Keynote Speakers
Dr. Peggy Whitson
Dr. Peggy Whitson is a former NASA astronaut and biochemist who began her career at NASA/Johnson Space Center as a Research Biochemist in the Biomedical Operations and Research Branch. During her time at NASA, she developed negotiation and leadership skills as a member of the U.S.-USSR Joint Working Group in Space Medicine and Biology. She continued developing these skills when she was named the Project Scientist of the Shuttle-Mir Program and served in this capacity until the conclusion of the Phase 1A Program in 1995. Dr. Whitson held the additional responsibilities of the Deputy Division Chief of the Medical Sciences Division at Johnson Space Center from 1995 to 1996 and served as Co-Chair of the U.S.-Russian Mission Science Working Group.
Selected from thousands of applicants, Dr. Whitson began her Astronaut training in 1996. Upon completing two years of training and evaluation, she was assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Operations Planning Branch and served as the lead for the Crew Test Support Team in Russia from 1998 to 1999. Soon after, Whitson was then selected to fly her first space mission to the International Space Station (ISS) Jun-Dec 2002, launching and landing on a Space Shuttle. During this 6-month mission, she became the first Science Officer of the ISS and conducted one spacewalk in the Russian Orlan spacesuit.
From November 2003 to March 2005, she served as Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office. Also in 2003, she served as commander of the fifth NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) mission in the underwater habitat, Aquarius. In 2005, Whitson began training for the 16th Expedition to the ISS. She launched in Nov 2007 on her second 6-month mission, and served as the first female Commander of the ISS, conducting 5 spacewalks as a part of the ISS assembly.
After returning from her second long duration mission, Whitson continued serving in a number of leadership roles, culminating in the Chief of the Astronaut Corps between October 2009 to July 2012. She was responsible for the mission preparation activities and on-orbit support of all International Space Station crews and their support personnel. She was also responsible for organizing the crew interface support for future commercially-provided cargo and crew transport vehicles. Whitson was the first female nonmilitary Chief of the Astronaut Office.
Whitson's third mission launched in November 2016. Originally planned as a 6-month mission, she was extended to a nine-and-a-half-month mission, returning in September 2017, accumulating the records noted above while accomplishing an enormous wealth of scientific research and 4 additional space walks.
Following her retirement from NASA in 2018, Whitson joined Axiom Space and announced her return to space in 2021. After serving as backup commander for Axiom Mission 1 (Ax-1), she commanded Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2) in 2023 and Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) in 2025. During Ax-4, she became the oldest woman to orbit Earth and extended her record to 695 cumulative days in space. She now serves as Vice President of Astronaut Operations at Axiom Space, helping lead the transition from government-led missions to the next generation of commercial space stations, as well as providing her insights into the development of the AxSuit that will be used on the lunar surface.
Whitson graduated from Mt. Ayr Community High School, Mt. Ayr, Iowa, in 1978; received a Bachelor of Science in Biology/Chemistry from Iowa Wesleyan College in 1981 and a Doctorate in Biochemistry from Rice University in 1985.
Michael Burton Brown
Entering his 12th season as an NBA head coach and nearly 30th year in the league, Brown has led the Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings, and Knicks. He also spent six seasons as lead assistant with the Golden State Warriors, winning three NBA championships (2017, 2018, 2022), and began his coaching career with the Washington Wizards, San Antonio Spurs, and Indiana Pacers, earning his first title with San Antonio in 2003.
Brown guided Cleveland to its first NBA Finals appearance in 2007 and was named NBA Coach of the Year in 2009 after leading the Cavaliers to a franchise-record 66 wins. Beyond the NBA, he served as head coach of Nigeria's men's national team from 2020 to 2022, leading the program at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
A University of San Diego graduate and former Toreros basketball player, Brown has spent nearly three decades leading teams at the highest levels of professional basketball. He has built a reputation as one of the NBA's most respected coaches, with sustained success across multiple organizations.
Beau Lotto
The only constant in life is change. And the only way to thrive in a rapidly changing world is to evolve because of it. The biggest barrier and solution is in our heads. Neuroscientist and entrepreneur BEAU LOTTO shows why becoming evolvable by moving from A to NotA means letting go of the assumptions and beliefs that keep us from seeing the world differently. A world-renowned expert in the neuroscience of perception, Beau reveals why trading certainty for doubt increases our capacity to adapt, lead, innovate, and thrive in the darkness of “I don’t know.”
