The Digital Leadership Agenda 2025
Recoding Business at the Speed of AI
October 2, 2024 | 4pm – 8pm
October 3, 2024 | 8:30am – 3:30pm
The Beckman Center of the
National Academies of Sciences and Engineering
UC Irvine
The Digital Leadership Agenda 2025
Recoding Business at the Speed of AI
October 2, 2024
4pm – 8pm
October 3, 2024
8:30am – 3:30pm
The Beckman Center of the National Academies of Sciences and Engineering,
UC Irvine
Join us on October 2-3, 2024 for the 9th edition of the Center for Digital Transformation’s signature conference.
Rapid advancements in digital technologies, especially AI, are driving a renewed focus on the strategy, execution and dynamics of business transformation. The Digital Leadership Agenda 2025: Recoding Business at the Speed of AI will bring together a select group of experienced executives, board members, investors, technology leaders, and prominent academics to help you chart your digital leadership agenda for the upcoming year. In addition to hearing from noteworthy speakers, this year’s conference is designed to facilitate meaningful peer-to-peer discussion and community learning.
Tiffany Wilding
Managing Director & Chief Economist
PIMCO
Ramin Mousavi
President & CEO
CathWorks
Roxanne Austin
Board Director
AbbVie, Verizon, CrowdStrike Holdings, Freshworks
Ganesh Bell
Managing Director
Insight Partners
Patrick Dey
VP, Data and Digital Innovation
Rockwell Automation
Mary Beth Eckert
EVP, Chief Information & Digital Officer
Pacific Life
Julian Merten
Distinguished Machine Learning Engineer
Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America
Irfan Ali
Global Head of Edge Solutions Sales
NVIDIA
Yashpaul Singh
GenAI Pursuits
Amazon Web Services
Shashank Samant
Executive Chairman
Hitachi America, Ltd. & Hitachi Digital LLC
Board Director
Hitachi Energy, Office Depot, Rackspace
Software Advisory Council
Mercedes-Benz
Shah Nawaz
Chief Technology Officer & VP, Digital Transformation & Engineering
Regeneron
Meghna Sinha
Former VP, AI Center
Verizon
Marcello Damiani
Senior Partner
Flagship Pioneering
Board Director
Cellarity, BenevolentAI
Former CDO
Moderna
Gajen Kandiah
President & COO
Hitachi Digital
Chief Digital Transformation Officer, Digital Systems and Solutions Division Deputy General Manager, AI Transformation Division
Hitachi, Ltd.
Adam Fingersh
EVP and Chief Customer Officer
Experian North America
Nadia Mazzino
Senior Director Control Center Integration & Advanced Services
Hitachi Rail
Frank Antonysamy
Chief Growth Officer
Hitachi Digital
Bhaskar Chakravorti
Dean of Global Business
The Fletcher School at Tufts University
Ivan Williams
Producer
How to Build a Truth Engine
CEO
Outer Limits Productions
Vwani Roychowdhury
Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Samueli School of Engineering, UCLA
Tom Andriola
Vice Chancellor for Information, Technology & Data and Chief Digital Officer
UC Irvine
Ian Williamson
Dean
The Paul Merage School of Business, UC Irvine
Vijay Gurbaxani
Taco Bell Endowed Chair, Professor & Director
Center for Digital Transformation
Visionary Speakers
Tiffany Wilding
Managing Director & Chief Economist
PIMCO
Ramin Mousavi
President & CEO
CathWorks
Roxanne Austin
Board Director
AbbVie, Verizon, CrowdStrike Holdings, Freshworks
Ganesh Bell
Managing Director
Insight Partners
Patrick Dey
VP, Data and Digital Innovation
Rockwell Automation
Mary Beth Eckert
EVP, Chief Information & Digital Officer
Pacific Life
Julian Merten
Distinguished Machine Learning Engineer
Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America
Irfan Ali
Global Head of Edge Solutions Sales
NVIDIA
Yashpaul Singh
GenAI Pursuits
Amazon Web Services
Shashank Samant
Executive Chairman
Hitachi America, Ltd. & Hitachi Digital LLC
Board Director
Hitachi Energy, Office Depot, Rackspace
Software Advisory Council
Mercedes-Benz
Shah Nawaz
Chief Technology Officer & VP, Digital Transformation & Engineering
Regeneron
Meghna Sinha
Former VP, AI Center
Verizon
Marcello Damiani
Senior Partner
Flagship Pioneering
Board Director
Cellarity, BenevolentAI
Former CDO
Moderna
Gajen Kandiah
President & COO
Hitachi Digital
Chief Digital Transformation Officer, Digital Systems and Solutions Division Deputy General Manager, AI Transformation Division
Hitachi, Ltd.
