IN-PERSON

Houston CDAO Executive Summit

December 3, 2024 | Hyatt Regency Houston Galleria

December 3, 2024
Hyatt Regency Houston Galleria

Collaborate with your peers

Get together with Houston's top CDAOs 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 CDAOs today:

Harnessing AI for strategic growth

Elevating your brand as a visionary data leader

Maximizing business impact through ROI driven data initiatives

Houston CDAO Governing Body


The Governing Body Co-Chairs shape the summit agenda, ensuring that all content is driven by CDAOs, for CDAOs.

Governing Body Co-Chairs

Navin Advani

Sysco
VP IT and Tech Innovation

Vincent Cen

Direct Energy
Head of Digital Usage & Data Analytics

Partha Chatterjee

Shell USA
Data and Analytics SME, Shell Energy Americas

Sarah Karthigan

Chevron
GM Strategy & Innovation – Data & Insights

Raphael Louvrier

City of Houston, TX
Enterprise Data Officer

Arun Narayanan

Renewable Energy Group
Chief Digital Officer

Quang Ton

SLB
Head of Data Science & AI

Hema Yalamanchi

The Kraft Heinz Company
Global Chief Data Officer

What to Expect

Interactive Sessions

Hear from CDAO 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 Houston CDAO community.

Peer-to-Peer Meetings

Connect with like-minded peers in a private, one-on-one setting through Evanta's Peer-to-Peer Meetings. You will be matched with peers in your community based on your shared interests and priorities.

Agenda


December 3, 2024

7:45am - 8:30am  Registration & Breakfast

8:30am - 9:15am  Keynote

Winning with Accountability — Strategies to Build a High Performing Organization

Henry Evans headshot

Henry Evans

Best-selling Author, "Winning With Accountability"

Guest Speaker

An organization needs to focus on its culture and strategy in tandem so business results can flourish. Challenging by nature, these topics are often approached separately, disrupting the equilibrium of the organization. When leaders are focused on becoming a high-performing organization, with a high degree of trust, they create a competitive advantage. 

Join this working session with author Henry Evans to: 

  •  Learn how accountability and emotional safety® together drive exceptional results 
  •  Identify a real-world, real-time challenge and learn accountability tools to overcome 
  •  Explore how to accelerate strategy execution

9:15am - 9:40am  Networking Break

9:40am - 10:25am  Breakout Session

Dynamic Governance for a Future of Trust and Innovation

Partha Chatterjee headshot

Partha Chatterjee

Data and Analytics SME, Shell Energy Americas

Shell USA

Nitant Chakranarayan headshot

Nitant Chakranarayan

Director, Data & Analytics

Houston Methodist

Yunique Demann headshot

Yunique Demann

Data Protection Officer

NTT Data Services

Data governance is the compass that guides CDAOs in turning raw data into trusted insights, fostering innovation while maintaining control. By crafting dynamic, adaptive policies, leaders can strike the perfect balance between agility and accountability. With governance at the helm, CDAOs can unlock new possibilities while ensuring data is secure, compliant, and impactful.

Join this panel discussion as peers discuss:  

  • Implementing governance frameworks for responsible and ethical AI use 
  • Establishing clear governance policies to ensure data trust 
  • Leveraging governance to balance innovation and accountability

9:40am - 10:25am  Executive Boardroom

Maximizing Impact and Minimizing Risk of AI

Justin Swansburg headshot

Justin Swansburg

VP - Applied AI & Technical Field Leads

DataRobot

Dave Bhattacharjee headshot

Dave Bhattacharjee

SVP/Chief Data Officer

Farm Credit Bank of Texas

Christopher Romano headshot

Christopher Romano

Chief Data Architecture

ExxonMobil

Kim Wiley headshot

Kim Wiley

VP, IT

Hanger

As data and analytics leaders look to scale AI adoption, they are focused on integrating AI solutions that deliver tangible business value consistently and securely. However, disparate workflows, tooling patchwork, and the need to manage regulatory compliance, ethical considerations, and data privacy are hindering organizations from confidently delivering AI. This transition requires a strong emphasis on governance and observability, cross-functional collaboration, and AI applications that are sustainable and impactful.

Join this round table discussion as peers discuss:

  • Infusing AI into your business for tangible business value
  • Securing AI outcomes through interoperability, governance, and observability
  • Empowering you AI teams to boost productivity, reduce costs, and drive growth

Executive boardrooms are intimate and interactive sessions designed to foster dynamic dialogue around a specific, strategic topic. These private, closed-door discussions encourage attendee participation and are limited to 15 attendees (seating priority is given to CDAOs).

