The inaugural CDO Magazine Global AI Leadership Summit brought together 200+ senior data, analytics, and AI executives at The Westin Cincinnati on October 8 for a full day of strategic dialogue, peer learning, and forward-looking discussions on scaling enterprise AI.

Featuring 40+ distinguished speakers, the summit was packed with inspiring keynotes, interactive panel sessions, and focus group discussions, fostering collaboration and offering unparalleled opportunities to network. Under the theme “Architecting the Future of AI with Strategy, Responsibility, and Innovation,” it empowered leaders to share insights, tackle real-world challenges and shape best practices.

Participants represented a wide range of industries — from manufacturing and technology to financial services and insurance, from healthcare and pharmaceuticals to retail, logistics and supply chain, and from aerospace to government.

The three-day leadership event began with the Global Data Leadership Summit on October 7, continued with the Global AI Leadership Summit, and concluded with the Global Cybersecurity Leadership Summit on October 9.

Key Session Themes:

• Emerging Trends in AI
• Operationalizing & Scaling AI 
• Data Foundations for AI 
• Use Case Presentations 
• Responsible AI 
• Practical Strategies for AI

Notable Keynotes:

• Unleashing Innovation: Robotics as a Catalyst for Digital Transformation

Chad Wright, Boston Dynamics CIO, and Spot The Robotic Dog, Boston Dynamics’ Agile Mobile Robot

• Unlocking Enterprise Value: Turning AI Experiments into Trusted Outcomes

Jignesh Patel, Cencora SVP, Enterprise Data, Analytics & AI; and Derek Waldron, JPMorganChase Chief Analytics Officer; and Priyanka Karan, AHEAD Field Chief Technology Officer

• Redefining Enterprise Leadership: How AI, Data, Risk & Cyber Are Converging to Shape the Future

Thomas Mazzaferro, Cyera Chief Data Officer.

Meet our Summit Co-chairs:

• Mike Baca, Cencora Sr. Director, AI Platforms & Solutions
• Christopher Eldredge, MeridianLink VP, Data
• John Georgesen, Concentrix VP, AI & Advanced Analytics
• Ravi Katyal, Cintas Manager, IT Emerging Technology
• Gokula Mishra, former Direct Supply VP, Data Science & AI/ML
• Leo Rajapakse, Bimbo Bakeries USA Global Head, Platform Infrastructure, Digital & Advanced Technology
• Sanjay Saxena, Bread Financial VP, Data Management, Privacy & AI Governance
• Sandy Steiger, Lithko Contracting Director, Data & Development

Reflecting on his experience, Co-chair and speaker Katyal says, “I had the opportunity of co-chairing and participating in the Global AI Summit which led to some fantastic conversations, networking, and exchange of ideas. It was inspiring to hear from so many thoughtful leaders and peers. The CDO Magazine team has done a remarkable job curating meaningful discussion, fostering long-lasting relationships, and building a strong and engaging community.”

“It was truly a pleasure and honor to speak at the Global AI Summit,” says keynote speaker Wright. “Spot, our autonomous, robotic quadruped and I enjoyed sharing our thoughts on the importance of robotics and AI in digital transformation strategies. It was a day of learning and collaboration through insightful and authentic conversations with thought leaders across so many different industries.”

Meeting Spot was a “standout moment” for speaker Della Shea, Interac Head, Enterprise Risk Management. “These gatherings are where trust is built, ideas are sparked, and leadership is shared, and that’s what makes them so valuable. The conversations around AI leadership, governance, and innovation were timely, practical, and energizing. What stayed with me most was the chance to connect with peers who are navigating similar challenges and shaping the future,” she says.

Commenting on the engagement, Co-chair and speaker Eldredge says, “A high-level and knowledgeable group of senior data and AI leaders were generous in sharing their experiences and current challenges. The panels focused on practical knowledge and innovative approaches to advance AI initiatives within an organization. The collaborative environment encouraged members of the audience to participate, leading to very rich conversations.”

For keynote speaker Patel, one standout theme was how AI is transforming both physical and virtual workspaces. Sharing a quote from his presentation, he notes: “Data is the backbone, AI literacy is non-negotiable, and we need to think about how AI is reshaping, not replacing work.”

Patel adds, “The leaders driving real value are starting with the business problem, using technology as a strategic enabler, not a flashy end goal. As we navigate this evolving landscape, it’s important to stay grounded in what can be improved today, while keeping sight of how these advancements can reshape our processes and deliver long-term impact.”

Keynote speaker Waldron agrees, saying: “I was encouraged to see a real focus on all the building blocks needed to turn data and AI into business value.”

Speaker Gopal Subramanian, Focus Financial Partners Chief Data & AI Officer, highlights his key takeaways:

• Start with the problem you are trying to solve rather than the technology and AI solutions.
• Build a strong data foundation – the goal is to spend less time finding data and spend more time in delivering insights and business value.
• Co-create solutions with your business partners and stakeholders. This will help with transparency, clear ownership, and easier adoption.
• Measure success for AI projects with pillars like – Reducing Risk, Improving Efficiency, Increase Revenue”. If it does not fall in any of these three categories, don’t do the project. These pillars differ from organization to organization.

According to Co-chair and speaker Saxena, the summit provided “great insights” on organizations’ progress with agentic AI and solving AI governance issues. “The vendor participation was great with quality interactions!” he notes.

Bharath Prabhakaran, University of Cincinnati VP & Chief Digital Officer, says the summit was an “enlightening and enriching” experience. “As always, CDO Magazine did a great job organizing a fantastic event with amazing speakers, and sessions covering the spectrum of Data and AI topics that are top of mind for leaders. It was great to meet and network with colleagues and leaders from across the country (and indeed globe), and share ideas, challenges, and opportunities.” 