A professor with deep academic credentials and critical scholarly works on the subject, Beau is also founder and CEO of three companies – Lab of Misfits, the world’s first neuro-design studio, Ripple, which holds several highly influential patents in Augmented Reality (AR) and Evolvable.Me, a brain-based AI engine that empowers private individuals, Corporate Leaders and Teams take agency in their own evolutionary process by creating insight and implementation. A three-time mainstage TED speaker with over 10,000,000 views, Beau has spoken around the world, delivering totally unique, visually stunning, interactive, and fun presentations that help people see and act differently in the face of change. His message is an ideal conference kick-off – providing powerful, positive, creative context that sets a tone for the content and collaboration that follow. Beau’s latest book is Deviate: The Science of Seeing Differently.
Born in Seattle, Beau Lotto earned his bachelor's degree at the University of California, Berkeley in 1991. He then moved to Scotland, where he earned his PhD in Neuroscience from University Medical School, Edinburgh in 1994. He remained in Edinburgh for his first postdoctoral fellowship (with Professor David Price), and then moved to Duke University for his second fellowship, where he was mentored by Professor Dale Purves.
Beau was a professor at University College London for 20 years, and is now a professor at University of London, as well as a visiting scholar at New York University. He has mentored over 30 undergraduate, masters, and PhD students, as well as postdoctoral fellows.
In 2001, Beau Lotto founded the Lab of Misfits Studio, the world’s only Neuro-Creative Studio that is also a real Neuroscience Lab. The Lab Studio’s goal is to foster discovery, understanding and invention. Their unique process of Immersive Experiments unites neuroscience expertise and measurement with digital technology and immersive design. They study humans “in the wild” - in theaters, public spaces, even across entire cities - using a combination of digital, virtual, and physical techniques and neuroscientific methodologies. By unveiling the essential truths of Human Nature that empower us to thrive in a constantly changing world, their work deepens connections, empowers personal wellbeing and enables unique innovation. Pragmatically, their insights are scientifically unique and quantified, commercially valuable to the stakeholders, and emotional and actionable to public audiences. They have since created public experiences around the world, including London’s Science Museum, Hayward Gallery on London’s South Bank, and a public art installation in London’s famous Silicon Roundabout. Their past clients include Cirque du Soleil, L’Oreal, Asurion, Microsoft, Edelman, The UAE’s Crown Prince’s Court, and others. Lab of Misfits currently powers the Neuroscience offering at Burson Cohn & Wolfe (BCW), the world's second largest public relations and communications firm.
Beau and his Lab have published over 70 peer-reviewed articles across multiple disciplines, including augmented and virtual reality (indeed, their involvement in the EU consortium of labs defined “presence” in the VR space), human perception, physiology, molecular and cellular development, animal (including human) behavior, music, graph theory, complex systems theory, computational evolution, artificial intelligence, architecture, theatre, art and design. His science lab received funding from a wide range of institutions including the Wellcome Trust, the Leverhulme Trust, and other scientific research funders.
Beau is CEO and founder of the Lab of Misfits, as well as the founder and CEO of Ripple Inc, which holds highly influential patents in Augmented Reality (AR). Using its technology and exclusive patented IP, the Lab creates digital platforms and custom, proprietary digital interactions that layer the world with immersive digital content. Examples include the GPS-based AR apps Traces, Acoustigram, and W_nder, all of which focus on location-tied storytelling, adding a layer of meaning to the world that has hitherto been impossible. He is also the Founder and CEO of Evolvable.me, an AI Engine that empowers individuals, leaders and teams to evolve their perceptions and practices in order to take agency in their personal and professional lives.
In addition to TED, Beau has spoken at the G8, Google’s Zeitgeist, Wired, World Economic Forum, Cannes Lions Creativity Festival, Burning Man, and the Oslo Freedom Forum, among many others. He has contributed to television, radio and podcast programs by the BBC, National Geographic, HBO, Wharton on Business Radio, and PBS. He is a frequent keynote speaker at major corporations including J&J, Warner Music, Universal, Viacom, Sainsburys, Microsoft, Google, Apple, and the UAE’s Crown Court, where he speaks about the fundamental barriers to thriving in uncertainty and how to overcome them.
