At CDO Magazine’s New York Leadership Summit, held October 20 at the Westin New York at Times Square, executives across data, analytics, artificial intelligence, technology, security, and governance dove into the opportunities and challenges emerging as AI becomes more deeply embedded in enterprise operations.

The conversations reflected a growing urgency among leaders to move quickly without compromising trust, accountability, or business value. As organizations expand their use of generative and agentic AI, questions surrounding data quality, governance, security, business context, and human oversight are becoming increasingly consequential.

The Summit’s pop-culture-inspired agenda brought those challenges to life through sessions such as “The Art of the Steal – Trust Is the New Getaway Car,” “Little Tires on an F1: Why Old Controls Won’t Work for Agentic AI,” and “The Trojan Horse – Your Guest List Just Got Tricky.” Behind the playful titles were serious conversations about protecting enterprise data, rethinking established controls, and creating the conditions for AI to deliver meaningful business outcomes.

Executives from financial services, insurance, media, technology, healthcare, and other industries exchanged perspectives through keynotes, panel discussions, breakout sessions, and peer networking.

CDO Magazine thanks the Co-chairs of the New York Leadership Summit for their leadership:

• Cat Ihonvbere, JPMorgan Chase Head of Controls Analytics, CCB Connected Commerce
• Hardik Mehta, JPMorgan Chase Head of Payments, Regulatory Risk and AI Incubation
• Andrew Reiskind, Mastercard Chief Data Officer
• Tali Rosenblum, New York Life Insurance Vice President, Executive Officer, Head of Enterprise AI-Led Analytics & Intelligence Solutions

Trust is becoming central to enterprise AI

As AI capabilities advance, organizations are confronting a challenge that technology alone cannot solve: earning and maintaining trust in the data, systems, and decisions that increasingly shape business operations.

At the Summit, executives explored how trust extends beyond model performance to include data quality, accountability, governance, security, and the people responsible for implementing AI.

Andrew Reiskind, Mastercard Chief Data Officer, said the opportunity to compare experiences with peers was particularly valuable:

“Once again, a great event hosted by CDO Magazine allowing me to share ongoing challenges in implementing Responsible AI quickly with peers going through the same challenges, as well to learn new developments for leveraging AI to ensure good data governance – reinforcing that relationship between good data and good AI as a two way street,” Reiskind said.

His observation points to an increasingly important relationship between AI Governance and data governance. Reliable AI depends on trusted data, while AI itself is creating new opportunities to strengthen how organizations manage, protect, and govern their information.

Clement King, Scotiabank Managing Director, offered another perspective on the importance of the operating environment surrounding AI:

“I really enjoyed the CDO Magazine Summit. Great speakers, thoughtful conversations on business semantics and trust, and the chance to meet the data heroes working behind the scenes.”

For King, a Formula 1 analogy captured the challenge:

“The Formula 1 analogy stayed with me. You can have the fastest car and best driver, yet worn tires or NYC traffic can erase that advantage. The same applies to AI. Technology has the potential, but the right operating environment determines its value, starting with people and trust. Customers depend on us to deliver business value while managing the risks on their behalf.”

The comparison reflects a recurring concern for Chief Data Officers (CDOs): even sophisticated AI capabilities can fall short when the data, governance, processes, and organizational conditions supporting them are inadequate.

Agentic AI is raising the stakes for governance

The shift toward agentic AI introduces new questions for organizations already working to establish effective AI Governance frameworks.

As AI systems gain greater autonomy to retrieve information, make decisions, and execute tasks, organizations must consider how traditional approaches to access controls, accountability, security, and oversight apply to increasingly complex workflows.

The Summit’s discussions reflected those concerns through sessions examining the limitations of existing controls, the security implications of AI agents, and the importance of embedding governance directly into enterprise AI systems.

Pankaj Kamble, US Bank SVP, Data Insights & Products, highlighted the importance of connecting enterprise knowledge and trusted data to the systems responsible for carrying out AI-driven actions.

