8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Registration, breakfast, sponsor exhibits, networking

9:00 AM – 9:45 AM

Demo Pit Pitches
Sponsored by: Boomi & Osage Venture Partners

9:45 AM – 10:00 AM

Emerging Technology Trends with Peter Coffee & Mike Bachman

We try to make every Phorum an over-the-horizon detector of imminent innovations. What’s next? Conference chair Michael Bachman (Boomi) and Phorum regular Peter Coffee (Salesforce) share and compare their views on what’s next in tech.

10:00 AM – 10:45 AM

Industry 4.0

Industry 4.0 is transforming how products and physical assets are designed, produced, delivered, and maintained. This panel explores the key secular trends and technology catalysts driving this transformation – from the ‘mega trend’ of digitalization and related ‘explosion’ of industrial data to the application of next-generation technologies such as AI/ML, IoT/IIoT, digital twinning, simulation, and edge computing, among others.  Panelists will share real-world examples of high-impact use cases across infrastructure engineering, manufacturing, and supply chains, how industry leaders are putting these technologies into practice, and insights on where these technologies are headed next. 

Speakers 

• Nick Lopez, Fairmount Partners (Moderator) 
• Denise Holt, AIX Global Media
  
• Patrick Cozzi, Bentley Systems; Cesium 
• Vishal Prasad, Mareana

11:00 AM – 11:45 AM

Management of Change and Workforce Adaptation  

Explore proven frameworks for navigating the human side of technological transformation, including effective change management strategies that minimize resistance and maximize adoption. Participants will leave with actionable techniques for upskilling teams, fostering a culture of continuous learning, and ensuring workforce readiness as technology evolves.  

Speakers 

• Jing Wang, Vanguard
• Kim Huggins, ALULA
• Vince Campisciano, SEI
• Caroline Yap, AISHA 

Sponsored by: Vanguard 

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Lunch Service

12:15 PM – 1:00 PM

Technology Executives Roundtable (18DEF Breakout Session) INVITE ONLY

Speakers  

• Michael Axelrod, Nimbl Consulting 
• Naresh Ramdas, Nimbl Consulting
• Ed Macosky, Boomi  
• Keyur Parikh, Vanguard
• Allie Carey, SEI  
• Alina Ipsas, Boomi
• Joe Konopka, Kenvue

Sponsored by: Nimbl Consulting  

1:15 PM – 2:00 PM

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Vanessa Z. Chan

Vanessa Chan is an accomplished entrepreneur, angel investor, speaker and educator renowned for her expertise in commercializing technologies. She is the inaugural Vice Dean of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at the University of Pennsylvania’s Engineering School and the Jonathan & Linda Brassington Professor of Practice. In 2021, Dr. Chan was appointed by President Biden to serve as the Chief Commercialization Officer at the U.S. Department of Energy and the Director of the Office of Technology Transitions. In this role, she was instrumental in nationally advancing clean energy technologies, notably through the “Pathways to Commercial Liftoff” reports, which provided roadmaps scaling critical technologies like nuclear and geothermal. She also led the creation of a new framework and language for commercialization, “Adoption Readiness Levels” which is being used throughout federal government, incubators, VCs and the private sector to improve commercialization outcomes. Her impact was recognized through her inclusion as one of the world’s 100 most influential business leaders in climate in Time100’s 2024 list. Before her tenure at the Department of Energy, Vanessa was a partner at McKinsey & Company where she co-led the innovation practice, helping large publicly traded companies commercialize their technologies. Following her time at McKinsey, she founded re.design, a company dedicated to reinventing consumer products to solve everyday challenges selling her products on QVC. Dr. Chan earned her Ph.D. from MIT and a B.S.E. from the University of Pennsylvania, both in Materials Science and Engineering. She is a working parent and in her personal time, Dr. Chan is the co-owner of a pottery studio, an avid mountain biker, yoga practitioner, skier, and world traveler.

Sponsored by: Fairmount Partners

2:00 PM – 2:45 PM

Lessons from the Frontlines: Practical & Responsible AI, ROI, and Strategic Implementation 

Hear directly from successful AI leaders about their journeys from pilot projects to enterprise-wide AI transformation, including critical pitfalls to avoid. Learn concrete approaches for measuring AI’s business impact, establishing ethical governance frameworks, and securing continued investment by demonstrating tangible results to stakeholders.   

Speakers 

• Grace Francisco, m2i (Moderator) 

• Mark McCreary, Fox Rothschild   

• Avi Patel, Fulton Bank  

• Zach Womack, SEI 

Sponsored by: SEI 

3:00 PM – 3:45 PM

AI Good vs. Evil III

Back by popular demand – for the third consecutive year – this lively debate explores controversial aspects of artificial intelligence and its potential to either usher in an era of unparalleled abundance or spell doom for humanity. Panelists will examine AI’s undeniable promise to solve global challenges, enhance human capabilities, and transform healthcare, while also peering into the dark side of AI; concerns over the development of autonomous weapons, the loss of privacy, inequality, and the potential for AI to be weaponized by malicious actors. Panelists will challenge us to confront our own beliefs about the role of AI in shaping the future.  

Speakers 

• Michael Bachman, Boomi (Moderator)  
• Grace Francisco, m2i (Moderator) 
• Caroline Yap, AISHA 
• Denise Holt, AIX Global Media

3:45 PM – 4:00 PM

Wrap Up & Demo Pit Best in Show
Sponsored by: Boomi & Osage Venture Partners

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Networking Reception

Mingle with fellow Phorum attendees, panel speakers, and event sponsors during this open-bar reception to close the day. 

Sponsored by: Fox Rothschild