“Once you understand how perception works, you can't help but see yourself in the world in a different way and engage in it in a different way,” says Lotto, who is author of three books: Why We See What We Do, Why We See What We Do Redux, and Deviate: The Science of Seeing Differently. He was nominated for the MacArthur Genius Award, received the Josef Albers Prize for Disruptive Innovation at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York, and was the first Creator in Residence at Viacom.
Dan Schulman
Dan Schulman is focused on democratizing the global financial services system and improving the financial health of people, families, and businesses around the world. As the CEO of Verizon, Dan is steering the company toward the future of connectivity, expanding its reach and impact worldwide. As the former CEO of PayPal (2015-2023), Dan led PayPal to empower people in their financial lives and reimagine how merchants can continually strengthen their businesses. Under Dan’s leadership, PayPal was named as one of the top companies on JUST Capital and Forbes’ JUST 100 list, featuring “companies doing right by America.” PayPal has also been recognized as a Fortune Change the World company for its work to tackle the biggest challenges facing society today and named to Morning Consult's "Most Trusted Brands" list. He
Dan’s leadership and impact have been recognized by several notable organizations. The New York Urban League presented Dan with the 2021 Frederick Douglass Award, in recognition of his commitment, dedication, and influence to advance the rights of generations of underserved Black Americans. In 2020, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights honored him with the Ripple of Hope Award, which recognizes those who have demonstrated a commitment to social change and a passion for equality, justice and basic human rights.
In 2019, Dan was recognized by Endeavor Global with the High-Impact Leader of the Year Award for his work to support entrepreneurs around the globe. He was also honored with the Financial Health Network’s inaugural Visionary Award in 2018 for his commitment to improving the financial lives of people around the world. Dan received the 2017 Brennan Legacy Award, established to honor the late Supreme Court justice and his career-long commitment to social justice and “common human dignity”. The Council for Economic Education named Dan as its 2017 Visionary for promoting economic and financial literacy to create a better-informed society. Rutgers University bestowed upon Dan an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree, and he also delivered the University’s 252nd anniversary commencement speech.
Dan has frequently been recognized by Fortune as one of the "Top 20 Businesspersons of the Year" and in 2021, named to Fortune's 50 World's Greatest Leaders list. He has also been named one of the top 100 Most Creative People by Fast Company and, in 2019, he was named one of Glassdoor's Top 50 CEOs. In addition, he has been recognized as one of the top 10 Most Innovative CEOs in Banking.
Dan previously served as Group President at American Express. Prior to joining American Express, Dan was President of the Prepaid Group at Sprint Nextel Corporation following its acquisition of Virgin Mobile USA, Inc., where he led the company as its founding CEO for eight years. Earlier in his career, Dan was President and CEO of Priceline Group, Inc., where he led the company through a period of rapid growth and expansion. He also spent 18 years at AT&T, where he held a series of positions, including President of the Consumer Markets Division.
Dan is actively involved in the World Economic Forum, as a member of the International Business Council, and the Board of Governors and Board of Stewards for the Future of Financial & Monetary Systems platform. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Business Roundtable. In addition, Dan is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and an International Advisory Council member of the Singapore Economic Development Board. Dan is a Director of Verizon Communications, Inc., and previously served as Non-Executive Chairman of NortonLifeLock (formerly Symantec Corporation). He also serves on the boards of The Economic Club of New York and Autism Speaks. Dan earned a BA from Middlebury College and an MBA from New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business. He is an avid mixed martial arts practitioner.
Ethan Mollick
Salil Parekh
Client Speakers
Alex Bermudez
Anja Allen
Anja Allen is a Principal in EY’s Consulting practice, where she helps organizations harness the power of AI, technology transformation and digital operations to accelerate business performance and create sustainable value. She advises executive leadership teams on aligning technology investments with strategic business objectives, enabling organizations to move from technology initiatives to measurable outcomes.
With deep experience in technology strategy, operating model transformation, technology cost optimization and digital transformation, Anja has worked with organizations across consumer products, aerospace and defense, manufacturing, and utilities. Prior to joining EY, she spent seven years at Gartner, advising clients on technology strategy and organizational transformation.
