Explore the 2026 CIO 100 Agenda
CIO 100 Awards & Conference is produced by the award-winning media brand, CIO.com. This CIO conference is your gateway to three days of transformative insights, executive networking, peer-led sessions and recognition of groundbreaking achievements in enterprise technology. All times listed on the agenda are in local time.
All times listed on the agenda are in local time.
Sunday, August 16
Monday, August 17
Ryder Cup Foyer
Check in, collect your conference materials, and connect with fellow attendees before the program begins.
Wanamaker G
Choose a topic and join a small-group, interactive discussion designed for peer-level exchange. These 30-minute conversations, hosted by a sponsor subject-matter expert, offer an opportunity to listen, learn, and share experiences with fellow security leaders. Seating is first come, first served – arrive early to select your topic and secure a seat.
– AI Enterprise Readiness – hosted by Apptio
– Industrializing Enterprise AI: What CIOs Need to Deliver Measurable RoAI – hosted by Celonis
– Managing AI Costs While Driving Innovation – hosted by Insight
– Context Before Models: Why the CIO’s Most Important AI Decision Has Nothing to Do With AI– hosted by Zoho
– Discussion Table – hosted by Keystone
Ryder Cup B
Pre-registration is required.
The role and nature of the enterprise network is shifting. Far more than a utility responsible for uptime, the modern network is becoming a strategic intelligence platform. Today’s network now embraces campuses, branch offices, remote users, cloud applications, AI, and IoT devices. As a result, business and operational demands are becoming more complex. And CIOs must reconsider networking strategies in light of AI workload adoption and evolving hybrid cloud architectures.
Because networks are growing in scale and complexity, IT leaders now must manage how data circulates more efficiently. And they must do so, often, with the same or fewer resources. The traditional approach of manually managing networks is no longer sustainable. Automation and intelligent management, through AIOps, are becoming essential to keep pace with expanding enterprise demands.
Ryder Cup C
Pre-registration is required.
While many organizations believe they have invested heavily in AI because they have launched dozens of successful pilots, those pilots frequently fail to scale into sustained business advantage. This is because they often lack the architectural foundation that allows intelligence to compound across the enterprise. The Builder Economy represents the next frontier of enterprise competition. In this phase, success hinges on establishing strategic approaches to data, architecture, governance, and operating models that enable intelligent systems to create business value at scale.
As a result, organizations that develop semantic data foundations, governance frameworks, and reusable services for agentic systems will be best positioned to create lasting competitive advantage. This discussion examines how the CIO’s role is evolving, and what leadership, organizational, and architectural decisions are required to compete in the Builder Economy.
Ryder Cup A
Pre-registration is required.
Enterprise AI is transforming how work gets done—from employee support and software development to document-intensive workflows and customer operations. This discussion explores how organizations are integrating AI into day-to-day operations while maintaining governance, security, and trust.
Ryder Cup B
Pre-registration is required. Register here.
AI redefines how organizations innovate, operate and compete. Autonomous agents, AI-assisted engineering and digital labor are becoming embedded across the enterprise. That requires technology leaders to rethink operating models, workforce strategies, governance and the platforms to build and maintain competitive advantage. What does it take to build the “Hypervelocity Enterprise” — and operate, adapt and create value at unprecedented speed?
Ryder Cup C
Pre-registration is required. Register here.
Join enterprise technology leaders for an interactive discussion on how AI is redefining knowledge management and why it has become a critical enabler of successful enterprise AI initiatives. As generative and agentic AI adoption accelerates, organizations are finding that AI success depends not only on models and infrastructure, but also on the quality, governance, and accessibility of enterprise knowledge. Participants will explore how fragmented or outdated knowledge increases risk, limits AI performance, and slows business outcomes.
Ryder Cup Foyer
Kick off the CIO Experience with an opening reception designed for connection and conversation. Join fellow CIOs and IT leaders to network, reconnect with peers, and set the tone for the days ahead in a relaxed, welcoming setting.
Tuesday, August 18
Ryder Cup Foyer
Check in, collect your conference materials, and connect with fellow attendees before the program begins.
Wanamaker Ballroom
Grab breakfast, recharge, and get ready for the day. This open morning break is your time to eat, connect with peers, visit vendors, and review what’s ahead before the conference content begins.
