9:00 AM - 9:45 AM | Registration & Networking
9:45 AM - 10:30 AM | Welcome Keynote: Innovating Through Chaos: What Does The Future Look Like For Consulting?
For 3 years the world has navigated a withering barrage of economic, social and medical disruption, upending our personal lives and how we do business. In true form, the consulting industry was quick to read prevailing winds, adjust course, pivot, correct and innovate for survival. All on-the-fly and at a grueling pace. What now?
Consulting Magazine’s Michael Webb takes a look at where our industry is positioned in the wake of dizzying change – what happened and what potentially lies ahead.
Michael Webb, Director, Consulting Magazine
10:30 AM - 11:15 AM | Panel: The War on Data: Costs, Risks and Future of Our Most Valuable Currency
In the beginning it was gold. Then oil. Now, data is the most valuable currency on our planet.
It is also Pandora’s Box, bringing myriad considerations regarding its acquisition, retention, protection and as importantly the RISK of having it in your possession.
Our panel will examine the ethical implications of holding and managing data, the life or death ramifications of mismanaging it and how far behind the technology curve corporations (and those who advise them) are when it comes to protecting it.
As in war, superior strategic and tactical planning is required to achieve victory. This session will deliver insight into the cultural shifts, light-speed technology advances and calculated governance necessary to protect an organization's use and handling of data; the transformative role of these elements for strategic evolutionary planning; and the nuclear consequences of just one breach.
11:15 AM - 11:45 AM | Networking Break
11:45 AM - 12:30 PM | Panel: ESG 360: Keeping ESG Efforts Agile, Effective and On-Track
Interest and investment in corporate responsibility and social awareness has grown exponentially in the last five years. ESG’s impact and importance – in the wake of global pandemic, social justice activism, climate change, economic uncertainty, geo-political unrest, cybersecurity incidents and war – cannot be understated nor ignored.
With so many variables and similarly defined elements involved, what will sustainable and effective ESG programs look like going forward? What are the differences between protecting the company, versus protecting the outside world? How should concept and practicality be reconciled between ESG and true sustainability efforts?
Future success means ensuring ESG implementation is nimble, innovative and effective. This panel will discuss the alignment of strategies that protect the organization while also protecting the people, environment, and end users of the company’s products or services.
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM | Lunch
1:30 PM - 2:15 PM | Keynote: The Future of Work is Here Now: Applying a Human First Approach to the Workforce
There has been a paradigm shift in the balance of power in the workforce over the past three years. This is in the form of how workers view their jobs and what is expected of them – and how organizations attract, retain and improve the lives of their employees while driving sustainable value for their clients.
As a result of this upheaval and the impact work-life-balance now plays in the equation, how should companies (and those who advise them) adapt to the new normal? How do we balance the Future of Work with a still-morphing workforce? And what effect will the biblical flood of talent from a rapidly resizing technology sector mean to this future?
2:15 PM - 3:00 PM | Panel: Technology Meets Human Behavior - Using AI to Measure Inclusion in the Workplace
Society in every developed country is a structure of institutions– one of operating systems. Every major social task, whether economic performance or health care, education or the protection of the environment, the pursuit of new knowledge or defense, is today being entrusted to operating systems created by and for the white male. No room for diversity is built in to the current system.
Can artificial intelligence (AI) help us more accurately identify unconscious bias? Can the concept of “crashing and rebooting” these systems be used as a process for advancing DEI initiatives? How do arrangements of people, organizations, information and technology, give rise to complex adaptive phenomena that pose challenges to change?
Checking DEI boxes will never generate progress. This panel will examine the importance of reworking status quo operating systems and the utilization of AI to assess internal processes focused on changing and creating effective programs and processes to advance diversity and inclusion efforts for all organizations.
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM | Networking Break
3:30 PM - 4:15 PM | Champagne Roundtable: How Do We Best Incorporate the Human Element in Future Operations?
Having covered highly relevant topics for our industry, it is important to engage in collective dialogue, gain perspective and check reality, so we may take away the most relevant concepts and ideas for the benefit of our respective organizations and the profession.
This roundtable discussion will be segmented into four key areas based on work roles. Moderators will guide the discussions and then present a brief synopsis from each group’s perspective.
Group 1: COO/Operations
Group 2: CHRO/HR
Group 3: CFO/Finance
Group 4: CMO/DEV/MKTG
Based on the topics presented here today, how can we best use this information to improve our firms, our service to clients, and ourselves?