• Speakers

    Keynotes

    Ethan Mollick
    Innovation Expert & Artificial Intelligence Thought Leader; Professor of Entrepreneurship, The Wharton School

    Ethan Mollick is an Associate Professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he studies and teaches innovation and entrepreneurship, and also examines the effects of artificial intelligence on work and education. His papers have been published in top journals and his book on AI, "Co-Intelligence," is a New York Times bestseller. His research is highly cited by other academics, and has been covered by CNN, The Wall Street Journal, and other leading publications.

    In addition to his research and teaching, Ethan is the Co-Director of the Generative AI Lab at Wharton, which builds prototypes and conducts research to discover how AI can help humans thrive while mitigating risks. Prior to his time in academia, Ethan co-founded a startup company, and he advises numerous organizations.

    Mollick received his PhD and MBA from MIT’s Sloan School of Management and his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University.

    Presenting:

    Moritz Bächer
    Associate Lab Director of Disney Research

    Moritz Bächer is the Associate Lab Director of Disney’s Zurich-based robotics team, where he leads a strategic program focusing on the development of novel model- and learning-based tools for the design and control of believable robotic characters. His core expertise is the optimal design and control of both soft and rigid systems, using a combination of differentiable simulation and reinforcement learning. Prior to joining Disney, Moritz received his Ph.D. from the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and his master’s degree from ETH Zurich.

    Presenting:

    Liv Boeree
    Science Communicator & Poker Champion

    A self-confessed nerd with a first class degree in astrophysics, Liv combined her science background and passion for games to become one of the most recognizable faces in professional poker. She was the number one ranked female player from 2014-2016, and holds both European Poker Tour and World Series of Poker championship titles after winning more than $4 million on the international circuit.

    Liv is also a keen philanthropist, and in 2014 co-founded Raising for Effective Giving (REG), a research and advisory non-profit that uses the philosophies and strategies of effective altruism to identify and raise money for the most globally impactful charities.

    Since retiring from professional poker in 2018, Liv is now focused on education, keen to inspire others with the rational thinking techniques she has learned through both poker and effective altruism.

    Presenting:

    Mark Moyou
    Sr. Data Scientist & Solutions Architect, NVIDIA

    Dr. Mark Moyou Senior Data Scientist at NVIDIA working with enterprise clients on AI strategy and deploying machine learning applications to production. He is the host of the Caribbean Tech Pioneers Podcast, The AI Portfolio Podcast and is the Director of the Optimized Ai Conference.

    Presenting:

    Martin Kihn
    Sr. Vice President of Product Strategy, Salesforce

    Martin Kihn is senior vice president of strategy for Salesforce Marketing Cloud, working with global enterprises on data strategy and execution. Before joining Salesforce, Marty led the data-driven marketing practice as research vice president at Gartner, focusing on data integration and analytics. He was previously vice president and director of strategy and analytics at Digitas. Marty is widely known as a thought leader, speaker and frequent contributor to publications such as AdExchanger, ZDNet, Forbes and the New York Times. His first book, “House of Lies,” was the basis for a Showtime series. His latest book, releasing in September 2024 through Wiley publishing, is titled, “Customer 360: How Data, AI and Trust Change Everything.”

    Presenting:

    Mike Bechtel
    Chief Futurist, Deloitte Consulting LLP

    As chief futurist for Deloitte Consulting LLP, Mike and his team work to make sense of what’s new and next in tech. Their goal: Helping today’s leaders arrive at their preferred tomorrows slightly ahead of schedule. He also serves as an adjunct professor teaching corporate innovation at the University of Notre Dame. In 2013, Mike co-founded and served as managing director of Ringleader Ventures, a venture capital firm investing in early-stage startups that had (intentionally or not) built simple solutions to complex corporate challenges. Mike began his career in technology R&D where he was awarded 12 U.S. patents.

    Presenting:

    Tim Brooks
    Managing Director and Chief AI Advisor, World Wide Technology

    Tim has 25 years of innovation experience at start-ups, early growth companies and established enterprise organizations. He specializes in data strategy, AI solutions and platform transformations that leverage data. Tim’s expertise includes digital and customer experience strategy, service design and partner ecosystem development.

