
Atlanta CDAO Community
Executive Summit
December 8, 2021 | JW Marriott Atlanta Buckhead
December 8, 2021
JW Marriott Atlanta Buckhead
Collaborate with your peers
Get together with Atlanta'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:
Embedding D&A in business strategy and results
Reengineering decision-making across the business
Scaling a data-first culture
Atlanta 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

James Bolles
Southern Company
Director, Enterprise Solutions COEs

Snorwlor “Sno” Bropleh
Habitat for Humanity
Global Director for Operations - Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter

Steve Einbender
The Home Depot
Senior Data Scientist, CyberSecurity Advanced Analytics

Dr. Vijay Gandapodi
Reynolds American
Global IT Head – Marketing Analytics and Data science.

Diwakar Goel
General Electric
VP – Global Chief Data Officer

Rajeev Kapur
Kimberly-Clark
Chief Data Officer

Sesha Madapoosi
NCR
Exec Director, Data & Analytics Products

Karthikeyan Ramasamy
Georgia- Pacific
Vice President - AI Product Development & Strategy

Kenneth Viciana
Fiserv
Director Information Risk Management
What to Expect
Agenda
December 7, 2021
December 8, 2021
7:30am - 8:15am Registration & Breakfast
8:15am - 9:00am Keynote
Driving Insights-Informed Decision-Making
Hosted by Starburst Data

Marc Hunt
Director of Data Services, Enterprise Analytics
Chick-fil-A

Brent Bradley
Sr. Principal Program Lead, Data Literacy
Chick-fil-A
A healthy focus on data is necessary for organizations hoping to re-engineer decision making to operate efficiently, while maximizing effectiveness. For Chick-fil-A, efficiency isn’t a new idea, but its focus on data and analytics is rapidly evolving as the company works to build and scale analytic capabilities that enable enterprise business strategies.
Join this session as Chick-fil-A’s Enterprise Analytics team shares how they’re:
- Re-shaping data culture by leveling-up data literacy
- Iterating and enhancing analytics to deliver more value to internal and external customers
- Promoting data strategy to build advocacy from stakeholders
9:00am - 9:15am Break
9:15am - 10:00am Breakout Session
Data Strategy to Enable Digital Transformation — A Pragmatic Approach at Essilor

Farukh Lakhani
Sr. Director Sales Analytics and Operations
Essilor of America
Over the last couple of years, the role of data has changed. To enterprise leaders, data is no longer just supportive, it’s an asset. To propel the business forward and remove digital business roadblocks, data and analytics leaders should set a robust data strategy to enable digital acceleration.
Join this session as Essilor of America's D&A leader, Farukh Lakhani, shares how they've:
- Created a data-centric vision for the enterprise that’s sustainable and scalable
- Built and executed a data strategy that was achievable to enable digital transformation
- Navigated through challenges with People, Process, and Technology
9:15am - 10:00am Breakout Session
From Boundaries to Benefits — A Guide to Governance
Hosted by BigID

Christopher Glover
Field CTO
BigID

James Bolles
Director, Enterprise Solutions COEs
Southern Company
Data and analytics leaders are forever under pressure to deliver increasing value from the data assets under their care. However, an increasing number of regulations limit their options to leverage data. Governance is necessary. Leaders who deftly weave compliance into their data management practices can change the perception of governance from rigid practice to strategic business enabler.
Join this session as BigID's Field CTO, Christopher Glover, shares strategies to:
- Enable a culture of data innovation while meeting compliance requirements
- Extend the use of 1st-party data to enhance the customer experience
- Create internal data marketplaces that expand the use of data in the organization
9:15am - 10:00am Executive Boardroom
Leading by Example – Fostering a Data-Driven Culture
Hosted by Dataiku