Today, Anja focuses on helping organizations develop practical approaches to AI adoption, technology modernization and operational transformation, with an emphasis on connecting innovation to business value, productivity and long-term competitive advantage.
Brian O'Connor
Brian has served as the Chief Technology Officer for Mastercard’s Commercial and New Payments Flows business since January 2025
Prior to Mastercard, Brian worked at JP Morgan Payments for eight years where he served as General Manager & Product Executive for several Embedded Finance product lines, and Chief Business Technologist for several JP Morgan Payments businesses, overseeing Engineering, Design, and Operations globally.
Brian brings over 25 years of unique technology and product leadership experience at top-tier financial institutions including Deutsche Bank, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, and TransUnion.
Chasity Parhm
Emily Forlini
Federico Cohen Freue
Federico Cohen Freue is executive vice president, AI & Data Operations at Mastercard, and is accountable for the company’s impact from AI & Data efforts. He is responsible for scaling Mastercard's AI book of business, building Mastercard's enterprise AI capabilities, and AI workforce activities such as upskilling, and techincal communities. He additionally leads Mastercard's office of Enterprise Transformation, reimagining workflows with AI capabilities.
Prior to this role, Fed was senior vice president, Integration Executive with accountability over acquisitions for Mastercard's Data & Services business. He led end-to-end integration for several companies, including Dynamic Yield. He is a seasoned AI and operations leader, having held senior leadership roles in product management, pricing, and investment prioritization throughout his tenure at Mastercard.
Fed joined Mastercard via the acquisition of Applied Predictive Technologies (APT), where he led the firm’s Latin America & Caribbean practice. He graduated from the University of Virginia with a B.A. with Distinction in Applied Statistics and Econometrics. He sits on the advisory board for the University of Virginia’s School of Data Science.
Jay Chaudhry
Jay is an accomplished entrepreneur, having founded a series of successful companies, including AirDefense, CipherTrust, CoreHarbor, SecureIT, and Zscaler, now a public company as of March 16, 2018.
Jay has a history of introducing visionary innovations to market that address the demand for securely enabling emerging technology trends, such as the Zscaler global security cloud for distributed and mobile enterprises. Jay’s considerable work in the security technology sector has made him a trusted advisor for many enterprise CIOs and CISOs.
Jay leverages more than 25 years of security industry expertise, including engineering, sales, marketing, and management experience with leading organizations, such as IBM, NCR, and Unisys. Prior to founding Zscaler in 2008, he founded and led AirDefense, a wireless security pioneer, before its acquisition by Motorola. From 2000 to 2006, Jay founded and led CipherTrust, the industry’s first email security gateway, before its merger with Secure Computing. He also founded and led CoreHarbor, a managed ecommerce solution, before it was acquired by USi/AT&T. In 1996, Jay founded and led his first company, SecureIT, the first pure-play internet security service, before it was acquired by VeriSign in 1998.
Jay has been honored as an Ernst & Young “Entrepreneur of the Year (Southeast USA),” an Information Week “Innovator & Influencer,” an SC Magazine “Market Entrepreneur,” an IIT BHU “Distinguished Alumnus,” and a Goldman Sachs “100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs.” He earned his MBA in Marketing, MS in Computer Engineering, and MS in Industrial Engineering—all from the University of Cincinnati. He earned his Bachelor of Technology in Electronics Engineering from IIT BHU Varanasi. Jay has completed the Executive Management Program from Harvard Business School.
Jason Ballard
Automotive Operations and Supply Chain. Since joining Toyota in 2003, Ballard has had several roles across IT. During the first few years of the company, Ballard led strategic direction of technology product and services. Over the past decade his energy has been on business technology delivery, providing solutions with tangible outcomes that enables all areas of the business towards their strategic objectives. Ballard has had the opportunity to work in the areas of design, supply chain, manufacturing. and corporate functions. Ballard took on the responsibility of IT platforms, cloud engineering, infrastructure, global digital transformation, and in late 2021, the lead on the new EV battery plant in North Carolina. In August 2024, Ballard shifted out of IT to Supply Chain Management to lead a North American-wide transformation. As of May 2025, Ballard now leads a new function driving digital transformation against a customer-centric portfolio across Automotive Ops and Supply Chain.