    At World Wide Technology, Tim serves as co-founder and managing director of World Wide Technology’s consulting services and solution engineering practice, where he leads solution development activities for AI solutions and data strategy. Under his leadership, World Wide Technology has been recognized for seven consecutive years as NVIDIA’s AI Solutions Partner of the Year and has delivered nearly 100 working AI solutions to Fortune 500 customers during the last nine years while growing a team from four consultants to 350 data scientists, data engineers, consultants and delivery specialists.

    Presenting:

    Presentations

    Associate Lab Director of Disney Research
    Breathing Life into Disney’s Robotic Characters with Deep Reinforcement Learning

    At Disney, we are fundamentally rethinking what entertainment robotics means to this world. In this talk, we will provide insight into the robotic character platform Disney is developing to enable the rapid design of legged robotic characters that learn to imitate artist-specified animations with a combination of deep reinforcement learning and GPU-accelerated simulation. We will also showcase live for attendees the first characters developed with this platform – our BDX series droids.

    Please note that overflow seating for this session is available in rooms Fiesta 5 & 6.

    Innovation Expert & Artificial Intelligence Thought Leader; Professor of Entrepreneurship, The Wharton School
    From Disruption to Opportunity: Embracing the AI Revolution

    In this thought-provoking speech, join Wharton Professor Ethan Mollick as he dives into the highly discussed, transformative realm of AI. Discover how AI, including chatbot technologies like ChatGPT, has disrupted our work and our entire way of life, leaving an indelible mark akin to the advent of the internet. Rather than fight the current we're already in, Ethan shifts the conversation towards a more pivotal question: How can we thoughtfully and consciously embrace AI to propel innovation and shape our future?

    Please note that overflow seating for this session is available in rooms Fiesta 5 & 6.

    Science Communicator & Poker Champion
    Applying Poker Strategies to Business & Life

    This year's closing keynote will be delivered by self-confessed nerd, keen philanthropist and retired professional poker player, Liv Boeree. Learn from Liv's professional poker and effective altruism experience as she seeks to inspire others with techniques for rational thinking.

    Sr. Data Scientist & Solutions Architect, NVIDIA
    Chief Futurist, Deloitte Consulting LLP
    Human After All – AI as Force Multiplier for Human Ambitions

    In an age of intelligent and creative machines, intelligent and creative people matter more, not less. With AI out of “the lab” and into the real world, it’s our shared privilege (and responsibility) as business leaders to shape a future that puts human ingenuity, empathy and initiative in the spotlight. Join Deloitte’s Chief Futurist, Mike Bechtel, and NVIDIA’s Senior Data Scientist and Solutions Architect, Mark Moyou, as they illustrate how humans and machines are already working together to help us arrive at our preferred tomorrows, slightly ahead of schedule.

    Deloitte & NVIDIA are Platinum Plus Sponsors of DDAC

    Managing Director and Chief AI Advisor, World Wide Technology
    From Experimentation to AI at Scale

    AI is enabling profound changes for early adopters.

    As organizations move from AI experimentation to scaling AI across business functions, there are a host of strategic decisions to make about platforms, data fabric, governance, security, performance, adoption, compliance and return on investment.

    This session will share WWT’s observations from leading dozens of significant customer AI transformations across multiple industries during the past 10 years, including gaming, retail, financial services and mining enterprises.

    What you will learn:

    • Buy. Build. Customize. Partner. How to organize your AI strategy.
    • ROI vs ROIQ – which metric is best for your organization?
    • Successful AI transformation is not a project; success requires a product-centric approach.
    • AI Silos of Experimentation, AI Centers of Excellence and AI Federations of Expertise – which model is right for you?
    • A peek at the near future - how AI is maturing from augmentation and automation to agency.