To reserve your seat, please contact: 
mallory.adamson@evanta.com

9:40am - 10:25am  Executive Boardroom

Death of the Dashboards — The Next Wave of Data Visualization

Govindaraj Palanisamy headshot

Govindaraj Palanisamy

Sr. Solutions Architect

Global Payments

Mario Rojas headshot

Mario Rojas

VP, Business Intelligence & IT Services

University Lands

Pauline Ramos headshot

Pauline Ramos

CDO, Deepwater

Shell

As AI reshapes traditional dashboards into dynamic, personalized tools, CDAOs face challenges in data integrity and managing AI complexities. To adapt, CDAOs must enhance skills, enforce strict data governance, and employ AI monitoring tools to keep the new generation of dashboards reliable and ethical. Will dashboards as we know them disappear, or merely evolve into something entirely new?

Join this roundtable as peers discuss:

  • Exploring AI’s role in redefining dashboard utility
  • Mastering AI complexities to safeguard data integrity
  • Forecasting future trends in dashboard evolution

Executive boardrooms are intimate and interactive sessions designed to foster dynamic dialogue around a specific, strategic topic. These private, closed-door discussions encourage attendee participation and are limited to 15 attendees (seating priority is given to CDAOs).

To reserve your seat, please contact: 
mallory.adamson@evanta.com

10:25am - 11:05am  Networking Break

10:30am - 10:55am  Peer-to-Peer Meetings

Peer-to-Peer Meetings

Connect with like-minded peers in a one-on-one setting through Evanta’s Peer-to-Peer Meetings. You will be matched with peers in your community based on your shared interests and priorities.

11:05am - 11:50am  Breakout Session

Future Proofing the CDAO — Leading the Charge in a Data-Driven World

Chuck Layton headshot

Chuck Layton

Chief Data Management Officer

San Jacinto College

Data and analytics leaders aren’t just participants—they're trailblazers, shaping the future of business by unlocking the immense power of data. But with rapid technological evolution and the need for robust data governance, how can Chief Data and Analytics Officers (CDAOs) ensure they remain at the forefront, driving innovation and trust? What strategies can they adopt to not just navigate but thrive in this fast-paced, ever-changing landscape?

Join us in this exhilarating session to discover how to: 

  • Forge powerful alliances with C-Level stakeholders 
  • Stay ahead of the curve with the latest data innovations 
  • Lead organizational transformation through data collaboration

11:05am - 11:50am  Executive Boardroom

Data as a Strategic Asset

Adil Ahmed headshot

Adil Ahmed

Chief Data Scientist and Director of Knowledge Management

Bristow Group

Data as a product transforms data management, posing challenges for CDAOs in data quality, compliance and culture. Adopting robust governance, user-centric design and collaboration, CDAOs can overcome these hurdles, unlocking innovation opportunities and guiding organizations towards value-driven data utilization.

Join this round table discussion as peers discuss:

  • Transforming organizational data management
  • Addressing data quality and compliance challenges
  • Unlocking innovation through strategic responses

Executive boardrooms are intimate and interactive sessions designed to foster dynamic dialogue around a specific, strategic topic. These private, closed-door discussions encourage attendee participation and are limited to 15 attendees (seating priority is given to CDAOs).

To reserve your seat, please contact: 
mallory.adamson@evanta.com

11:05am - 11:50am  Executive Boardroom

Leading Across Borders — Talent Strategies for CDAOs

Ming Guo headshot

Ming Guo

Director Business Intelligence, HR

University of Texas Medical Branch

Omar Ali headshot

Omar Ali

Head of Data

Cerebral

In today's global marketplace, CDAOs lead teams across the globe and within the U.S., confronting unique challenges such as managing different data regulations and coordinating across time zones. To navigate these complexities, CDAOs must adopt comprehensive talent strategies that include advanced remote collaboration tools and specialized leadership development programs. These initiatives will enhance communication and drive consistent performance, empowering CDAOs to lead effectively no matter where their teams are based.

Join this roundtable discussion as your peers discuss:

  • Optimizing remote tools for seamless collaboration
  • Driving leadership growth with targeted programs
  • Boosting global communication for peak performance

Executive boardrooms are intimate and interactive sessions designed to foster dynamic dialogue around a specific, strategic topic. These private, closed-door discussions encourage attendee participation and are limited to 15 attendees (seating priority is given to CDAOs).

To reserve your seat, please contact: 
mallory.adamson@evanta.com

11:50am - 12:35pm  Lunch Service

12:35pm - 1:10pm  Keynote

Responsible AI — Navigating the Risks and Opportunities of AI for the Enterprise

Igor Jablokov headshot

Igor Jablokov

CEO

Pryon

As AI becomes more ubiquitous, enterprise leaders face a challenging dilemma. On the one hand, they need to leverage the power of AI to increase productivity and drive innovation. On the other hand, they must protect their organizations against the risks of open generative AI solutions.

Join this session to learn about:

  • Advancements and risks of generative AI in the workplace, including critical issues like data leakage, hallucination, and legal consequences
  • Insights into how enterprises can safely harness AI by adopting thoughtful approaches
  • The importance of approaching innovation responsibly

1:10pm - 1:35pm  Break

1:35pm - 2:20pm  Breakout Session

Collaborative Insights - Building Your Resource Tool Kit

Kasthuri Kannan headshot

Kasthuri Kannan

Associate Professor & Director

MD Anderson Cancer Center

In the rapidly evolving world of data and analytics, CDAOs can greatly benefit from building a shared resource toolkit that allows them to exchange valuable insights and tools with one another. By collaborating and sharing resources, CDAOs can collectively enhance their ability to tackle complex data challenges, implement innovative solutions, and drive impactful initiatives across their respective organizations.