Jimit Arora
Jimit Arora is the Chief Executive Officer of Everest Group, where he leads the firm in delivering insights and strategic guidance to help organizations navigate sourcing, technology, and business process challenges. He drives Everest Group’s growth through member engagement, go-to-market evolution, expanded research coverage, and flagship initiatives such as the Everest Group Engage conferences.
Previously, Jimit led the firm’s enterprise services practice, advising Fortune 500 companies on complex business issues. He also played a key role in advancing Everest Group’s research capabilities by developing innovative methodologies and expanding its global analyst team. His contributions include launching industry-specific research, Executive Insights, the Engage conference, and Top Employers research.
Jimit focuses on business evolution, operational excellence, and strengthening the firm’s research platform. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and an MBA from BITS Pilani and is based in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
Joe Miller
Joe Miller is a Washington-based correspondent covering the forces shaping American power: the politics and culture of Maga, Big Tech and AI; the ideological realignments of the major parties; and the US' emerging, grassroots coalitions.
Joe previously covered white-collar crime from New York, and German industry from Frankfurt. He wrote a book on the Covid-19 vaccine, which was translated into 19 languages. Prior to joining the Financial Times, Joe spent six years at BBC News, working as a correspondent in London, New York, Delhi and Berlin.
Joe Sueper
Joe Sueper serves as Chief Technology Officer at Nu Skin Enterprises, where he leads the company's global technology strategy, digital transformation initiatives, enterprise architecture, cybersecurity, infrastructure, and innovation agenda. In his role, he is responsible for advancing Nu Skin's technology capabilities to enhance customer experiences, support global operations, and accelerate business growth through digital platforms and emerging technologies.
With extensive experience in technology leadership, Joe has been instrumental in modernizing enterprise systems, driving cloud adoption, strengthening data and analytics capabilities, and leveraging AI and automation to improve operational efficiency and customer engagement. He is passionate about aligning technology investments with business outcomes and fostering a culture of innovation across the organization.
At Nu Skin, Joe focuses on building scalable, secure, and future-ready technology platforms that enable the company to deliver personalized experiences, support its global distributor network, and adapt to rapidly evolving market opportunities.
Justin John
Justin is a transformative technology executive leading AI globally at GE Vernova. As Head of Enterprise AI, he architects and executes a dual-pronged strategy that is reshaping the company's future: revolutionizing internal operations through AI-driven processes while embedding cutting-edge AI capabilities into GE Vernova's product portfolio. His approach has charted a clear path to substantial EBITDA growth while delivering enhanced product quality and performance that directly benefit customers.
Prior to this role, Justin led the Cybersecurity, Edge, Controls & Optimization team at GE Research, managing a global team of 120+ researchers. Working closely with multiple GE divisions—including the former GE Power, GE Renewable Energy, GE Aviation, GE Healthcare and GE Transportation — Justin and his team delivered more than $2 billion in value through critical technology breakthroughs. Notable innovations from his team include model-based controls for wind turbines, Dispatch Optimizer for power plants, and Digital Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (DMRO) for aviation. Justin also led GE Research's government-focused initiatives in 5G, cybersecurity, and edge computing.
Justin serves as Board President for the Cybersecurity Manufacturing Innovation Institute (CyManII), contributing to the advancement of national research in cybersecurity, AI and smart manufacturing.
Justin holds a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Kapil Lahoti
Kapil Lahoti serves as Chief Digital & Technology Officer for CBRE's Advisory Services business and leads the company's AI and Data Science Center of Excellence. In this role, he oversees enterprise AI strategy, artificial intelligence products, data science, machine learning, and digital innovation programs that help transform how CBRE serves clients and operates its business. He works across functions to scale AI adoption, advance data-driven decision-making, and develop technology capabilities that improve operational efficiency, enhance service delivery, and create new opportunities for growth.
With more than 25 years of experience in software engineering, digital transformation, data analytics, and management consulting, Kapil helps shape CBRE's approach to real estate technology. He leads teams focused on delivering AI-powered solutions, predictive analytics, intelligent automation, and scalable digital platforms that enable better outcomes for clients across the real estate lifecycle.