Prabhakaran shares his key takeaways:

• Data is the new digital currency.
• A sound data strategy is foundational to AI.
• A lot of folks are working to see how to advance GenAI pilots to production.
• Security, data visibility, and privacy are key elements to keep in mind.
• AI Governance is evolving and needs to be a focus area.
• Responsible and ethical AI are non-negotiable and should be top of mind for leaders.

Speaker Yogesh Bhardwaj, Sensata Technologies Sr. Director, GSO, Data & IT Shared Services, describes the CDO Magazine annual Global Summits as a forum for new ideas and collaboration among Data and AI leaders. One key point stood out from his panel conversation: “While the pace of technological change in the GenAI space is exponential, the success mantra remains the same.”

Bhardwaj notes his highlights:

• Clearly define the business problem you’re solving.
• Identify the desired outcomes that will determine success.
• Establish Governance to protect IP and confidential information while enabling innovation.
• Embrace a mindset to learn fast and fail fast.
• Focus on delivering end-to-end solutions, not just AI outcomes.
• Recognize that quality data is the foundation of meaningful outcomes.
• Change management.

Hosting the Summit, Michelle Ziegler, CDO Magazine Global VP, Partner Development & Events, says, “The Global AI Leadership Summit marks a defining moment in our journey to connect the world’s most forward-thinking data and AI leaders. What stood out most was the openness and collaboration — executives sharing not just success stories, but the real challenges and lessons shaping AI’s future. This community is setting the tone for responsible, business-driven AI innovation.”

Summing up the spirit of the event, keynote speaker Mazzaferro says, “The power of this conference lies in bringing together industry leaders who are driving innovation at the intersection of AI, data, and cybersecurity. By sharing real-world experiences, best practices, and lessons learned, we accelerate collective progress, turning insight into action that benefits not just individual organizations, but the broader business and technology ecosystem.”

Special thanks to AHEAD, Cyera, Deloitte, Flexor, Kognitos, Presidio, Pure Storage, Dataiku,Vast, Burtch Works, Centric Consulting, Coretek, Enlivened Tech, Denodo, The Data Lodge, and Data Society for making this event a success.

*Yogesh Bhardwaj, Christopher Eldredge, Gokula Mishra, Bharath Prabhakaran, Sanjay Saxena, Della Shea, and Gopal Subramanian are members of the CDO Magazine Global Editorial Board. 

Executives speaking at the CDO Magazine Global AI Leadership Summit included:

Heather Ackels, Berpl Technologies VP, Business Technology; Kishore Aradhya, Frontdoor Head, Data Engineering & Architecture; Mike Baca, Cencora Sr. Director, AI Platforms & Solutions; Yogesh Bhardwaj, Sensata Technologies Sr. Director, Data, GSO & Shared Services; Shafraz Branudeen, CACI Chief Architect DSS; Dinakar Deshmukh, GE Aerospace VP, Data Science; Meera Dugar, JPMorganChase SVP & Tech Partner; Christopher Eldredge, MeridianLink VP, Data; Michael Farrar, City of Westerville CIO; John Georgesen, Concentrix VP, AI & Advanced Analytics; Matt Godsted, The Kroger Co. Cybersecurity Strategy Architect; Elisha Herrmann, AWS Worldwide Solution Lead, Enterprise Applications; Sravan Kasarla, Commonwealth Financial Chief Data Officer; Ravi Katyal, Cintas Manager, IT Emerging Technology; Bill Kemerer, Allegion VP, Global Data and Analytics; Gokula Mishra, former Direct Supply VP, Data Science & AI/ML; Emily Morgan, Coterie Chief Information Security Officer; Raivo Murnieks, State of Ohio Chief Data Officer; Jignesh Patel, Cencora SVP, Enterprise Data, Analytics & AI; Jonathan Peña, Humana AVP, Data Science; Leo Rajapakse, Bimbo Bakeries USA Global Head, Platform Infrastructure, Digital & Advanced Technology; Sanjay Saxena, Bread Financial VP, Data Management, Privacy & AI Governance; Della Shea, Interac Head, Enterprise Risk Management; Sandy Steiger, Lithko Contracting Director, Data & Development; Gopal Subramanian, Focus Financial Partners Chief Data & AI Officer; Derek Waldron, JPMorganChase Chief Analytics Officer; Hailong Wang, Fifth Third Bank Director, Analytics; Sean Ware, City of Cincinnati CIO; Chad Wright, Boston Dynamics CIO; Venu Yeluri, Wallenius Wilhelmsen VP,  Technology Services; Cary Zalba, Givaudan VP,  IT Americas; Fasih Ahmed, Pure Storage Systems Engineering Leader; Taryn Balthazar, Presidio Industry Principal; Robert Daniel, Data Society Group CRO; Jeff Denworth, Vast Data Co-Founder; Catalina Herrera, Dataiku Field Chief Data Officer; Priyanka Karan, AHEAD Field Chief Technology Officer; Adita Karkera, Deloitte Chief Data Officer, Government & Public Services; Thomas Mazzaferro, Cyera Chief Data Officer; Mason Mobley, Pure Storage Enterprise Regional Marketing Manager, Central; Trevor Seim, Kognitos Head, Global Sales & Partnerships; Merav Yuravlivker, Data Society Chief Learning Officer; Or Zabludowski, Flexor CEO; Anthony Losanno, CDO Magazine SVP, Sales; and Michelle Ziegler, CDO Magazine Global VP, Partner Development & Events.