”
Special thanks to Hewlett Packard Enterprise and NVIDIA for their partnership in making the event a success.
Executives attending the Chicago CDO Magazine Executive Boardroom Dinner included:
Allyson Alston, Mars Veterinary Health Global VP, Data & Analytics; Dhruv Baronia, Northern Trust Corporation SVP, Head, Analytics, Wealth Management; Patrick Chew, AIT Worldwide Logistics VP, AI & Data Science; Jennifer Dickey, Dykema Data Privacy & Cybersecurity Attorney; Anil Gutlapalli, Northern Trust VP, Enterprise Risk Data & Analytics; Karen Hiers, Northern Trust Chief Data & Analytics Officer, Enterprise; Molly King, Blue Cross Blue Shield Sr. Manager, Data Science; John Krane, Charles Schwab Sr. Director, Principal Data Engineer; Sabrykrishnan Loganathan, Peloton Interactive Strategy Advisor, AI & App Security; Micheal Oppenheim, Empower Chief Data & Analytics Officer; Ramkumar Ramamoorthy, MSCI Executive Director; Purvi Savera, Alliant Credit Union Director, Data; Ramendra (Ram) Singh, Night Market Chief Data Officer; Frank Sung, Loop Capital Markets VP, Data Management; Mark Bennett, NVIDIA Sr. Data Scientist, AI, Financial Services Industry; Chris Bowie, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Account Manager; Clyde Gillard, Hewlett Packard Enterprise North American AI GTM Leader; Barry Pratt, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Sales; Anthony Losanno, CDO Magazine SVP, Sales; Corey Maxner, CDO Magazine Director, Client Success & Digital Operations.
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