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Chicago CIO Virtual Executive Summit
May 18, 2021 | 8:00am - 3:00pm CDT
May 18, 2021 | 8:00am - 3:00pm CDT
Collaborate with your peers
Come together with your peers virtually to tackle top business challenges through peer-driven content and discussions at the Chicago CIO Virtual Executive Summit.
Join your peers to discuss the most critical issues impacting CIOs today:
Seizing momentum – influencing and leading the enterprise
Thriving through uncertainty - empowering people and delivering value
Advancing and scaling strategic, outcome-based technologies
Co-Chairs

Deb Hall Lefevre
Couche-Tard
Chief Technology Officer

Michael Parisi
ITW
VP CIO

Thomas South
Northern Trust
Executive VP & Chief Information Officer

Francesco Tinto
Walgreens Boots Alliance
Senior VP & Global Chief Information Officer

Corrado Azzarita
Kraft Heinz
Global CIO

Ashley Pettit
State Farm Insurance
Senior Vice President & CIO
Agenda
May 18, 2021
8:00am - 8:45am CDT Virtual Summit Keynote
Strategic Drivers to Digital Business Acceleration
A CIO’s 2021 marching orders come straight from the top: In a Gartner survey, 7 out of 10 boards demanded digital acceleration in a disrupted global climate, while operational excellence through digital business topped the forward-driving agenda. How does your digital strategy measure up to the mission? Join your peers in an interactive session built around modern digital design.
Among the key talking points:
What it means to be ‘digital-first’ – breaking down roadblocks and navigating roadmaps
What levers to pull to expand digital business and increase digital maturity
How CIOs create credibility to drive the enterprise in a digital direction
8:45am - 9:00am CDT Break
9:00am - 10:00am CDT Virtual Summit Boardroom
Fueled by the Power of Data
Hosted by IBM

Corrado Azzarita
Global CIO
Kraft Heinz

Francesco Tinto
Senior VP & Global Chief Information Officer
Walgreens Boots Alliance
Smart organizations are infusing the intelligence of AI and the agility of hybrid cloud to better predict and shape future outcomes and automate decisions and processes. As a result, organizations can empower people to do higher value work and hyper-personalize digital experiences. However, only 2 of 10 firms have scaled AI solutions.
Join this boardroom to discuss:
- Preventing project stall due to data complexity, talent scarcity, and a lack of trust in AI systems
- Scaling AI across the organization with the right approach and architecture
- Leveraging AI technologies to proactively optimize workflows and experiences
9:00am - 10:00am CDT Virtual Summit Boardroom
Virtual Boardroom hosted by OpenText
Hosted by OpenText Corporation
Session details coming soon.
10:00am - 10:45am CDT Virtual Summit Keynote
Rising Above the Pitfalls of Pilot Purgatory
Hosted by YASH Technologies

Derek Dyer
SAP Americas Lead
YASH Technologies
The best laid plans and POCs do your company no good – and often do irreparable, costly damage – if they never get off the ground. Derek Dyer of YASH Technologies dubs this debilitating challenge “pilot purgatory.” In this keynote, Dyer breaks down where the troubles begin, and what CIOs can do at every stage to ward off wasteful setbacks while keeping your pilot pointed toward sustainable, value-based outcomes. They will cover:
- What to avoid and ways to navigate pitfalls from infancy-to-completion of a pilot or POC
- How to leverage your people and create business-wide momentum to execute your vision
- How to benefit by creating quick ROI and riding it through long-term impact
10:45am - 11:00am CDT Break
11:00am - 12:00pm CDT Virtual Summit Boardroom
CIOs Promise: Delivering Data & Analytics
Hosted by DataStax

Bryan Kirschner
Vice President, Strategy
DataStax
Faced with demands for modernization, cost optimization and digital business transformation, CIOs are looking at how data and analytics programs can support expanding their digital business and increasing their D&A maturity. After a D&A strategy is set, IT leaders must execute and deliver on the intended business outcomes.
Join your peers in discussing:
- Approaches to leveraging technology and resources to support D&A program and improve business outcomes
- Best practices for building out new business process and executing change management across the enterprise
- Management of cultural shifts in the organization
11:00am - 12:00pm CDT Virtual Summit Boardroom
Enabling Work from Anywhere with 5G
Hosted by T-Mobile for Business
Session details coming soon.
12:00pm - 12:45pm CDT Virtual Summit Keynote
Closing Keynote
Hosted by Google Cloud
Please check back soon for more details
12:45pm - 1:15pm CDT Networking
Meet the Speakers
Don't miss this opportunity to meet with CIO practitioners and industry thought leaders who shared their insights on the agenda. Come with questions and get ready to meet new friends in this casual session designed to foster peer connections and collaboration in the Chicago community.
1:15pm - 1:30pm CDT Break
1:30pm - 3:00pm CDT Virtual Peer-to-Peer Meetings
Peer Meetings
Meet virtually for in-depth conversations with your colleagues
Chicago CIO Program Manager
For inquiries related to this event, please reach out to your dedicated program contact.