Behind every successful AI and automation initiative lies a powerful - yet often invisible - data engineering foundation. For global enterprises, building this foundation means ensuring that data is accurate, accessible, secure, and architected for scalability across complex ecosystems.

Today’s data engineering leaders are enabling the enterprise of the future: one where data pipelines fuel real-time insights, AI models operate on trusted data, and governance is embedded into every layer of the data lifecycle. They’re tackling the hard questions - how to unify legacy and cloud environments, manage data quality at scale, optimize cost and performance, and ensure that the data powering AI is reliable and compliant.

Topics of discussion will include, yet will not be limited to:

• Building scalable data pipelines that enable AI, analytics, and automation across the enterprise
• Ensuring data quality, integrity, and governance in hybrid and multi-cloud environments
• Balancing agility, performance, and cost efficiency in modern data platforms
• Architecting trusted data foundations for enterprise-grade AI and decision intelligence

James Gowen, Ph.D., Global Head of Data Engineering Controls - Data Quality Platforms, CITI

Karthik Josyula, Head of Data & AI Platforms - Data & Analytics, KOHLER

Rahul Chawla, Lead Business Intelligence Data Warehouse Engineer, GOOGLE

Prasad Maderamitla, Principal Engineer, SALESFORCE

Enterprise IT today is the cornerstone of organizational growth, agility, and competitive advantage. As digital ecosystems expand, technology leaders are ensuring that IT strategies directly enable business transformation - driving smarter operations, enhanced customer experiences, and continuous innovation.

Forward-thinking IT executives are leading modernization initiatives that align infrastructure, data, and intelligent automation with enterprise objectives. They’re building adaptive operating models, strengthening resilience, and ensuring technology investments deliver measurable business impact. IT is no longer simply supporting the business - it is powering it.

Topics of discussion will include, yet will not be limited to:

• Redefining IT’s identity from service provider to business growth enabler
• Building the business case for modernization, agility, and intelligent investment
• Aligning technology strategy with C-suite priorities and measurable ROI
• Developing IT leadership and culture that foster innovation and resilience

Avinash Vaidya, Vice President of Information Technology, FRANKLIN TEMPLETON

Jerry Luftman, Ph.D., Founder, Professor & Managing Director, GLOBAL INSTITUTE OF IT MANAGEMENT & Former Chief Information Officer, IBM

Shailesh Kadam, Artificial Intelligence & Cloud Architect, SAKS GLOBAL

Ram Kumar Nimmakayala, AI & Data Strategist - Product Leader, AI, Machine Learning & Data, WESTERN GOVERNORS UNIVERSITY

Moderator/Speaker: Rahul Bhatia, Co-Founder & Vice President of Cloud Solutions, NUAAV

Join your peers for a virtual networking and social mixer power hour.

Moderator: Jules Miller, IA Insights & Community Liaison Officer, IA FORUM

Suzanne LaLena, Senior Vice President, Automation Engineering, BNY 

Poornakala Sethuraman, Ph.D., Vice President, Data Science & Product Strategy, BANK OF AMERICA 

Sindhu Vasudevan, Director of Software Engineering, TRUIST 

This event is an "Open Network" Event & Can Be Attended by:

• IA FORUM Members
• IA FORUM Members’ “qualifying” NON-Member internal/external colleagues and friends - to be their “NON-Member VIP Guests”
• “Qualifying” senior-level executives that are NOT Members - and the IA FORUM has personally invited to attend an event
• Other “qualifying” senior-level executives that are NOT Members - and have learned about the events via word of mouth or LinkedIn
• Vendors can NOT attend IA FORUM events

AI is fundamentally reshaping retail, moving beyond automation to create personalized and highly efficient customer journeys. From predictive merchandising and omni-channel engagement to real-time behavioral insights, AI is redefining how retailers understand, anticipate, and serve customers. Leading brands are integrating intelligent systems into every touchpoint - optimizing operations, deepening customer relationships, and unlocking new revenue streams. As retailers accelerate their digital transformation, AI is becoming the core enabler of loyalty, differentiation, and growth in an increasingly competitive market.

Attend this event to learn how retailers are leveraging AI to boost customer loyalty, satisfaction, and growth - and how AI can drive superior retail customer experiences.

Topics of discussion will include, yet will not be limited to:

• Hyper-Personalization - delivering tailored product recommendations and pricing in real-time
• Intelligent Operations - using predictive analytics and smart inventory to ensure product availability
• Future of Interaction - the role of AI-driven chatbots and in-store tools for instantaneous, 24/7 support

Pabitra Saikia, Vice President & Senior Change Delivery Lead, TRUIST

Uttam Kumar, Engineering Manager, AMERICAN EAGLE OUTFITTERS

Voice AI has evolved from a novelty interface to a strategic channel reshaping how enterprises connect with customers, employees, and partners. But as adoption accelerates, the true differentiator lies not in the technology itself - but in how organizations design, govern, and measure it.

