Agenda topics, timing and speakers subject to change.
Day 1 - Tuesday, June 16
Conference Facilitator:
- Bridgette Link l General Manager, Finance Business Intelligence l Microsoft Corporation
10:00 am – 11:00 am
How Leaders Can Navigate Chaos in Uncertain Times
Responsible leadership has taken on an even deeper meaning, as our workforces and our customers find themselves in an unfamiliar, fast-moving global environment. COVID-19 has changed the way we live and work already, with far-reaching impact. Virtually all companies are still determining how we change the way we work, short-and long-term. But speed is of the essence, as our workforces and communities try to function and perform, while struggling to cope with what is happening in their daily lives. Gain insight into the strategies you can use to rise to the challenge to help your people develop human resilience - the ability to adapt and engage through difficult times.
Speaker:
11:15 am - 12:15 pm
Where Robotics & AI Fit into New Finance Paradigm
Intelligent automation will play a critical role in any organization's recovery from the economic crisis. Beyond just efficiencies, these technologies can actually play a role in figuring out solutions to problems in supply chain disruptions and critical distribution failures. Learn how leading-edge financial professionals are using new technologies at a critical time.
Speakers:
12:15 pm - 1:00 pm
Break
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Concurrent Sessions
2 Concurrent Sessions available - please select one
Blockchain Use Case Studies in a Pandemic
The World Economic Forum indicated that blockchain and digitization can help supply chains survive crises like COVID-19. Blockchain has already moved beyond speculative traders and technology enthusiasts into cross-border payments and capital market structures. This session will look at real life examples being used by financial executives when leveraging distributed ledgers.
Speakers:
- Deep Ghumman l Principal, Advisory Services l Ernst & Young LLP
- Rajat Kapur l Blockchain Sales Leader l Ernst & Young LLP
- Mihir Kulkarni l Senior Consultant, Blockchain l Ernst & Young LLP
- Evan Tini l IT Lead for Blockchain Initiatives l Merck Animal Health Supply Chain
- Megan Biernat l Technical Analyst l Merck
- James Canterbury l Principal l Ernst & Young LLP
How Machine Learning Can Solve Global and Business Problems
Machine learning is being used in many organizations to drive value and solve business challenges. Researchers are even using machine learning algorithms to quickly find treatments for COVID-19. Yet, most finance executives have little to no experience or an understanding of where machine can be implemented in their organizations or across the finance function. In this session attendees will learn how machine learning is being used in organizations and across finance functions to give the decision-making processes a massive upgrade.
Moderator:
Speakers:
2:15 pm – 3:15 pm
Concurrent Sessions
2 Concurrent Sessions available - please select one
Natural Language Processing in Finance
Finance isn't just about numbers, it's about words. Analytics programs help businesses utilize data by searching for and revealing patterns hidden in structured data, such as spreadsheets and relational databases, using natural language processing (NLP) commands. Senior-level financial executives will reveal their strategies utilizing NLP.
Speaker:
- Bill Sarda l Manager - Solution Engineering l HighRadius
Virtualization and Collaboration Across the Remote Enterprise
The ability to operate virtually is the consequence of numerous choices made over a period of time, but those hard choices need to be made in real time given the current reality. Networking architecture, accounting applications, virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), and customer service will all need to be integrated and rethought. Learn what role financial executives are playing in bringing it all together.
Speakers:
- Curt Freeman l Vice President and Corporate Controller l Starbucks
- Cathe Pence l Director of Global Reporting l Starbucks
- Rauli Garcia l VP of Strategic Marketing l Sage Intacct
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
A Cloud for Good (Microsoft Cloud Technology)
Cloud-powered technologies are creating new businesses and business models, as well as changing the way we access services, communicate with each other and entertain ourselves. But we also continue to witness cyberattacks by nation-states on citizens, critical infrastructure and the institution of democracy. Attend this thought-provoking session and gain insight into the framework developed by Microsoft Corporation that makes policy recommendations for building a more trusted, responsible and inclusive cloud. Learn from stories of organizations that are digitally transforming and the impact they are creating for their customers, citizens and communities.
Speaker:
- Chris Suh l Corporate Vice President & CFO, Cloud + AI l Microsoft Corporation
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Navigating Technology in a Remote Work Environment - Lessons Learned During the Recent Pandemic
In this session, Jim Bourke will share his experiences from travelling the globe and working with firms and companies to solve many common pain points around selecting the "right" technologies for today's finance function. Whether you are focused on finance, audit, tax, advisory or all of the above, choosing certain technologies and specific platforms for those technologies will contribute to an increased level of efficiency and client satisfaction. Jim will highlight some of the latest technologies to hit the finance profession as well as some that have stood the test of time (or have they?). We've all learned what works and what does not during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. If you've struggled with 100% functionality of any aspect of your company, Jim will help you to navigate the existing platforms, applications, security issues, etc...
You'll walk away from this session with a new appreciation and awareness about some of the unique technologies that are ready to take our profession to the next level as well as a clear directive to your IT support personnel on the technologies and platforms that should currently be under consideration to allow you and your company to function whether your staff are working in the office or working remotely.
