IN-PERSON

Atlanta CIO Community
Inner Circle

September 17, 2025 | Rays on the River

September 17, 2025
Rays on the River

APPLY TO PARTICIPATE

Collaborate with your peers

Join Atlanta's top CIOs for an intimate networking dinner and facilitated discussion on key business challenges. Enjoy a relaxed evening of dinner and drinks with your peers to share best practices, make new connections and build professional relationships.

Join your peers to discuss the most critical issues impacting CIOs today:

Driving innovation while bracing for potential budget cuts

Fostering innovation and collaboration with an eye on the bottom line

Atlanta CIO Governing Body


The Governing Body Co-Chairs shape the discussion topics and agenda, ensuring that all content is driven By CIOs, For CIOs®.

Governing Body Co-Chairs

Guy Brassard

Shaw Industries
Vice President & Chief Information Officer

Curtis Carver Jr.

University of Alabama at Birmingham
Vice President and CIO

Raghu Sagi

Carter's
EVP, Chief Information & Technology Officer

Grant Shih

Vestis
Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer

Agenda


September 17, 2025

4:30pm - 5:30pm  Executive Networking Reception

5:30pm - 6:30pm  Discussion Topics

Balancing Budget and Technological Advancements Amidst Global Uncertainty

 In today's unpredictable economic environment, enterprise CIOs are tasked with driving technological innovation while managing financial constraints. The pressure to deliver cutting-edge solutions that drive competitive advantage is greater than ever. However, this must be balanced with prudent financial stewardship as budgets tighten due to economic fluctuations.

Technology leaders are already leveraging advancements in AI, cloud and data analytics to optimize business processes and create value while maintaining a keen focus on cost. But they must also foster a culture of collaboration across departments to ensure that technology initiatives are strategically aligned with broader business objectives.

This session will delve into strategies that CIOs can employ to advance technology initiatives without compromising fiscal responsibility, ensuring that their organizations remain agile and resilient.

  • Has the global economy caused you to reprioritize your technology initiatives? If so, what is staying at the forefront and what are the first items to go?
  • How are you balancing the demand for innovation with the necessity of cost control in technology deployment?
  • What role do you play in driving technology innovation and highly productive teams while ensuring fiscal responsibility across the enterprise?
  • What resources are you leveraging to keep pace with shifts in regulation?
  • What best practices have you uncovered for communicating the associated impact on technology strategy with the broader business?
  • How are you collaborating with your CFO to align technology initiatives with financial strategies for shared success?
  • What role do your existing vendors play in how you (re)prioritize new technology initiatives?

6:30pm - 7:00pm  Networking Break

7:00pm - 8:00pm  Summary Discussion & Dinner

8:00pm - 9:00pm  Social Hour

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


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

Location


Your Community Sponsors


Program Sponsors

Community Program Manager


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

Lawrence Figueroa

Senior Community Program Manager

971-222-2374

lawrence.figueroa@gartner.com