The challenge is ensuring that Voice AI delivers consistent, human-centered experiences while achieving measurable business outcomes. That means architecting intelligent conversational systems that enhance CX, integrate seamlessly with enterprise data, and continually learn from every interaction. It also means defining clear success metrics - from customer sentiment and efficiency gains to ROI and long-term brand impact - and building governance frameworks to monitor and optimize performance at scale.

Topics of discussion will include, yet will not be limited to:

• Designing Voice AI experiences that strengthen customer engagement and satisfaction
• Defining KPIs and frameworks to measure ROI, adoption, and CX impact
• Integrating Voice AI with broader data, analytics, and automation strategies
• Governing and optimizing Voice AI initiatives for scalability, trust, and continuous improvement

SriHarsha Anand Pushkala, Director, Fraud Strategy & Analytics, ATLANTICUS

Paras Doshi, Director, Head of Data - Data Science & Data Engineering, OPENDOOR

Raghu Para, Artificial Intelligence Architect & Technology Leader, Data Engineer & Scientist, Multi-Platform Engineering, FORD MOTOR COMPANY

Moderator: Rahul Bhatia, Co-Founder & Vice President of Cloud Solutions, NUAAV

Join your fellow IA FORUM Advisory Board peers for a light-hearted and engaging networking and social mixer.

Moderator: Jules Miller, IA Insights & Community Liaison Officer, IA FORUM

As finance teams face increasing pressure to modernize, automate, and accelerate outcomes, intelligent automation (IA) leaders are often called upon to guide tool selection, architecture decisions, and implementation strategies - while balancing risk, control, and measurable value. At the same time, they are increasingly expected to serve as strategic advisors, helping finance leaders make informed technology decisions that align with real business needs rather than hype-driven solutions.

As a result, IA leaders must help finance stakeholders navigate an increasingly crowded automation landscape - moving beyond the assumption that AI is the correct tool for every use case - and instead select fit-for-purpose tools aligned to specific finance workflows, maturity levels, and business objectives. Doing so requires strong internal client partnerships, clear decision frameworks, and the ability to translate technical possibilities into practical, finance-relevant outcomes.

Topics of discussion will include, yet will not be limited to:

• Partnering with finance leaders to identify, prioritize, and validate high-value automation use cases
• Selecting fit-for-purpose IA tools for finance workflows
• Educating internal finance stakeholders on automation options beyond AI and managing the AI “shiny object” mentality
• Establishing governance, decision frameworks, and operating models to scale finance automation responsibly

Jay Dhar, Vice President - Agentic AI & Process Transformation, U.S. BANK

Gnana Silaparasetti, Principal Technical Architect, SALESFORCE

Poornakala Sethuraman, Ph.D., Vice President, Data Science & Product Strategy, BANK OF AMERICA

Nikhil Kassetty, Software Architect - Artificial Intelligence, INTUIT

Moderator: SriHarsha Anand Pushkala, Director, Fraud Strategy & Analytics, ATLANTICUS

In the race to accelerate AI development, organizations face an increasingly complex web of governance, risk, and technology decisions - each influencing the others in unseen ways. Too often these disciplines are managed as independent silos, yet their true impact emerges only when they converge. The challenge is understanding how interdependencies among AI governance models, regulatory risk, and rapid technological innovation can create ripple effects that shape enterprise resilience, public trust, and even the future trajectory of industries.

Much like the concept of quantum entanglement - where the state of one entity instantly affects another - governance, risk, and technology have become inextricably linked in the AI era. Decisions made in one domain can amplify vulnerabilities or accelerate breakthroughs across all others. Understanding these entanglements is now essential for leaders tasked with ensuring responsible AI growth, balancing innovation with accountability, and guiding enterprises toward sustainable, transparent outcomes.

Topics of discussion will include, yet will not be limited to:

• Understanding quantum entanglement as a lens for interdependent AI governance, risk, and technology systems
• Evaluating whether entanglement across these domains is beneficial, inevitable, or destabilizing
• Identifying enterprise controls and frameworks to guide or prevent systemic risk
• Examining how strategic decisions today influence long-term ROI, market trust, and organizational survival

Duffie Brunson, Research Sabbatical & Director, Enterprise Data Oversight, FANNIE MAE