Adam Fingersh
EVP and Chief Customer Officer
Experian North America
Nadia Mazzino
Senior Director Control Center Integration & Advanced Services
Hitachi Rail
Frank Antonysamy
Chief Growth Officer
Hitachi Digital
Bhaskar Chakravorti
Dean of Global Business
The Fletcher School at Tufts University
Ivan Williams
Producer
How to Build a Truth Engine
CEO
Outer Limits Productions
Vwani Roychowdhury
Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Samueli School of Engineering, UCLA
Tom Andriola
Vice Chancellor for Information, Technology & Data and Chief Digital Officer
UC Irvine
Ian Williamson
Dean
The Paul Merage School of Business, UC Irvine
Vijay Gurbaxani
Taco Bell Endowed Chair, Professor & Director
Center for Digital Transformation
A Unique Experience
The Digital Leadership Agenda 2025: Recoding Business at the Speed of AI is designed to help senior executives chart their digital leadership agendas in the upcoming year. We convene an exclusive group of C-level executives from diverse industries, board members, investors, technology leaders, and prominent academics with one goal: to help you navigate the road ahead.
Through a series of thought-provoking conversations and substantive peer-to-peer discussions, you will learn how management teams are seizing competitive advantage with innovative strategies, gain valuable insights, and join a vibrant community of talented professionals driving digital transformation.
A Unique Experience
The Digital Leadership Agenda 2025: Recoding Business at the Speed of AI is designed to help senior executives chart their digital leadership agendas in the upcoming year. We convene an exclusive group of C-level executives from diverse industries, board members, investors, technology leaders, and prominent academics with one goal: to help you navigate the road ahead.
Through a series of thought-provoking conversations and substantive peer-to-peer discussions, you will learn how management teams are seizing competitive advantage with innovative strategies, gain valuable insights, and join a vibrant community of talented professionals driving digital transformation.
Key Themes
October 2, 2024 | 4 pm – 8 pm
Keynote address, networking reception and dinner
October 3, 2024 | 8:30 am – 3:30pm
Conference sessions, breakfast and lunch
AI and the Global Economy:
- How AI is reshaping industries and the economy. What are the big trends we can expect in 2025?
Becoming a Frontier Firm:
- What it takes to be an industry leader in the age of AI. How businesses can use AI to drive innovation, growth and productivity.
The AI Landscape: Today and Tomorrow:
- What is the state of the technology today? Where do we expect its capabilities to be in 5 years?
Building and Navigating Your AI Roadmap:
- How to define your AI-led transformation journey. What it means for competitiveness, business strategy, talent and culture.
Governance in the Algorithmic Age:
- Identifying the ethical, social and economic implications of AI. Building trust in AI and ensuring its responsible use.
Key Themes
October 2, 2024
4 pm – 8 pm
Keynote address, networking reception and dinner
October 3, 2024
8:30 am – 3:30pm
Conference sessions, breakfast and lunch
AI and the Global Economy:
- How AI is reshaping industries and the economy. What are the big trends we can expect in 2025?
Becoming a Frontier Firm:
- What it takes to be an industry leader in the age of AI. How businesses can use AI to drive innovation, growth and productivity.
The AI Landscape: Today and Tomorrow:
- What is the state of the technology today? Where do we expect its capabilities to be in 5 years?
Building and Navigating Your AI Roadmap:
- How to define your AI-led transformation journey. What it means for competitiveness, business strategy, talent and culture.
Governance in the Algorithmic Age:
- Identifying the ethical, social and economic implications of AI. Building trust in AI and ensuring its responsible use.
Full Agenda
October 2, 2024
4:00-5:00 pm | CHECK-IN & WELCOME RECEPTION
5:00-5:15 pm | Welcome Remarks
Vijay Gurbaxani, Director, Center for Digital Transformation
5:15-6:00 pm | Fireside Chat - AI and the Global Economy
Tiffany Wilding, Chief Economist, PIMCO
Moderator: Vijay Gurbaxani, Director, Center for Digital Transformation
6:00-6:15 pm | Benefactor Welcome
Patrick Dey, VP, Data and Digital Innovation, Rockwell Automation
Gajen Kandiah, President & COO, Hitachi Digital; Chief Digital Transformation Officer, Digital Systems and Solutions Division; Deputy General Manager, AI Transformation Division, Hitachi, Ltd.
6:15-6:25 pm | Public Service Announcement
Dr. Diana Ramos, California Surgeon General
6:25-8:00 pm | RECEPTION & DINNER
October 3, 2024
7:30-8:30 am | BREAKFAST
8:30-8:45 am | Table Introductions
8:45-8:50 am | Welcome Remarks
Ian Williamson, Dean, The Paul Merage School of Business, UC Irvine
8:50-9:15 am | Recoding Business at the Speed of AI
Vijay Gurbaxani, Director, Center for Digital Transformation
9:15-9:40 am | Becoming A Frontier Firm: Achieving New Standards of Care
Ramin Mousavi, President & CEO, CathWorks
Moderator: Vijay Gurbaxani, Director, Center for Digital Transformation
9:40-10:20 am | Generative AI: Myth v. Reality
Julian Merten, Distinguished Machine Learning Engineer, Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America
Irfan Ali, Global Head of Edge Solutions Sales, NVIDIA
Yashpaul Singh, GenAI Pursuits, Amazon Web Services
Frank Antonysamy, Chief Growth Officer, Hitachi Digital
Moderator: Shashank Samant, Executive Chairman, Hitachi America, Ltd. & Hitachi Digital LLC; Board Director, Hitachi Energy, Office Depot, Rackspace
10:20-10:55 am | BREAK
10:55-11:20 am | The AI Imperative: Why Boards Can't Play it Safe Anymore
Roxanne Austin, Board Director, AbbVie, Verizon, Crowdstrike, Freshworks
Moderator: Vijay Gurbaxani, Director, Center for Digital Transformation
11:20-11:45 am | Betting on the Future: The Next Wave of AI Innovation
Ganesh Bell, Managing Director, Insight Partners
Moderator: Gajen Kandiah, President & COO, Hitachi Digital; Chief Digital Transformation Officer, Digital Systems and Solutions Division Deputy General Manager, AI Transformation Division, Hitachi, Ltd.