    World Wide Technology is a Platinum Plus sponsor of DDAC

    Sr. Vice President of Product Strategy, Salesforce
    How AI + Data + CRM + Trust is Transforming Customer Engagement

    Companies today are looking to AI to unlock new innovations and gain a strategic advantage. Bridging the trust gap between this cutting-edge technology and the practical application of data-driven experiences is key. Achieving success in this dynamic environment requires an enterprise AI strategy that combines AI with unified and harmonized data and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) to improve customer experience and engagement.

    In this session, Salesforce Strategy Senior Vice President and former Gartner thought leader Martin Kihn will share how leading companies combine AI + Data + CRM to build a next-gen customer engagement engine on a trusted platform. Join us to gain valuable insights, real-world examples, and practical strategies to empower your organization to connect with your customers in a whole new way.

    Vice President of Sales Engineering, MicroStrategy
    Upping Your Impact: AI and BI Extended Use Case

    Join us to discover how AI and emerging tech can elevate your role within your organization. In this session, we'll dive into extended use cases of AI, serving up fresh ideas to supercharge your efficiency, productivity and overall awesomeness. Whether you're optimizing operations, crafting marketing campaigns, enhancing guest experiences, or innovating within different divisions, we'll provide you with the insights on how AI can make you the hero of your team.

    MicroStrategy is a Gold Sponsor of DDAC

    Sr. Director, Enterprise Reporting Professional Services, Bread Financial
    Vice President of Loyalty & Analytics, Rite Aid
    Vice President, Data Transformation, Factspan
    Fostering Data-Driven Culture: Overcoming Challenges and Strategies for Organizational Growth

    Benefits of data-driven decision making include improved accuracy in predictions and forecasts, enhanced operational efficiency, better resource allocation, more targeted marketing and customer service strategies and overall competitive advantage.

    However, many organizations continue to struggle with driving a culture of data-driven decision making. In this session we will address factors which inhibit growth of this culture, what actions, best practices and tools can be adopted to overcome these challenges and grow your organization's data literacy which in-turn will drive data-driven decision making.

    Factspan is a Gold Sponsor of DDAC

    Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer, Conviva
    Measuring Magic: Delivering Delightful Guest Experiences with Operational Data

    To be an operational data hero, you need to be the first to know (and the first to know why) when issues impact guest experience. It requires speed, scale and efficiency to act instantly when any of your millions of users need you. Join our conversation to discover how the latest trends in operational data can make you the hero of tomorrow.

    Uncover the capabilities you need to find and eliminate the issues leaking revenue, conversion and engagement. Today's operational data heroes need to: - Natively correlate user action and system performance data at internet scale
    - Conduct deep root-cause analysis on real-time and historical data - Leverage AI-powered alerting across millions of user cohorts

    Conviva is a Gold Sponsor of DDAC

    EY Americas Data and Analytics Leader, EY
    Data to Dollars

    Traci Gusher, EY Americas AI and Data Leader, will outline how organizations should be planning to drive value from their data. She will delve into different ways data can drive value, the challenges of transforming data into a strategic asset and unlocking new revenue streams. This session will also cover strategies to bridge the capability gap, ensuring companies will be equipped to harness data for a competitive edge.

    Sr. Vice President of Business Development, 10up
    Chief Technology Officer, WordPress VIP
    Vice President of Data Science & Analytics, News Corp
    Vice President, Marketing, WordPress VIP
    Crafting Enchanting Customer Journeys with AI and Data

    Imagine a world where businesses effortlessly conjure the perfect customer journey, with precise personalization in every single interaction. In this panel discussion, we'll reveal the secrets behind using AI and analytics to captivate customers at every marketing touchpoint.

    Our panel of data-driven wizards will unveil the real-world potential of generative AI and advanced analytics in transforming the customer journey. By tapping into the hidden charms of data, you'll weave unified, seamless and enchanting customer experiences.

    During our session, you will hear about:
    - Integrating diverse data sources to create an all-knowing, all-seeing view of your customers. - Tapping into artificial intelligence to help predict and fulfill customer desires and needs with clairvoyant-like accuracy. - Leveraging key digital transformation tools and strategies to craft compelling digital experiences that leave customers spellbound (but coming back for more).