Join this interactive session to:

  • Foster collaboration among CDAOs for shared success
  • Discover new resources for data-driven initiatives
  • Enhance strategies through peer insights and tools

1:35pm - 2:20pm  Executive Boardroom

Crafting Conversations on Value

Arthur Borges headshot

Arthur Borges

Transformation Enablement IT Manager

ExxonMobil

Rhonald Durham headshot

Rhonald Durham

Senior Manager, Data Analytics

CVR Energy

Data and analytics leaders are pivotal in melding the complex world of data with strategic business objectives, turning data-driven insights into actionable decisions and measurable success. Yet, accurately aligning KPIs with ever-evolving organizational goals amidst the flux of data sources and technological growth poses a significant challenge. As CDAOs chart a course through these challenges, the question arises: How will they reshape the landscape of decision making and drive organizational growth into the future?

Join this roundtable discussion as CDAOs unravel strategies to:

  • Synchronize data initiatives and business aspirations, crafting a unified vision
  • Master the evolving data-technology landscape, turning challenges into opportunities
  • Foster an ethos where data drives transformation

Executive boardrooms are intimate and interactive sessions designed to foster dynamic dialogue around a specific, strategic topic. These private, closed-door discussions encourage attendee participation and are limited to 15 attendees (seating priority is given to CDAOs).

To reserve your seat, please contact: 
mallory.adamson@evanta.com

1:35pm - 2:20pm  Executive Boardroom

Data Democratization — Shattering Barriers, Driving Innovation

Raphael Louvrier headshot

Raphael Louvrier

Enterprise Data Officer

City of Houston, TX

Pranit Shah headshot

Pranit Shah

Enterprise Data Architect CDO Office

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services

Arun Natarajan headshot

Arun Natarajan

Interim CDO

Rice University

Data democratization empowers individuals in organizations to access, analyze and utilize data for decision making and innovation. Yet, challenges persist in ensuring data reliability, security and fostering a culture of utilization. CDAOs lead this transformation, navigating governance complexities and championing transparency and collaboration.

Join this roundtable discussion as CDAOs discuss how to:

  • Strategically navigate governance and privacy regulations
  • Effectively champion transparency and collaboration
  • Innovate approaches to overcome data utilization challenges

Executive boardrooms are intimate and interactive sessions designed to foster dynamic dialogue around a specific, strategic topic. These private, closed-door discussions encourage attendee participation and are limited to 15 attendees (seating priority is given to CDAOs).

To reserve your seat, please contact: 
mallory.adamson@evanta.com

2:20pm - 3:00pm  Networking Break

2:25pm - 2:50pm  Peer-to-Peer Meetings

Peer-to-Peer Meetings

Connect with like-minded peers in a one-on-one setting through Evanta’s Peer-to-Peer Meetings. You will be matched with peers in your community based on your shared interests and priorities.

2:55pm - 3:40pm  Keynote

AI in Action — From Concept to Value

Patrick Bangert headshot

Patrick Bangert

Chief of AI

Occidental Petroleum

As AI continues to dominate headlines, organizations often struggle to move beyond the hype and focus on practical, impactful applications. CDAOs are challenged with cutting through the noise to implement AI solutions that deliver real business value, rather than chasing trends. This requires a balanced approach—aligning AI initiatives with strategic goals, setting realistic expectations, and fostering a culture that embraces both innovation and pragmatism. Effectively navigating these challenges is essential for CDAOs to harness AI's true potential and drive sustainable success.

Join Patrick Bangert as he shares how to:

  • Align AI initiatives with strategic goals
  • Set realistic expectations for AI projects
  • Foster a balanced innovation culture

3:40pm - 3:45pm  Closing Comments and Prize Drawing

3:45pm - 5:00pm  Private Reception

Governing Body Reception

Governing Body members host this reception for executives to close out the event with an evening of peer networking, food and drinks.

December 3, 2024

We look forward to seeing you at an upcoming in-person gathering


Evanta cares about the health and safety of our community. Please review the following recommendations prior to attending the gathering.

Location


Venue & Accommodation

Hyatt Regency Houston Galleria
MORE INFORMATION

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Hyatt Regency Houston Galleria at a reduced conference rate. Reservations should be made online or by calling 1-800-233-1234. Please mention CDAO Executive Summit to ensure the appropriate room rate.

Deadline to book using the discounted room rate of $159 USD (plus tax) is November 11, 2024.

Your Community Partners


CDAO Thought Leader
Program Partner

Community Program Manager


For inquiries related to this community, please reach out to your dedicated contact.

Mallory Adamson

Community Program Manager

mallory.adamson@evanta.com