Ryder Cup Ballroom
Join conference host Kevin Lim as he officially kicks off the CIO Conference. Kevin will set the stage for the day, highlight key themes, and share what to expect—from the conversations ahead to how to get the most out of your time at the event.
Ryder Cup Ballroom
CIOs are under increasing pressure to convert AI experimentation into sustained, measurable business impact. This opening session sets the context for the conference by examining how leading enterprises are moving from pilots to production—what’s accelerating progress, where friction remains, and how CIOs are balancing speed, governance, and value creation at scale. Attendees will gain a clear view of what’s becoming standard practice, what still differentiates leaders, and the decisions defining the next phase of the CIO role.
Ryder Cup Ballroom
Building on the themes introduced in The State of the CIO 2026, this session moves from context to execution. As enterprises shift from AI pilots to production at scale, CIOs must translate momentum into operating reality—without disrupting core systems, eroding trust, or overextending their organizations. This discussion focuses on how CIOs are applying the priorities, pressures, and patterns shaping the role today to the practical work of scaling AI across the enterprise. Attendees will explore how peers are balancing speed with governance, integrating AI into existing operating models, and ensuring that AI investments deliver durable business value while protecting the stability of the business.
Ryder Cup Foyer
Press pause and recharge. Refuel with snacks, hydrate up, get some fresh air, and explore the show floor. It’s the perfect moment to reset, spark a few conversations, and come back refreshed for what’s next.
Ryder Cup Ballroom
Each CIO in this room has been handed the same two jobs: take cost out and lead the transformation. Then reality sets in. Roughly three-quarters of the budget is already committed to keeping existing systems running — the ones nobody thinks about until they go down. That’s the bind. Not cut or build, but how to pry loose enough of that locked 75% to fund what’s next without going back to the CFO for more money, and whether you can do it before the moment passes.
We’ll walk through the math that makes the case, and the part many agendas skip: the honest economics of AI. Where it actually pays back, why your board’s timeline is probably off, and what the next 24 months have to hold if you intend to architect what comes next instead of maintaining what’s already here.
We’ll also get honest about your people. Moving the money often means moving the work — and the job architecture you have was built for the model you’re leaving, right down to the risk of automating away the junior work that used to make your senior people. No hype. Just the trade-offs, and a playbook you can put to work Monday.
Ryder Cup Ballroom
Experience innovation at speed. The Innovation Showcase is a self-directed session featuring quick, five-minute presentations at digital poster stations. Explore projects that interest you, engage directly with team leaders, and connect through Q&A and small-group conversations – all in a flexible, “speed-dating” format.
These winning projects spotlight how leading organizations are putting AI into production to transform core business operations, offering a firsthand look at enterprise-scale innovation in action.
Ryder Cup Ballroom
As AI adoption accelerates, so do new risks. This session examines how CIOs are working alongside CISOs to address evolving threats, ensure compliance, and maintain trust with customers and regulators. Learn how organizations are balancing speed with security in high-stakes environments.
Wanamaker Ballroom
Join us for a delicious lunch where you can connect with newfound contacts! Take a seat and savor your meal while networking with peers. Don’t miss the opportunity to meet our sponsors and discover how their innovative solutions can benefit you.
Wadkins
The lines between technology strategy and business strategy are disappearing. The leaders gaining groundaren’tjust the ones who understandthe technology.They’rethe ones who know how to move people, shape decisions, and build the kind of trust that makes them indispensable when the strategy is being written.
For women in technology leadership, the opportunity has never been greater. The skills developed navigating complex organizations, building coalitions, and leading through ambiguity without always having formal authority are exactly what this moment demands. Influence without permission. Trust built across functions. The ability to translate technology into language that moves boards and CEOs to act.
Join us for a candid, peer-led conversation about what influenceactually lookslike at the highest levels of enterprise leadership today — and how to build more of it, deliberately.
Pre-registration required. Seating is limited.
Ryder Cup Ballroom
Transformation rarely follows a straight line. In this candid session, panelists share initiatives that didn’t deliver as expected, across AI, security, and enterprise transformation—and the course corrections that followed. The discussion focuses on early warning signs, false assumptions, and the practical changes leaders made to recover momentum and credibility.