Kevin Walker
Kevin Walker, president and CEO of Duquesne Light Holdings Inc. (DLH), is playing a leading role in the Pittsburgh region’s clean energy transition. With more than 30 years of experience in various roles at multiple utilities across the country, Walker is strategically positioning DLH, which includes Duquesne Light Company (DLC) and The Efficiency Network, to serve as a trusted partner for all.
Prior to joining DLC as chief operating officer (COO) in April 2020, Walker served various executive appointments including senior vice president of Customer and Operations Services and Nuclear Decommissioning at Southern California Edison, and COO posts at Iberdrola and American Electric Power.
Walker is also a proud veteran of the U.S. Army, and holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from West Point Academy and an MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.
Kumar Venugopal
Laura McCanlies
Laura McCanlies is a transformative leader with over three decades of experience leveraging technology and data to drive business operations and customer growth across diverse industries, including Consulting, Pharmaceuticals, High-Tech, Engineering, and Impact Investing. Laura expertise has benefited both startups and prominent Fortune 250 corporations. She was recognized by Forbes Next in 2024 as one of the 50 exceptional CIOs at the forefront of technological innovation and strategy, she is passionate about the intersection of AI and humanity.
Currently serving as the Chief Information Officer of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group. Her previous roles include Chief of Technology and Analytics at IDB Invest, where her innovative approach set her apart, and Global Director of Business Insights at Jacobs Engineering, where she established the department from the ground up. At Tokyo Electron US Holdings, she managed Enterprise Solutions and Business Intelligence, providing services to eight subsidiaries across the United States due to M&As, and launched TEL’s global client digital portal. Laura's IT management journey began in Mexico with Sanofi and continued through her early experiences in tech consulting at E&Y and Data General.
Laura holds an MBA and a BS in Computer Science from Tecnológico de Monterrey. She is a Board member of the Post Classical Ensemble in Washington, DC, and actively participates in the Austin Venture Social Partner program, serving as a strategic advisor to socially conscious startups such as Allies Against Slavery and Whisper Co. As an Executive Coach of Digital Transformation at the American University Business School and an invited speaker at the American University in Sofia. Laura is dedicated to mentoring and empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs. Her experience and commitment to social impact make her an asset to any nonprofit board.
Menaka Sundar
Menaka Sundar is the VP of Tech & Architecture of Hewlett Packard Enterprise supporting North America. Her team is responsible for advising HPE’s large Enterprise and Public Sector customers on challenges, including Hybrid Cloud Observability and Management, modernizing with AI, and delivering customer outcomes with HPE full stack engineered solutions.
Menaka is based in San Jose, California and has more than 25 years of technology leadership experience spanning Public Cloud, AI/ML, ITManaged Services, SaaS & PaaS, Serverless Computing, HPC, Cloud Operations, Resiliency, Sustainability and Governance.
Prior to joining Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Menaka was the Global Head of Customer/Partner Transformation at AWS. She has held notable senior leadership positions including Director of North America, Cloud Pursuit at Oracle, Chief Technologist from the Office of CTO at GE Digital and Sr. Director of IOT Engineering at Windriver/Intel.
Prior to HPE, Menaka was a member of the global board that advised DC/workforce sustainability across Amazon, she is also a frequent speaker in various industry decarbonization forums like ISG.
Menaka has a Master of Engineering in Computer Science from University of Michigan; and Completed Executive Leadership program leading Digital Transformation from Jack Welch Management Institute. She holds a certification from World Class Productivity Improvement from University of Waterloo. She lives in San Ramon, California with her husband, daughter and twin boys.
Randhir Gandhi
Siddhartha Parti
Siddhartha (Sid) Parti is the Global Head for AI, Automation, Data, Analytics, and Architecture at Vale Base Metals driving digital transformation and operational excellence across the organization.
With more than 24 years of global experience across mining, EPCM, manufacturing, oil & gas, healthcare, and financial services, Sid has led large-scale technology transformation programs and built commercial digital products and platforms serving global markets. His expertise spans artificial intelligence, intelligent automation, advanced analytics, enterprise data platforms, cloud transformation, and IT/OT integration.