Brent Lever
Regional VP, East
Dataiku

Jeff Afonso
SVP, Global Data Management
Elavon

Santosh Kudva
Chief Data Officer & CIO-Finance/HR
GE Gas Power
In the same way a nail is useless without a hammer, data resources cannot be optimized without a team that is eager to integrate those practices into their workflow. Leading the charge toward data literacy and maturity must incorporate a top-down approach that fosters teamwork and alignment.
Join your fellow CDOs to discuss:
- What has, or hasn't, worked to promote employee buy-in around advanced analytics
- How the organization of your D&A team can impact data maturity
- How to institutionalize best practices for analytics
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 C-level executives). To reserve your seat, please contact your event Program Manager, Monica Podolsky / monica.podolsky@evanta.com
10:00am - 10:30am Networking Break
10:30am - 11:15am Breakout Session
Curbing the Talent Competition — Putting People First

Mark Jackson
Director of Business Intelligence
Piedmont Healthcare

Karthikeyan Ramasamy
Vice President - AI Product Development & Strategy
Georgia- Pacific

Karen Brandenburg Viera
Senior Vice President, Global Chief People Officer
Church's Chicken
Not only did the way of working change as a result of the pandemic; the talent landscape has never been more competitive. Data has quickly become a core competent in organizational decision-making for the future. To attract and retain quality candidates, organizations must create a culture that puts people first.
Join this panel discussion, as heads of Data and HR share ways to:
- Instill a culture of flexibility and stability while remaining agile
- Reimagine and redesign data roles to adapt to a quickly shifting marketplace
- Build loyalty and increase retention by allowing employees to play key roles in growth and innovation
10:30am - 11:15am Executive Boardroom
Adapting Governance to Empower Collaboration
Hosted by Collibra

Scott Schumacher
Architect Fellow
Collibra

Sylvester Morgan
Executive Director, Enterprise Data Management
Cummins
Governing data and analytics isn't a new practice, but the way leaders are thinking about it is changing. To enable a more agile organization centered around data, D&A leaders must adopt an adaptive governance strategy.
Join this roundtable discussion as CDOs discuss:
- Implementing a governance approach that can evolve with the needs of the organization
- Creating a common data language and strategy to unite teams across the business
- Embedding the proper safeguards within your governance strategy to protect data
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 C-level executives). To reserve your seat, please contact your event Program Manager, Monica Podolsky / monica.podolsky@evanta.com
10:30am - 11:15am Executive Boardroom
Optimizing Advanced Analytics to Clear Business Hurdles

Gregory Brown
Vice President of the Global Advanced Technology Group
UPS

Sameer Vittal
Chief Engineer - Data Science/Analytics and Reliability
GE Power
It is rare you reach the finish line on a great business initiative without clearing a few hurdles along the way. Winning organizations see the obstacles coming and are ready to react, through smart deployment of predictive and prescriptive analytics. This peer-driven session explores improving business outcomes and getting your employees onboard with advanced analytics tools.
In this session you will discuss:
- Using predictive and prescriptive analytics to make data-driven decisions and achieve a better bottom line
- Choosing strategies that equip employees and build confidence in their skills
- Streamlining practices across the company to serve customers effectively
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 C-level executives). To reserve your seat, please contact your event Program Manager, Monica Podolsky / monica.podolsky@evanta.com
11:15am - 11:25am Break
December 7, 2021
December 8, 2021
Apply to Participate
Apply to participate in the Atlanta CDAO Community Executive Summit.
Gartner facilitates exclusive, C-level communities by personally qualifying and understanding the priorities, challenges and interests of each member.
Our selective approach maintains the high quality of the network and ensures top-level discussions with peers from the world’s leading organizations.
Each application will be reviewed, and once your participation is confirmed, you will have access to year-round community programs.
Location
Venue & Accommodation
JW Marriott Atlanta BuckheadParking
For parking information please click here.
Health & Safety Local Guidelines
Our host venue, JW Marriott Atlanta Buckhead, requires all guests to wear a mask in all public spaces. Masks will be provided for your convenience.
A block of rooms has been reserved at the JW Marriott Atlanta Buckhead at a reduced conference rate. Reservations should be made online or by calling 1-866-343-5747 . Please mention Atlanta CDO Executive Summit to ensure the appropriate room rate.
Deadline to book using the discounted room rate of $214 USD (plus tax) is November 15, 2021.
Community Program Manager
For inquiries related to this community, please reach out to your dedicated contact.