Ryder Cup B
AI is evolving at breakneck speed, but even the best-laid transformation plans can stall when culture and scale get in the way. How do top organizations break through these barriers to unlock AI’s full promise across every business unit? What people-powered strategies and process shifts actually work in the real world? Join this session to explore: unpacking a real-life story of AI adoption at speed; reinventing operating models to spark experimentation and innovation; and tackling AI scaling roadblocks with creative pivots and lessons from peers.
Ryder Cup C
Hear from a sponsoring partner as they share broader insights, industry observations, and lessons learned from working with enterprise IT leaders. This session is designed to spark ideas and offer strategic perspective on today’s evolving technology landscape.
Ryder Cup Foyer
Recharge with a coffee or refreshing beverage while expanding your professional network. Connect with fellow attendees, visit the sponsor networking tables, and engage with CIO 100 Award winners, Hall of Fame inductees, and industry partners before the next session begins.
Ryder Cup Ballroom
As expectations on technology leadership continue to evolve, CIOs, CDOs, CAIOs, and others, are making a series of deliberate strategic shifts that will define the next 12 to 24 months. This session synthesizes the five most impactful moves leaders are prioritizing right now—where they’re doubling down, what they’re de‑prioritizing, and the tradeoffs they’re actively managing as technology becomes inseparable from business outcomes.
Ryder Cup Foyer
After an invigorating day of sessions, it’s time to sip on a cold “John Daly” and unwind at our very own CIO clubhouse.
Wednesday, August 19
Ryder Cup Foyer
Check in, collect your conference materials, and connect with fellow attendees before the program begins.
Wanamaker Ballroom
Grab breakfast, recharge, and get ready for the day. This open morning break is your time to eat, connect with peers, visit vendors, and review what’s ahead before the conference content begins.
Ryder Cup Ballroom
Join conference host Kevin Lim as he officially kicks off the CIO Conference. Kevin will set the stage for the day, highlight key themes, and share what to expect—from the conversations ahead to how to get the most out of your time at the event.
Ryder Cup Ballroom
A rare, candid conversation with CIOs reflecting on 25 years of technology leadership. This panel cuts through hype to explore what has genuinely changed—and what surprisingly hasn’t—across cycles of innovation, operating models, and executive expectations. Attendees will hear how seasoned CIOs recalibrated their role over time, what they would do differently today, and what fundamentals still matter most.
Ryder Cup Ballroom
Most AI conversations are about what AI can do. This one is about what youcanbecome when AI does it.As AI disappears into the fabric of work, the human roleshouldevolve from reviewer of machine output tothearchitect of intent.
When AI is embedded in workflows, decisions, and operations, the human roleoftenexpands.You are no longera checkpointbut rather thearchitectof an experience builtwithyour values,yourthinking, your judgment.
The old AI approval “loop”can’texist without you; it can only exist becauseof you.That shift is profound. And for the CIOs who have designed their organizations around it,it’salso where the EBITDA impact starts compounding.
This session is a conversation between three leaders who have spent decades turning technology ambition into enterprise reality. Jeff Baker, ManishDasaur, and Scott Likens will get into whatoftenseparatesthe organizations generating real AI returns from those still waiting — and what it takes to close that gap.
Ryder Cup Ballroom
Experience innovation at speed. The Innovation Showcase is a self-directed session featuring quick, five-minute presentations at digital poster stations. Explore projects that interest you, engage directly with team leaders, and connect through Q&A and small-group conversations – all in a flexible, “speed-dating” format.
These winning projects spotlight features real-world AI applications tackling complex challenges across industries, demonstrating how organizations are turning innovation into measurable efficiency, agility, and business impact.
Ryder Cup Foyer
Press pause and recharge. Refuel with snacks, hydrate up, get some fresh air, and explore the show floor. It’s the perfect moment to reset, spark a few conversations, and come back refreshed for what’s next.
Ryder Cup Ballroom
Beyond ROI slides, CIOs must navigate the real economics of transformation. This session explores how technology leaders actually fund, justify, and sustain large‑scale initiatives while managing cost pressure, shifting priorities, and heightened executive scrutiny. Attendees will examine the financial levers, operating models, and metrics CIOs are using to prove value and keep transformation moving forward.
Ryder Cup Ballroom
This panel brings together leading AI startups to explore how AI is transforming the build vs buy decisions, how startups are innovating faster when speed is no longer an advantage and Frontier AI models are no longer the Moat. Panelists will share what they’re seeing across AI space, their customers, and industries. How they are building the traction. A few takeaways for CIOs making Building Vs Buying decisions and how CIOs can evaluate emerging capabilities amid rapid change.