He has helped organizations leverage AI and automation to improve safety, productivity, asset performance, operational decision-making, and business outcomes across complex industrial environments. Throughout his career, he has built and scaled technology products, platforms, and capabilities that accelerate innovation, enable data-driven decision-making, and deliver measurable business value at enterprise scale.
Infosys Speakers
Anand Swaminathan
Anand Swaminathan is Executive Vice President and Global Industry Leader for Communications, Media & Technology (CMT) at Infosys, and a member of the Infosys Executive Council. In addition to leading the global CMT business, Anand also heads the Strategic Large Deals, and Partnerships, Alliances and Ecosystems group at Infosys, architecting the vision and supporting the growth of these key units. He holds global responsibility and has been instrumental in expanding Infosys’s footprint across key markets including Europe, Australia & New Zealand, and the United States. Anand combines deep industry insight with strategic leadership, overseeing strategy, execution, and full P&L responsibility across telecommunications, media, semiconductors, cloud, and enterprise software sectors.
Over the course of his career, Anand has led several transformative, multi-billion-dollar deals for Infosys. His focus has been on architecting long-term, strategic client relationships and delivering innovation-led transformation through digital, cloud, and AI-first solutions. Under his leadership, Infosys has grown key client portfolios and increased wallet share in highly competitive markets.
Anand is widely recognized for building and nurturing a high-impact partner ecosystem for Infosys. He was a key force behind the establishment and scaling of the company’s data science and analytics practice, and played a pivotal role in building global alliances that complement Infosys’s core capabilities.
He frequently represents Infosys at global forums including the World Economic Forum, Infosys partner and client events, and premier business schools such as Kellogg, speaking on digital transformation, sustainability, and the intersection of business and societal impact. His views on enterprise AI, cloud, and innovation ecosystems continue to shape industry thinking.
Anand joined Infosys in 1999. He holds a Master’s degree in Information Systems from BITS Pilani and is a qualified member of both the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of India and the Institute of Company Secretaries of India. He also serves as a Trustee of Infosys Foundation USA, where he champions the growth of digital skills and computer science education across underserved communities in the United States. A passionate sports enthusiast, Anand draws leadership lessons from the discipline and teamwork of sports, and enjoys playing golf and cricket.
Anant Adya
Ashiss Kumar Dash
As the Global Head for a business portfolio that comprises over 18 industry verticals, Ashiss Kumar Dash (“Dash”) is helping navigate the digital future for leading Fortune 500 and Global 2000 enterprises. A seasoned digital transformation leader with over 3 decades of experience, Dash is focused on driving transformation strategies and shaping the future of industries through the adoption of emerging technologies.
Drawing from over 30 years of diverse roles and responsibilities, Dash amalgamates his varied skills into straddling delivery, operational, and financial excellence for his industry group. In addition to driving revenue growth, he is also focused on institutionalizing innovation, AI-led re-imagination, and the future of work within his teams.
Dash believes the more varied a perspective, the broader one’s vision can be. He actively contributes to global conversations on energy transition and sustainable development through prestigious forums like the World Economic Forum and the UN’s Global Investors for Sustainable Development Alliance.
Dash is a member of the Board of Directors of Infosys Public Services, that provides next-generation digital services and consulting to public sector organizations in North America and MRE Consulting LLC, both fully owned subsidiaries of Infosys. Dash is also a Trustee of Infosys Foundation USA, a foundation with a mission to expand access to computer science and maker education for K-12 students and educators across the USA, while working to digitally upskill communities.
Dash is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India. He has also completed the Global Leadership Program at Stanford University and the Senior Executive Program at London Business School.
An avid reader, Dash is currently based in Los Angeles. He enjoys running, swimming, and practicing mindfulness.
Dennis Gada
Dennis Gada is the Global Head of Banking & Financial Services. He serves on the Board of EdgeVerve Systems Limited, a Products and Platforms subsidiary, and Infosys Compaz Pte. Ltd (iCompaz), a Joint Venture with Temasek Holdings. Overseeing the company’s largest business unit, Dennis leads a high-performing global team and is responsible for defining strategy, driving growth and innovation, ensuring operational excellence, and managing all commercial and financial aspects of the global financial services business. He has over 25 years of international experience across APAC, Europe, and the US, and travels extensively. He currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina.