    WordPress VIP is a Gold Sponsor of DDAC

    Vice President of Product Management for Business Analytics, IBM
    Partner, DTT Service Line Leader, Industrial and Communications Sector, IBM Consulting
    Increase Productivity Across Your Business with Generative AI and BI Assistants

    In a recent study, we found that 64% of CEOs today say they face significant pressure from investors, creditors, and lenders to accelerate adoption of generative AI. But there is a great deal of confusion about where and how generative AI will drive the greatest value for enterprise. Enterprises will derive the greatest value from generative AI by addressing high impact use cases that change the way business users make decisions. Join Deepthi Bollu and Alvin Francis as they explore how generative AI is changing the game for customer experience, digital labor, app dev & IT ops, and business intelligence.

    IBM is a Gold Sponsor of DDAC

    Director of Streamlit & Product Experiences, Snowflake, and Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer, Streamlit
    Iterative Data Science with Streamlit, Snowflake and LLMs

    Come hear about the latest innovations from Snowflake and Streamlit that make it incredibly easy to spin up apps and notebooks that let you experiment with and ship LLM-backed products. We'll go through latest features and upcoming innovations as well as real examples from other customers that you can start using today.

    Snowflake is a Gold Sponsor of DDAC

    Sr. Vice President of Data & AI, Globant
    Chief Digital Officer, Globant
    Vice President of Clinical Informatics & Technology Innovation, HCA Healthcare
    AI's Renaissance: A Dynamic Shift for Business and Society

    Generative AI has emerged as a critical focus area for businesses and is even being integrated into the daily lives of consumers. The advent of this groundbreaking technology is brimming with innovative possibilities and will unlock business benefits across industries. In this panel, executives from Globant and HCA Healthcare will discuss AI’s present and future, including:

    • Strategies for integrating AI into business operations for maximum efficiency.
    • How businesses can best prepare for widespread AI adoption.
    • Predictions for future AI trends and developments.
    • Practical examples of AI applications that are enhancing consumer experiences.

    Globant is a Gold Sponsor of DDAC

    Sr. AI Global Black Belt, Microsoft
    Global Analytics Specialist, Microsoft
    Using Multimodal AI Solutions to Generate Structured Data for Enterprise Analytics

    In today’s data-driven landscape, the convergence of data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) holds immense potential. Data analytics often relies on structured data to quickly gain useful insights, patterns and trends, but what if the source of that data starts is an image or video stream? AI brings the ability to derive structure from unstructured sources, generating new data which can then be consumed by enterprise analytics platforms to provide deeper insights.

    Come see how streaming unstructured data, such as video, can be consumed by multimodal AI models to provide real, consumable data for enterprise analytics consumers and used with everyday tools like Power BI.

    Microsoft is a Gold Sponsor of DDAC

    Executive Director, ProbabilityManagement.org and Author
    Curing the Flaw of Averages by Connecting Decision Makers to Stochastic Data (Without Triggering Post Traumatic Statistics Disorder)

    The Flaw of Averages occurs when decisions in the face of uncertainty are based on single number estimates instead of probabilities. Stochastic data improves this situation in three ways:

    1. Division of Labor: Data scientists can generate stochastic data for use by decision makers just as power engineers generate electricity for use in lightbulbs.
    2. Modularity: The modularity of stochastic data allows for Lego block as opposed to sandcastle architecture.
    3. Speed: Because much of the computation can be done in advance and stored in stochastic data, the speed of user interaction may be increased by orders of magnitude.
    Sr. Manager, Business Insights & Analytics, The Walt Disney Company
    Manager, Growth Strategy Subscription Services, The Walt Disney Company
    Free Solo: Summiting the World of Social with National Geographic

    Social media generates a monolith of data - a precipice of metrics that threatens to knock us off course. National Geographic embraces the climb. This 136-year-old publisher is the number one brand on social media, with 785 million followers.

