AI Accelerate 2025 San Diego, Co-Located with TDWI Transform

San Diego // Aug. 20–21

Leadership Track Agenda

For Executives and Business Leaders

Featuring a carefully balanced mix of expert-led sessions, interactive panels, workshops, and networking opportunities, the AI Leadership track at AI Accelerate 2025 offers a thoughtfully curated experience designed specifically for senior executives and business leaders who seek strategic insights to accelerate their AI journey.

Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Wednesday
7:30- 8 a.m.
 
Networking Breakfast
Wednesday
8 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.
 
KEYNOTE: Navigating Business Success in the AI Revolution

The era of AI is transforming the business landscape at an unprecedented pace. Join renowned business leader Terry Jones—founder and former CEO of Travelocity, chairman of Kayak.com, and business and AI innovator—as he shares his unique perspective on how AI is reshaping the future of business. Drawing from his extensive leadership experience and current work in the AI space, Terry will explore the profound impact of AI on business strategies and how leaders and business professionals alike can thrive in the years ahead and drive real innovation and growth through AI.

Speaker: Terry Jones Travelocity & Kayak.com

Wednesday

 
GETTING STARTED WITH AI: WHAT LEADERS NEED TO KNOW
Wednesday
9 a.m. - 10 a.m.
 
PANEL: Starting Your AI Journey Right: Expert Insights

This panel unites AI pioneers and business leaders to provide essential guidance for organizations at all stages of AI adoption, highlighting practical first steps, common pitfalls to avoid, and frameworks for successful implementation.

Panelists: Terry Jones, Travelocity & Kayak.com; Clay Owensby, NASCAR; and more to be announced.

Moderator: Tamilla Triantoro, Ph.D. AI Author & Professor.

Wednesday
10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
 
PANEL: Real-World AI: Innovations Shaping Industries and Organizations

Gain industry perspectives and practical advice drawn from real-world AI deployments across diverse sectors. Explore firsthand insights into effective strategies, common challenges, and critical success factors to inform your organization's AI initiatives.

Panelists: Jie Yu, Johnson & Johnson; Allen Thompson, The Hanover Insurance Group; James Lin, Experian; Aman Nalavade, Waymo.

Moderator: Eric King, AI Boardroom & TDWI.

Wednesday
11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
 
SESSION: AI Foundations for Leaders

Led by TreeHive Strategy's Donald Farmer, this session gets executives up to speed on foundational AI concepts critical for strategic decision-making. Explore the key terms, technologies, and strategic frameworks leaders need to successfully guide their organizations through the AI landscape.

Speaker: Donald Farmer, TreeHive Strategy

Wednesday
12:15 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
 
Lunch & Exhibit Hall
Wednesday

 
GENERATIVE AI & THE AGENTIC AI REVOLUTION
Wednesday
1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
 
PANEL: Modern Generative AI & AI Agents: What Business Leaders Need to Know

This panel will explore the current capabilities, limitations, and business use cases of generative AI and AI agents, focusing on what decision-makers need to understand to evaluate and implement these technologies effectively.

Panelists: Tolgahan Cakaloglu, Ph.D., Walmart; Amandeep Khurana, Amazon; Sam Wong, the Mark Anthony Group; and more to be announced.

Moderator: Becky Nagel, AI Boardroom.

Wednesday
2:45 - 3:30 p.m.
 
AI TOOL REVIEW: What's New with ChatGPT, Generative AI and AI Agents

Catch up on the latest advancements in ChatGPT, generative AI, and AI agents in this fast-paced session covering essential updates, emerging capabilities, and practical insights to keep you ahead of the curve.

Speaker: Becky Nagel, AI Boardroom

Wednesday
3:45 - 5:15 p.m.
 
WORKSHOP: Using Design Thinking Techniques To Select Your Next AI Project

Explore how to leverage design thinking from a leadership perspective to confidently choose impactful AI projects. Led by Sam Wong of Mark Anthony Group, this workshop delivers practical methods for aligning your generative AI initiatives with your strategic vision and organizational goals.