“The next frontier of enterprise AI isn’t about building another frontier model—it’s about building the ‘Enterprise Harness’ that connects business knowledge and trusted data, embedding governance and guardrails directly into the agent execution loop. This is how we diffuse AI across the enterprise, enabling autonomous decision-making, action, and recursive self-improvement.”

His perspective illustrates why an AI Governance strategy cannot be limited to approving models before deployment. Organizations also need to consider how agents access information, operate within defined boundaries, and remain accountable as their responsibilities expand.

For Chief Data Officers and their counterparts in security, risk, and technology, agentic AI security is becoming closely connected to broader questions of enterprise data access, identity, and governance.

The discussion also reinforced the importance of defining AI Governance roles across business and technical functions. As AI becomes more autonomous, responsibility for its behavior cannot rest with one team alone.

Aadesh Gandhere, DTCC Chief Audit Executive, who participated in a Summit panel, valued the opportunity to explore these questions with leaders outside his usual professional circles:

“I especially value opportunities to step beyond audit conferences, hear different perspectives and bring fresh insights back to our profession. CDO Magazine created a welcoming space for meaningful conversations about innovation, trust and accountability. I look forward to continuing these connections.”

Trusted data and business context determine AI value

New AI capabilities may be advancing rapidly, but the challenge of connecting enterprise data to meaningful business outcomes remains.

Across the Summit, executives examined how data foundations, business semantics, context, and governance influence whether AI systems can deliver reliable results.

Sessions such as “The Data Dividend: Turning Enterprise Data Into an Agentic AI Value Engine,” “Smarter Agents Start With Smarter Data,” and “Context Is Necessary, But It’s Not Enough” reflected the importance of making enterprise information usable, accessible, and meaningful to AI systems.

The leaders also highlighted the limits of relying on technology without understanding the business environment in which it operates.

King’s Formula 1 comparison speaks directly to that challenge. A powerful AI system may have considerable potential, but its effectiveness depends on the quality of the data, controls, processes, and human decisions surrounding it.

For CDOs, that makes the relationship between data strategy and AI strategy increasingly important. Data must not only be available; it must carry the context and meaning necessary to support business decisions.

Business semantics, data ownership, and consistent definitions become especially important when AI systems are expected to operate across departments and business processes.

The broader challenge is turning those foundations into business value rather than treating them as isolated technology initiatives.

Technology alone won’t deliver transformation

Despite the focus on increasingly sophisticated AI capabilities, the Summit’s executive perspectives repeatedly returned to the importance of people.

Rosenblum said  co-chairing the event reinforced the value of collaboration and shared learning:

“It was an incredible experience to co-chair the CDO Magazine Summit! What made the event truly memorable was the energy in the room, the authenticity of the conversations, and the opportunity to connect with so many passionate leaders shaping the future of data, analytics, and AI.”

Her biggest takeaway centered on the relationship between technological progress and organizational transformation:

“While technology is advancing at an extraordinary pace, real transformation is still about people, collaboration, and turning innovation into meaningful business impact.”

That distinction is becoming increasingly relevant as Chief Data Officer responsibilities extend beyond traditional data management into AI adoption, business transformation, governance, and organizational change.

Sol Benjamin, JPMorgan Chase VP of Product Semantic Intelligence similarly emphasized the value of learning directly from peers confronting comparable challenges:

“What stood out most to me was the energy in the room. Bringing together leaders who are both navigating today’s challenges and building for the future created meaningful discussions and valuable connections. I left the Summit with new perspectives, renewed optimism, and a stronger appreciation for the power of community in accelerating progress.”

For Benjamin, the opportunity to exchange ideas with peers and vendors also provided practical insights into addressing challenges within his organization.

The message from these perspectives is that enterprise AI transformation depends as much on collaboration, leadership, and organizational readiness as it does on technical capability.

New York’s data and AI community comes together

Beyond the formal sessions, the New York Leadership Summit gave executives opportunities to exchange ideas, compare challenges, and develop relationships with peers across industries.

For many attendees, those candid conversations were among the most valuable parts of the experience.