    With a paywall launch in 2019, National Geographic introduced a new set of conversion-based KPIs to the social universe. Since then, National Geographic has honed its strategy, leveraging data to drive deeper relationships with a new generation of fans.

    In this presentation, learn to cut through the clutter of vanity metrics to focus on what matters and develop data-driven collaboration between teams to increase engagement and drive off-platform conversions among younger consumers.

    Vice President, Content Planning & Analysis - Walt Disney Studios, The Walt Disney Company
    Sr. Vice President, Content Planning & Analysis, The Walt Disney Company
    How Far We'll Go! How Streaming Measures Franchise Success

    Disney is the home of many beloved characters and franchises that fans want to return to again and again. But that could be hard to do - movies leave theatres, Blu-rays leave shelves, and there used to be no single way to find out where to watch or stream a movie or show at home. That all changed with Disney+ and Hulu, which provides subscribers a unique offering where all our characters and shows live in one place. Join us as we uncover the dynamics of our audiences' engagement with our brands, drive incremental engagement with our content on streaming platforms, and feed fans' fleeting appetite as soon as the hunger strikes.

    Principle Sports Data Scientist, The Walt Disney Company
    May the 4th (Downs) Be With You

    The use of analytics in mainstream football coverage is years in the making, the roots of which date back nearly two decades. Former Navy fighter pilot Brian Burke was there at the beginning, having solved the 4th-down problem in 2008. Now a sports data scientist at ESPN, he remains at the forefront of decision analysis in football. Brian will discuss how he cracked the problem, how NFL teams apply his approach and how ESPN uses the analysis on its biggest platforms, including Monday Night Football and the College Football Playoff.

    Chair in Business Administration & Sr. Associate Dean, Darden School of Business, University of Virginia
    Decision Making with Ordinal Ratings

    Experts often provide judgments on an ordinal scale, which are easy to generate and are intuitive. Ordinal ratings, however, are not trivial to aggregate across multiple experts, as they provide neither the strict preference ordering of a ranking, nor the intensity of preference of cardinal scores. In addition, ordinal rating judgments often map to a broad set of outcomes, which are not expressed through the ordinal, discrete set of choices elicited. In this way, ordinal rating also neglects to express the degree of uncertainty that may exist when rankings are interpreted as forecasts. This presentation will offer a framework for mapping ordinal ratings to continuous forecasts, allowing for the ratings to be aggregated and represent the uncertainty that may exist in the submissions. Finally, our framework allows for rendering the aggregate distributional forecasts back to the original ordinal scale, providing again an intuitive set of judgements, to be used by the decision maker. We demonstrate our framework in the context of a National Football League (NFL) scout's assessments of players' performances. These assessments, treated as forecasts, are utilized by general managers when making player selections in the annual NFL draft.

    Sr. Manager - Food & Beverage Business Insights & Analytics, The Walt Disney Company
    Revenue Management Manager, The Walt Disney Company
    Accessibility in Analytics

    Differences in thought patterns, approaches, communication styles and skill sets can strengthen an analytical team. In the first part of this presentation, we will discuss practical ways to leverage the strengths and special abilities of individuals on your team through inclusive leadership.

    Next, we will share how to help make your dashboards accessible by implementing features such as alternative text for images, clear and concise data labels, proper color contrast and keyboard navigation. Gain tips on how to format your code in a way that is compatible with screen readers and other assistive technology.

    Business Integration Manager II, The Walt Disney Company
    Manager - Research Systems, The Walt Disney Company
    Turning Data Inside Out: Creating Core Memories

    How does storytelling with data make you feel? Joyful? Afraid? Anxious? We all have unique experiences, knowledge, skills, and abilities that guide our interpretation of the world. When conducting research or analyzing data, sometimes we are guided by beliefs, assumptions, feelings, or hunches, because we think we know what needs to be done to drive change. By being aware of various biases that exist, you'll be equipped to critically take a step back when analyzing data and avoid being derailed by your own train of thought.

