Phoenix CIO Community
Executive Summit
November 5, 2025 | Hyatt Regency Phoenix
November 5, 2025
Hyatt Regency Phoenix
Collaborate with your peers
Get together with Phoenix's top CIOs to tackle shared business challenges and critical priorities facing your role today. Participate in this one-day, local program with peer-driven topics and interactive discussions with your true C-level peers.
Join your peers to discuss the most critical issues impacting CIOs today:
Building a Foundation for Cyber Resilience
Leveraging Data & Analytics to Drive Strategic Business Outcomes
Maximizing AI to Advance the Business and Create Value
Phoenix CIO Governing Body
The Governing Body Co-Chairs shape the summit agenda, ensuring that all content is driven By CIOs, For CIOs®.
Governing Body Co-Chairs
Gary Desai
Discount Tire
CIO
Ed Dzadovsky
Circle K
CTO
Raghu Santanam Ph.D.
Arizona State University
Sr Associate Dean, Information Systems - W. P. Carey School of Business
J.R. Sloan
State of Arizona
CIO
What to Expect
Interactive Sessions
Hear from CIO practitioners and thought leaders on how they're solving critical challenges impacting your role today in Keynote sessions, and join smaller, interactive discussions with your peers in Breakout and Boardroom sessions.
Community Networking
Make new connections and catch up with old friends in casual conversations during dedicated time for networking designed to better acquaint you with your Phoenix CIO community.
Peer-to-Peer Meetings
Connect with like-minded peers in a private, one-on-one setting through Peer-to-Peer Meetings. You will be matched with peers in your community based on your shared interests and priorities.
Agenda
Executive Boardroom Sessions
Optimizing IT Operating Models — Driving Value and Accelerating Growth
CIOs are under increasing pressure to deliver measurable value and must proactively evolve their IT operating models to drive enterprise objectives. However, a disconnect between a task-driven culture and an outcomes-oriented mindset can hinder sustained business growth.
Join this session to discuss with your peers:
- Assessing and realigning your IT operating model to support your organization’s digital vision and strategic goals
- Shifting from operational efficiency to models that boost business performance and enable enterprise-wide transformation
- Building stronger partnerships with business stakeholders and fostering collaboration for greater impact
From Chaos to Clarity ― AI’s Role in Data Security
As leaders, you're expected to enable secure, data-driven innovation. That requires a clear understanding of what data you have, where it resides, its risk, who can access it, and how it's used. This interactive discussion will explore how CISOs tackle data visibility and ensure compliance.
Join this session to discuss:
- Gaining data visibility as a foundation for data governance
- Navigating evolving data security regulations and standards
- Enabling compliance through shared responsibility and the right tools
CISO Role Evolution — How Are You Adapting?
Being a well-rounded CISO can’t be hacked. It takes consistent reflection and re-invention as the role evolves from a solely technology-focused position to a business-enabling one.
Join this peer-led boardroom to discuss:
- Embracing the evolving demands of the CISO role
- Building trust and influence amongst C-Suite peers and key stakeholders
- Demonstrating your value as a proven leader and business-enabler
Keynote Session
Turning Tech Talk into Business Impact — The Value Equation
In today’s digital-first economy, IT and security leaders are under increasing pressure to justify investments in terms that resonate with the business—measurable outcomes, competitive advantage, and tangible value. Yet, bridging the gap between technical activities and business impact remains a persistent challenge.
Join this session to hear perspectives from your peers on:
- Identifying and aligning IT initiatives with core business objectives
- Moving beyond traditional metrics to business-relevant KPIs such as revenue growth, customer experience, risk reduction, and innovation enablement
- Building a value-driven IT narrative for the C-suite and board, making the case for strategic investments in digital transformation and cybersecurity
Gartner Keynote Session
Top Strategic Technology Trends for 2026 and Beyond
Hear from Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner, Gene Alvarez, on the top trends for 2026 to propel your business and technology goals. Learn how to transform disruption and uncertainty into opportunity and growth.
Join this session to hear about:
- Emerging technology trends shaping the future
- Understanding the impact and importance of these trends
- Leveraging insights to drive opportunity, growth, and competitive advantage
Apply to Participate
Apply to participate in the Phoenix CIO Community Executive Summit.
Gartner facilitates exclusive, C-level communities by personally qualifying and understanding the priorities, challenges and interests of each member.
Our selective approach maintains the high quality of the network and ensures top-level discussions with peers from the world’s leading organizations.
Each application will be reviewed, and once your participation is confirmed, you will have access to year-round community programs.
Location
Venue & Accommodation
Hyatt Regency PhoenixA block of rooms has been reserved at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix at a reduced conference rate. Reservations should be made online or by calling 844-535-2979. Please mention G-ABC9 to ensure the appropriate room rate.
Deadline to book using the discounted room rate of $249 USD (plus tax) is October 13, 2025.
Your Community Sponsors
CISO Thought Leaders
Key Sponsors
Program Sponsor
Community Program Manager
For inquiries related to this community, please reach out to your dedicated contact.