The session is designed to surface market-level insights and patterns—not product pitches—helping CIOs better assess what matters now and what’s coming next.
Wanamaker Ballroom
Join us for a delicious lunch where you can connect with newfound contacts! Take a seat and savor your meal while networking with peers. Don’t miss the opportunity to meet our sponsors and discover how their innovative solutions can benefit you.
Accelerating the Path to the CIO Role
Ryder Cup Ballroom
The Next CIO Track is designed for senior IT leaders preparing to step into the CIO role, whether in the near term or several years out. Through a mix of interactive formats, participants explore the real challenges future CIOs face and gain practical guidance from experienced leaders. Attendees will leave with clear, actionable steps to accelerate their path to CIO.
1:20 – 1:45p Welcome & State of the CIO and CIO Readiness Framework
Explore the evolving CIO role and what it demands of future leaders. Anchored by a six-dimension framework, this session highlights the critical capabilities required to reach the C-suite.
1:45 – 2:10p Ascending to the CIO Role
Hear directly from sitting CIOs as they share candid perspectives on the journey to the role. Understand the key inflection points, challenges, and growth required to make the transition successfully.
2:10 – 2:40p Self-Assessment Activity
Reflect on your strengths and uncover development gaps through a structured self-assessment designed to build awareness and inform your next steps.
2:40 – 2:55p Break
2:55 – 3:25p Personal Roadmap Activity
Collaborate with peers to translate insights into action. Build a clear, prioritized roadmap to guide your continued leadership growth.
3:25 – 3:50p Getting Acclimated to the Big Chair
Gain an inside look at the realities of stepping into the CIO role, including the mindset, expectations, and leadership approach required to succeed at the executive level.
Achieving Leadership Excellence in an AI World
Ryder Cup B/C
Available exclusively to CIOs, this interactive executive Masterclass offers direct access to CIO Hall of Fame inductees and some of the industry’s most accomplished technology leaders. Combining real-world transformation case studies, candid peer-to-peer conversations, and facilitated discussion, the program is designed to move beyond theory and explore the leadership challenges CIOs are facing today. Attendees will leave with practical insights, new perspectives from fellow executives, and actionable strategies for leading in an increasingly AI-driven world.
1:25 – 2:00p Act I: Create Clarity
Why Smart Organizations Struggle to Move
Even with strong strategies and significant investment, many organizations struggle to execute at the pace required today. Learn how leading CIOs create clarity, overcome resistance, and build momentum for transformation.
2:00 – 2:35p Act II: Build Momentum
How Leaders Turn Ambition into Execution
The challenge isn’t strategy, it’s execution. Explore how CIOs align people, processes, and priorities to accelerate adoption, drive business outcomes, and build organizations that can adapt and scale.
2:35 – 2:50p Break
2:50 – 3:25p Act III: Shape the Future
Preparing Leaders, Boards, and Organizations for the Next Era
As AI reshapes business and leadership, CIOs are increasingly helping executive teams and boards navigate uncertainty, build digital fluency, and prepare for the next wave of transformation.
3:25 – 3:55p Act IV: Drive Action
Building Your Leadership Action Plan
Translate insights into action through peer discussion and practical planning. Leave with new perspectives, actionable ideas, and a roadmap to strengthen leadership impact in an AI-driven world.
Ryder Cup Foyer
Join the 2026 CIO 100 honorees for a cocktail reception as we raise a glass to celebrate this year’s award winners and the impact of their leadership. During the reception, Global CXO Circle will also host exclusive Blue Carpet interviews with select CIOs and technology leaders, capturing leadership perspectives from across the CIO 100 community.
Ryder Cup Ballroom
The CIO 100 Gala and Awards Presentation is the signature celebration of the conference, honoring the visionary CIOs and teams driving innovation, impact, and leadership across the enterprise. This evening event recognizes outstanding achievements in technology and business transformation while bringing the CIO community together in a formal, celebratory setting. Join us as we applaud excellence, share inspiration, and celebrate the leaders shaping what’s next in IT.
Ryder Cup Lawn
Embrace the beauty of the Lone Star State with a reception under the moonlit sky. Photo ops, firepits and sweet treats are the perfect way to wrap up another memorable CIO 100.