    In this session, we will create core memories for how to be objective when storytelling with data by:

    • Enhancing awareness of data biases that cloud effective decision-making
    • Promoting critical thinking to ask the right questions
    • Providing skills to step back and objectively evaluate and analyze data

    This methodological foundation will enhance your awareness of data biases, encourage critical thinking, prioritize the right questions, and build more effective storytelling.

    Principal Project Controls Estimator, The Walt Disney Company
    Sr. Manager of Decision Science, The Walt Disney Company
    Customer Experience Manager, The Walt Disney Company
    Director, Customer Experience & Commercial Intelligence, The Walt Disney Company
    Guide Dog, Hailey Skoglund
    Spark Creations: Unleash the Innovators Within You

    Discover how innovative employees from The Walt Disney Company harness the transformative power of creativity at work. Join us as we listen to the inspiring stories of panelists from Disney Corporate and Disney Experiences who have brought innovations to life through visionary thinking, nurturing leadership and fostering inclusivity. Through the panelists' diverse perspectives, attendees will explore the importance of employing a creative mindset at work, leaving with renewed inspiration and actionable insights.

    Analyst, Business Development & Innovation, The Walt Disney Company
    Sr. Analyst Business Development & Innovation, The Walt Disney Company
    Animating the Game: The Evolution of Volumetric Tracking in Sports Broadcasting

    Over the years, volumetric and animated telecasts have undergone a significant evolution, transforming the landscape of sports broadcasting and entertainment. Through advanced data tracking, traditional linear events can now evolve into immersive experiences that blend cutting-edge technology with creative storytelling. Examples like the NHL Big City Greens Classic and Toy Story Funday Football showcase this evolution and push the boundaries of what is possible in live sports programming. These telecasts combine the excitement of the game with animated elements from fans favorite IP, captivating viewers of all ages. Our goal is to demonstrate the rapid advancement of this technology, challenges faced during production and envision the future of animated telecasts.

    Content Director, Disney Institute
    Five Ways to Balance People and Business, Disney Style

    Leaders across all organizations oversee both people and business. Disney equally prioritizes the focus on leading both people and the business. This dual prioritization is the critical success factor for how Disney creates a culture where employees thrive and drive creative, customer-driven, story-based experiences that can result in an increase in business results. Not convinced? You'll get the business case behind why a people-focused organization thrives. You'll also hear powerful insights and immersive stories from Disney Institute professionals and other Disney leaders who have lived the Disney approach. You'll leave with great ideas and impactful tips to take back and help you as a leader take action immediately.

    Professor, University of Wisconsin - Madison
    The Beauty and Challenge of Pushing the Limits of Data Analytics

    Data analytics plays a pivotal role in solving some of our most complex challenges and boosting the global economy. In this presentation, we will explore the boundless possibilities of data analytics and the latest trends shaping the field, showcasing real-world applications spanning transportation, critical infrastructure protection and public health. Attendees will gain insights into the beauty of data analytics and optimization, demonstrating how academic research translates into tangible benefits for communities worldwide.

    Sr. Manager - Digital Analytics, The Walt Disney Company
    It's About Time! Investigating How We Analyze, Utilize and Experience Time

    What time is it? It’s time for a session about time!

    Time is ever present, difficult to define, flies while having fun and is sometimes wasted. This session investigates how time impacts the way you analyze data, how you prioritize your daily demands and how you can get the most from each minute of every day. So, turn on your time circuits and join a room full of curious explorers as we travel one second per second, for forty minutes into the future to discover how time influences our professional endeavors and personal lives. You’re all but guaranteed to have a good time!

    Product Demos

    Data Observability: How Akamai Provides Real-Time Streaming Data Insights on all Time Stamped Data

    Akamai Connected Cloud and TrafficPeak can detect and address performance and security issues proactively, BEFORE they impact your users. Retain more data for longer at a fraction of the cost compared to other providers.