Speaker: Sam Wong, the Mark Anthony Group

Wednesday
5:15 p.m.
 
Welcome Reception
Thursday, August 21, 2025
TIME EVENT
Thursday
8:30 - 9 a.m.
 
Networking Breakfast
Thursday

 
BEST PRACTICES FOR AI SUCCESS
Thursday
9 - 10 a.m.
 
PANEL: Building & Elevating Your AI Strategy: Top Keys for Success

This panel will focus on sharing real-world approaches and lessons learned around building and evolving enterprise AI strategies, including how leaders can align AI initiatives with business priorities, drive adoption, and demonstrate tangible impact.

Panelists: Ken Johnston, Ford Motor Group; Bob Rapp, General Motors; Tamilla Triantoro, Ph.D. AI Author & Professor; and more to be announced.

Moderator: Donald Farmer, TreeHive Strategy.

Thursday
10 - 11 a.m.
 
PANEL: How Leaders Can Accelerate Enterprise AI Success

This panel explores how leaders can accelerate enterprise AI success by aligning strategy, talent, and execution—featuring insights on overcoming organizational barriers, scaling adoption, and driving real business impact.

Panelists: Tushar Chahal, Numisa Bank; Donald Farmer, TreeHive Strategy; and more be announced.

Moderator: Eric King, AI Boardroom & TDWI.

Thursday
11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
 
SESSION: Strategies for Measuring AI Success & ROI

How can you succeed at AI if you can't measure it? In this session, Donald Farmer of TreeHive Strategy shares practical approaches for defining success, tracking ROI, and tying AI outcomes to business impact—so your initiatives stay aligned, focused, and accountable.

Speaker: Donald Farmer, TreeHive Strategy

Thursday
12:15 - 1:45 p.m.
 
Lunch Break
Thursday

 
AI & DATA, COMPLIANCE & GOVERNANCE FOR LEADERS
Thursday
1:45 - 2:45 p.m.
 
PANEL: Why Your Data Matters More in the Age of AI: Perspectives for Leaders

As AI transforms business, the value of your data has never been higher. This panel offers leadership perspectives on how to unlock that value with insights from high-level data professionals. Learn how to maximize returns from your data in an AI-driven world.

Panelists: M. Adriana Willamson, Feeding America; Asim Razvi, American Logistics; and more to be announced.

Moderator: Fern Halper Ph.D., TDWI.

Thursday
2:45 - 3:15 p.m.
 
SESSION:  Unlocking the Power of AI with a Data-Centric Strategy

Most enterprises struggle to keep up with the rapid pace of AI innovation—but what if the key to long-term success isn't the latest model, but the right data strategy? James Lin, Head of AI/ML Innovation at Experian, walks you through the unique data-first approach his team has developed to evaluate AI performance, creating a repeatable, scalable processes that drive enterprise value.

Speaker: James Lin, Experian

Thursday
3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
 
PANEL: AI Security, Compliance, Governance & Guardrails: Real-World Insights

This panel will examine how organizations are tackling AI security, compliance, and governance in practice, with panelists sharing real-world approaches, challenges, and lessons learned in establishing effective guardrails.

Panelists: Lawana Jones, United Way; Ali Khalid, Emirates Airline; and Tamara Roust, Ph.D., Office of Financial Research, U.S. Treasury Office.

Moderator: Fern Halper Ph.D., TDWI.

Thursday
4:30 - 5:15 p.m.
 
CLOSING SESSION: The Future of AI

Hear from Rajeev Kapur, best-selling AI and business leadership author and CEO of 1105 Media, as he shares a forward-looking take on the future of AI and what business leaders need to know to stay competitive.

Speaker: Rajeev Kapur, 1105 Media

*Agenda and speakers subject to change

When registering, participants will be able to choose a two-day pass for the entire conference or pick a single-day pass. Note that, when you register for AI Accelerate 2025, you will need pick a primary track (AI Leadership or AI Literacy), but you can move between the tracks when at the live event. For information on the AI Literacy track agenda, go here.

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AI Accelerate 2025

Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel
1 Park Blvd
San Diego, CA 92101
August 20–21

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