Speaker:
11:15 am - 12:15 pm
Cybersecurity and the Distributed Office
The expansion of remote work has created new opportunities for cyber criminals and nation-state hackers. Company systems and data may be exposed by remote workers and it may be harder for companies to respond to cyber incidents. Attendees will hear from Dave Frederick with the National Security Agency, on how to explore your cyber risks and ways to mitigate them.
Speaker:
- Dave Frederick l Deputy Director, Cybersecurity Directorate l National Security Agency
12:15 pm - 1:00 pm
Break
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Surging Cyber Threats to Watch
Cyber threats to U.S. national and economic security increase each year in frequency, scope and severity of impact. Cyber criminals, hackers and foreign adversaries are becoming more sophisticated and capable every day in their ability to use the Internet for nefarious purposes. Attend this session and gain an understanding from the FBI about some of the biggest cyber threats you need to be aware of.
Speaker:
- Norm Sanders l Supervisory Special Agent l Federal Bureau of Investigation
2:15 pm – 3:15 pm
The Impact of Augmented and Virtual Reality in Business
Augmented and virtual reality isn't just big gaming headsets and Pokemon Go. It is being used in everything from car repairs to medical procedures. Professionals will discuss what finance needs to know about this critical future technology.
Speaker:
- Linda Hapgood l Chief Operating Officer, Boeing & Safran Joint Venture, Initium Aerospace, LLC l Boeing Global Services
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Concurrent Sessions
2 Concurrent Sessions available - please select one
How to Prepare and Test Systems to Deter the Inevitable Cyber Attack
Battling criminals isn't just about brawn anymore, it's about brains. The Internet has enabled bad actors to enter your systems from multiple doors and hack everything from your general ledger to your banking relationships. Learn what financial leaders are doing to stop the next attack.
Speakers:
Privacy and Security in the Internet Age
The introduction and spread of COVID-19 to communities across the globe has created numerous privacy and security compliance questions and challenges. Privacy and data security issues are changing from an operations headache to board-level strategy as a growing number of companies discover the competitive advantages of developing effective policies. This session will focus on how cutting-edge companies are tackling the privacy and security conundrum.
Speaker:
10:00 am – 11:00 am
CFO-CIO: A Critical Collaboration
As the CFO and CIO roles continue to evolve and overlap, it becomes increasingly important to acknowledge personality differences and find common ground. This is especially important in the current environment of real and economic crisis. Hear from finance and technology executives about how they collaborate.
Speaker:
- Heather Cole l Executive Coach/Business Analytics Advisor l Lodestar Solutions
11:15 am - 12:15 pm
How Financial Teams Will Work in a New World
Remote-work mandates eliminated the side-by-side, in-person work that is essential to the finance suite during the COVID-19 crisis. With corporate America slowly emerging from its quarantine, leaders will now need to reflect on the lessons of the crisis, including the limitations of cloud finance, the risk of on-premise systems and frustrations of online collaboration. Hear from industry professionals about some of the best practices and lessons learned and how to implement best practices going forward.
Speakers:
12:15 pm - 1:00 pm
Break
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Concurrent Sessions
2 Concurrent Sessions available - please select one
Finance Digital Transformation Case Studies (What Worked, What Didn't Work and Mistakes to Avoid)
Leveraging new technologies will continue to take hold of nearly every aspect of finance and leaders have an opportunity to completely reimagine what their finance function can look like in the future. But there are also cautionary tales of wasted resources. Learn from fellow financial professionals how they were able to claim success and learn from their mistakes.
Speakers:
- Steve Soter l Senior Director of Product Marketing and Accounting Industry Principal l Workiva
- Rick Hassman l CIO, CTO & Consulting VP of Customer Advocacy l Workiva
- Jonathan Gregory l Senior Manager, External Reporting l The Hershey Company
Scaling Trusted Data & AI Building trust with customers and stakeholders has never been more important for financial institutions than in the era of COVID. Artificial Intelligence Systems (AIS) have the potential to increase productivity and speed, but they must prioritize human-centric, ethical methodologies in their application to build a future mirroring the values we most want to achieve. Join Pavel Abdur-Rahman (Partner & Head of Data for Cognitive & Connected Operations at IBM Services and Chair of the IEEE Applied Artificial Intelligence Systems (AIS) Risk and Impact Framework Initiative) as he provides an overview of best practices for applications of ethical AIS for financial professionals featuring insights from some of the top leaders.
Speaker:
2:15 pm – 3:15 pm
The Impact of 5G on You, Your Business and the World (Fifth Generation Wireless Networks)
5G technology is poised to help finance with new, innovative services. The low latency, high data capacity and reliability of 5G networks will change the way finance deals with external and internal stakeholders. This session will cover what financial executives need to know about this disruptive technology.
Speaker:
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Art of Possible
Businesses of all shapes and sizes are finding value in adopting artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, thanks to a combination of massive data stores, powerful computing resources, and new kinds of intelligent algorithms. Finance is no exception: today, firms are using AI to keep costs down, find new ways to engage with customers, and manage sources of risk. While the future is bright, financial executives will need to employ innovative new strategies to deal with the organizational, technological, and ethical challenges posed by next-gen AI solutions. In this talk, Andy Hickl from Microsoft will discuss some of the opportunities (and risks) that finance institutions will face in the years ahead - and help you understand how to best take advantage of this latest digital revolution.
Speaker:
- Andy Hickl l Principal Group Program Manager, Azure Text l Microsoft Corporation
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