A recognized leader in financial services transformation, Dennis has deep domain knowledge across Consumer and Commercial Banking, Wealth and Asset Management, Investment Banking, Custody Services, Cards and Payments, and Market Infrastructure. He is known for helping global financial institutions accelerate digital transformation and unlock business value through technology and operations transformation — particularly in areas like AI, cloud, and data-led innovation.
Dennis is a frequent speaker at global forums, including the World Economic Forum, Milken Institute, and Sibos, and is regularly featured in leading publications such as American Banker and Global Finance. He is part of the Board of Trustees at the Discovery Place Museum, a nonprofit organization and hub for education and exploration in the Carolinas.
Prior to Infosys, Dennis worked at Accenture and PwC. He is a Chartered Accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, and an alumnus of Narsee Monjee College, Mumbai University.
Inderpreet Sawhney
Kate Maloney
Rafee Tarafdar
Rafee is a Unit Technology Officer and heads the Strategic Technology Group at Infosys that focuses on building next generation platforms, capabilities and solutions. The Strategic Technology Group comprises of Technology Strategists defining and driving large transformational programs and platforms, Power Programmers who work as full stack developers on complex engineering projects for clients and Expert Trackers who bring in deep technical expertise in emerging technology areas and are involved in building platforms and solution for Infosys.
He has over twenty years of IT experience and the first phase of his career focused on coding and developing products for the Manufacturing and Banking industry. In the second phase, he concentrated on consulting, architecting and delivering transformational solutions for the Retail, Consumer Goods and Logistics industries. Now, in the third phase, he is directed towards building deeper architecture, technology and programming capabilities within Infosys, developing new Go-To Market solutions and building platforms for Infosys and their clients. His current research interests include operating models for sustainability and skills development, published in The Live Enterprise: Create a Continuously Learning and Evolving Organization (McGraw-Hill).
Event Emcee
Mariana Atencio
From her earliest days, Mariana Atencio was drawn to people and stories. Combining them into a career in journalism was a natural fit. It was there Mariana honed an essential skill for her work – the ability to build trust and connection on purpose. That work gave Mariana a window to study human nature and organizations that led her to become an expert on trust.
The journey there wasn’t so simple. It began when she was mugged on a mountain trail in her native Caracas, Venezuela. As she knelt with a gun pressed to her forehead, she realized Caracas was a deteriorating place and she decided to pursue journalism in America.
Mariana knew America from spending summers there with her younger sister. Years later she spoke on the TEDx stage about those trips and the feeling of being an outsider struggling to adjust to a new country. That TEDx talk, “What Makes You Special,” catapulted Mariana onto the global stage and has been viewed more than 25 million times. It established her as a global authority on the power of authenticity as a trust multiplier.
A scholarship to Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism School paved the way for Mariana’s 15-year career. She went on to become a hard-working news anchor for Univision and a national correspondent for NBC News, also filing for ABC. Her reporting has been honored with a Peabody Award, a Gracie Award, and three national Emmy nominations.
Mariana reported from environments where the stakes were high and lives were upended – anything from Cat 5 hurricanes to international conflict zones. “I would engage people at one of the worst times of their lives, and I needed to build trust fast so they understood I was trying to bring their story and an understanding of their situation to the viewers,” she said.
Mariana also interviewed top leaders from politics, culture, sports, and business – from Pope Francis and the King of Spain to icons like Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal. Mariana translated their lessons into practical, leadership-ready frameworks.
Today, she brings those tools to organizations and leadership teams, helping them close the Trust Gap so decisions move faster, collaboration strengthens, and execution becomes more consistent especially during periods of change.
The success of Mariana’s TEDx talk led her to expand her message in her bestselling book Perfectly You: Embracing the Power of Being Real, showing why “being real” is not a soft skill but the secret weapon in a world saturated with noise and AIgenerated content.
Since leaving network news, Mariana has become a sought-after speaker on leadership, organizational culture, trust, and executive communication – as well as a host and moderator for high-profile gatherings, where she is known for guiding leaders in deep and candid conversations that deliver real insight. She is also the creator of The Trust Advantage newsletter.
Mariana is a frequent on-air analyst across major news networks, a Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute, and serves on the board of the future Smithsonian American Latino Museum in Washington, D.C.