Artie Byrne, Ashley Furniture Former CIO highlighted the importance of moving beyond polished presentations to discuss what organizations are actually experiencing:

“The best conversations at the Summit were the honest ones, leaders comparing notes on what is actually working with data and AI, not the slide version. I left with new connections, a few ideas I want to steal, and a reminder that this community shows up for each other.”

Dominick Gaglio, P&G Head of Marketing Automation & Personalization also emphasized the value of the Summit’s cross-industry perspective.

“CDO Mag Summit is always an amazing event providing the opportunity to connect with the smartest data-minded leaders across multiple industries that all share similar goals and challenges regarding how to leverage data and technology to drive business and foster strong customer/client relationships.”

He also pointed to the relevance of the breakout discussions and the opportunity to learn from practical use cases.

Bo Xu, East West Bank SVP, Head of Data & Analytics, described the Summit as an opportunity to connect with peers and exchange perspectives:

“The New York Summit was a fantastic gathering of leading Data and AI professionals across the region. I really enjoyed the thought-provoking discussions, exchange of ideas, and opportunity to connect with like-minded peers. The quality of the content and conversations was truly top-notch.”

For Nick Chizzonite, JPMorgan Chase Managing Director, Head of Connected Commerce Data & Analytics, attending the Summit for the first time offered a different perspective on the value of the community.

“Stepping into this community for the first time has been incredible. Surrounding yourself with senior leaders who are openly sharing both the wins and the real-world friction of data and AI transformation is invaluable.”

Cat Ihonvbere, JPMorganChase Head of Controls Analytics, CCB Connected Commerce, recognized the work involved in bringing that community together:

“Putting on an executive gathering of this caliber year after year is no small feat—making it bigger, sharper, and more impactful every single time takes extraordinary dedication.”

She also thanked the CDO Magazine team for creating a platform that supports ongoing connection and learning.

Gerri Caveness, CDO Magazine Community Director, captured the energy of the event in her reflections on the Summit:

“HIGH STAKES. HIGHER SPEED: The Future Is Ahead of Schedule. New York City understood the assignment!”

“The funny thing about the future is that we keep talking about it like it’s something we’re waiting for. Well, I have news for you: it’s already here!”

For Caveness, the executives gathered in New York represented a community actively shaping that future:

“These are executives who aren’t waiting for someone else to figure out AI, data, and everything coming at us at warp speed. They’re making the decisions, taking the risks, and occasionally reminding us that even the smartest technology still needs a human with some common sense!”

Her closing observation captured the human element that ran throughout the Summit:

“And once again, I am reminded that in a room full of brainpower, the best intelligence in the room may not be artificial!!”

The conversations in New York reflected an enterprise AI landscape where the pace of innovation is accelerating, but the fundamentals of trust, data quality, governance, and human judgment remain essential.

For Chief Data Officers and other enterprise leaders, the challenge is not simply keeping up with new technology. It is ensuring that organizations have the data, controls, capabilities, and leadership necessary to put that technology to work responsibly and deliver measurable business value.

Executives speaking at the CDO Magazine New York Leadership Summit included:

• Jide Adeoye, gozay, ltd Director, Business Intelligence
• Sung-Ho Ahn, DTCC MD Deputy General Auditor, Clearing & Securities Services Risk and Data
• Alberto Amequita, Citi Banamex Head of Modeling & Analytics
• Sashi Arumugam, Hackett Group Vice President of Distribution Technology and Intelligence
• John Baldino, Risk & Compliance Executive
• Sol Benjamin, JPMorgan Chase VP of Product Semantic Intelligence
• Seth Blinder, JPMorgan Chase Managing Director, Firmwide Head of Privacy
• Artie Byrne, Ashley Furniture Former CIO
• Jerry Calvanese, Salesforce Senior Director, Solution Engineering
• Sabrina Chen, AML Intelligence North America Head of Financial Crime Analytics
• Nick Chizzonite, JPMorgan Chase Managing Director, Head of Connected Commerce Data & Analytics
• Diego De Aragao, Citi SVP, Balance Sheet Executive Decision Support, Data Analytics & AI Enablement
• Christopher Di Gioia, P&G Executive Director, Head of Product Data Governance
• Dominick Gaglio, P&G Head of Marketing Automation & Personalization
• Aadesh Gandhere, DTCC Chief Audit Executive
• Jean-Philippe Gerbi, Metropolitan Commercial Bank Chief Information Officer
• Oliver Gomes, National Hockey League Senior Vice President, Data & Insights
• Jennifer Hoehn, JPMorgan Chase Executive Director, Offers & Shopping Analytics
• Kodjo Hogan, Clear Street Director, Head of Cyber Governance, Risk, and Compliance
• Erica Howard, TD Head of Consumer Data Ownership
• Lung Huang, NBCUniversal VP, Data Products
• Cat Ihonvbere, JPMorgan Chase Head of Controls Analytics, CCB Connected Commerce
• Vanessa Jones-Nyoni, Commonwealth Chief Data Officer North America
• Pankaj Kamble, US Bank SVP, Data Insights & Products
• Clement King, Scotiabank Managing Director
• Raj Koltur, P&G Head of Product Technology
• David Krausa, Comcast VP, Data Strategy, Products, and Governance
• Giorgi Liskiladze, Zoetis Director & Global Head of People Analytics
• Bryce Macher, FanDuel Vice President, AI Engineering
• Justin Maron, Soho House IT Manager, Eastern North America
• James Massa, JPMorgan Chase Senior Executive Director, Software Engineering & Architecture
• Hardik Mehta, JPMorgan Chase Head of Payments, Regulatory Risk and AI Incubation
• Monil Pandya, Citi Data Quality & Regulatory Head, Personal Banking & Wealth
• Liz Patel, Cencora Senior Vice President, Global Head of Data, Analytics and AI
• Jordan Poydras, Players Health General Manager, NIL & Sports Insurance
• Prathibha Prabakaran, Amtrak Enterprise Data and AI Architecture and Strategy
• Leo Rajapakse, Gruppo Bimbo Global Head of Platform Infrastructure, Digital & Advanced Technologies
• Andrew Reiskind*, Mastercard Chief Data Officer
• Wilmarie Rios, Synchrony Financial Vice President – Analytics, Chief Data Office
• Tali Rosenblum, New York Life Insurance Vice President, Executive Officer, Head of Enterprise AI-Led Analytics & Intelligence Solutions
• Prashant Saurabh Singh, Metropolitan Commercial Bank Director of Applications and Data Platforms
• Sameera Sivji, Scotiabank Director & Head, Global Retail Reporting & Data Management, GRM Retail Credit Risk
• Karen Swift, Formerly Penske Media Corporation VP, Information Technology
• Xin (Cindy) Tu*, LPL Financial Vice President, Head of Tech & Cyber Governance Compliance
• Vijay Yadav*, PreciseDx Vice President, AI & Technology
• Santosh Kumar Yamsoni, Global Financial Institution Global Head of Platform Engineering
• Bo Xu, East West Bank SVP, Head of Data & Analytics
• Casey Bain, Immuta Director, Solutions Architecture North America
• Brian Barnes, Coretek CTO
• Richard Bird, Cyera Principal AI & Identity Officer
• Michael Butts, Burtch Works CEO
• Bob DeCarlo, AMD Enterprise Sales Leader
• Anthony Dell Colli, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Director, Client Engagement, Innovation, Office of the CTO
• Taige Eoff, Google GTM Practice Lead
• Malcolm Hawker, Profisee Chief Data Officer
• CJ Peden, Starburst Data Staff Solution Architect
• Tim Richer, IBM Director
• Ryan Trimberger, 4MINDS Co-Founder & CEO
• Or Zabludowski, Flexor CEO

*Andrew Reiskind, Xin (Cindy) Tu, Vijay Yadav are CDO Magazine Global Board members. 

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Special thanks to Burtch Works, Cyera, HPE, AMD, IBM, Profisee, 4MINDS, Coretek, Flexor, Google Cloud, Immuta, Informatica from Salesforce, Starburst, TextQL, and Euno for making this event a success.