11:45-12:15 pm | Building and Navigating Your AI Roadmap: Becoming a Market Leader
Marcello Damiani, Senior Partner, Flagship Pioneering
Meghna Sinha, Former VP, AI Center, Verizon
Shah Nawaz, CTO & VP, Digital Transformation & Engineering, Regeneron
Moderator: Patrick Dey, VP, Data and Digital Innovation, Rockwell Automation
12:15-12:45 pm | Technology and the Future of Work
Mary Beth Eckert, EVP, Chief Information & Digital Officer, Pacific Life
Adam Fingersh, Chief Customer Officer and EVP North America Operations, Experian
Moderator: Ian Williamson, Dean, The Paul Merage School of Business, UC Irvine
12:45-1:55 pm | LUNCH
1:55-2:05 pm | Table Introductions
2:05-2:35 pm | AI in Capital-Intensive Industries: Unlocking Value Through Software
Nadia Mazzino, Senior Director, Control Centre Integration & Advanced Services, Hitachi Rail
Julian Merten, Distinguished Machine Learning Engineer, Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America
Moderator: Vijay Gurbaxani, Director, Center for Digital Transformation
2:35-2:55 pm | Research Spotlight: Solving AI's Trust Problem
Bhaskar Chakravorti, Dean of Global Business, The Fletcher School at Tufts University
2:55-3:20 pm | Combating Misinformation: Building a Truth Engine
Ivan Williams, Producer, How to Build a Truth Engine; CEO, Outer Limits Productions
Vwani Roychowdhury, Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Samueli School of Engineering, UCLA
Moderator: Tom Andriola, Vice Chancellor, Information, Technology & Data and Chief Digital Officer, UC Irvine
3:20-3:30 pm | Key Takeaways & Closing Discussion
Vijay Gurbaxani, Director, Center for Digital Transformation
Our Supporters
Principal Benefactors
Benefactor
The Beall Family Foundation
The Margolis Family Foundation
A Unique Location
Situated between Los Angeles and San Diego, Irvine is 5 minutes from Orange County Airport. Orange County offers the best hotels, top restaurants, world-class shopping, beaches and much more.
The conference will be held at the Beckman Center of the National Academies of Sciences and Engineering on the campus of the University of California, Irvine at 100 Academy, Irvine, CA 92617 (Directions).
RECOMMENDED HOTELS:
Hyatt Regency Irvine
17900 Jamboree Rd Irvine, California, 92614
(949) 751-1234/(949) 225-6886
UCI rates from $199 – Book with UCI Rate
(3.3 miles from venue)
Renaissance Newport Beach Hotel
4500 MacArthur Boulevard, Newport Beach
(949) 476-2001/(800) 468-3571
UCI rates from $183 – Book with UCI Rate
(2.4 miles from venue)
Irvine Marriott
18000 Von Karman Avenue, Irvine, California 92612
(949) 553-0100
Rates from $349
(3 miles from venue)
A Unique Location
Situated between Los Angeles and San Diego, Irvine is 5 minutes from Orange County Airport. Orange County offers the best hotels, top restaurants, world-class shopping, beaches and much more.
The conference will be held at the Beckman Center of the National Academies of Sciences and Engineering on the campus of the University of California, Irvine at 100 Academy, Irvine, CA 92617.
RECOMMENDED HOTELS:
Hyatt Regency Irvine
17900 Jamboree Rd Irvine, California, 92614
(949) 751-1234/(949) 225-6886
UCI rates from $199 – Book with UCI Rate
(3.3 miles from venue)
Renaissance Newport Beach Hotel
4500 MacArthur Boulevard, Newport Beach
(949) 476-2001/(800) 468-3571
UCI rates from $183 – Book with UCI Rate
(2.4 miles from venue)
Irvine Marriott
18000 Von Karman Avenue, Irvine, California 92612
(949) 553-0100
Rates from $349
(3 miles from venue)
2023 Conference Highlights
Please view photos and videos below.
2023 Conference Highlights
Please view photos and videos below.
For more information, please contact:
Leslie Fell at lfell@uci.edu or Nina Parpana at nparpana@uci.edu
© 2024 All Rights Reserved – UCI Paul Merage School of Business + Center for Digital Transformation