    Akamai is a Silver Sponsor of DDAC

    The Next Generation of Digital Analytics

    Organizations have been utilizing the same legacy digital analytics products for decades. During that time, the world has changed. Marketing analytics is transforming into product analytics and legacy digital analytics tools haven’t kept up. Leading digital native organizations are choosing Amplitude - the undisputed leader in product analytics - as part of modern data stacks. Amplitude offers newer analytics tech, unparalleled self-service capabilities, integrated session replay and an open system that integrates easily with other technologies. In this session, Adam Greco, author of a book on Adobe Analytics, will explain why the industry is shifting and why large organizations are switching to more modern digital analytics products like Amplitude.

    Amplitude is a Silver Sponsor of DDAC

    Dalmatians and Data: Discover Their Secret Link and How We’re Connecting the Spots

    Businesses need to use their data effectively to spot the latest trends, stay ahead and work efficiently. The key is to set up AI solutions that are simple, but powerful enough to enhance decision making, speed up problem-solving and reimagine your operations.

    Introducing Capgemini’s RAISE – Reliable AI Solution Engineering. RAISE is a tool that helps businesses swiftly and smoothly integrate AI into their operations. It works with your current systems to support AI-driven decisions and innovation. With RAISE, you get faster results and lower costs, all while ensuring reliability and scalability.

    With RAISE, Capgemini’s clients can enhance their AI capabilities, leading to smarter operations and better outcomes. Join us to see how RAISE can turn your data into useful insights, connecting the spots to reveal the bigger picture.

    Capgemini is a Silver Sponsor of DDAC

    Cloudera - The Hybrid Data Platform for Edge to AI

    A lot has changed in the world of data over the years, from the big data revolution with distributed computing to the most recent wave of Generative AI. Through this evolution, Cloudera has remained a trusted partner for some of the world’s largest enterprises, delivering data solutions that meet the most demanding requirements.

    Today, Cloudera stands out by offering the world's only Hybrid Data Platform. This platform provides purpose-built data services for every stage of the data lifecycle, from the edge to AI. Join us in this session to discover the transformative benefits of a platform with fully integrated data services, enabling you to build and deploy solutions tailored to your specific requirements.

    Whether you need air-gapped security on premises for highly sensitive data, or highly elastic and undefined resource needs best suited for deployment in the public cloud, Cloudera has you covered.

    With Cloudera's Hybrid Data Platform, your organization can build projects once and deploy them anywhere, ensuring flexibility, security and efficiency across all environments.

    Cloudera is a Silver Sponsor of DDAC

    Generative AI Digital Assistants in the Enterprise

    Build an ethical and secure digital assistant interface to elevate customer and employee experiences, providing personalized interactions with natural facial expressions, gestures and various languages—trained on domain and company-specific datasets. The fully integrated solution uses NVIDIA ACE for lip sync and facial animation, bringing next-level realism to digital assistants for more immersive interactions.

    Unlocking the Potential with EPAM's Data Product and AI Factory

    Experience how EPAM's Data Product Factory is revolutionizing the data landscape, turning fragmented information into a unified, high-quality asset. This engaging demo will showcase how our embedded governance ensures data quality and trust, breaking down silos for seamless data integration.

    Discover the transformative benefits of our Data Product Factory through enhanced self-service analytics, interactive "talk to your data" capabilities, and rapid prototyping of insightful reports and dashboards. See how this robust data foundation supports the creation of powerful AI agents, including live concierge services, customer service bots, claims registration and more.

    Join us to explore how EPAM's solutions elevate data utilization and AI integration, driving operational excellence and innovation. Witness the transformation that our Data Product Factory can bring to your organization, setting new standards for data-driven decision-making and customer engagement. Don't miss this opportunity to see how we can help your organization harness the power of data and AI to create memorable experiences.

    EPAM is a Silver Sponsor of DDAC

    LiveRamp Clean Room Powered by Habu: Accelerating Value and Business Growth

    In today’s dynamic advertising landscape, data, measurement and privacy take center stage. Clean rooms have emerged as a game-changing technology to uncover new audience insights, drive more strategic partnerships and trans- form the customer experience at greater speed and scale.

    Join LiveRamp’s Ted Flanagan, Habu Chief Customer Officer, to learn how the LiveRamp Clean Room powered by Habu, enables:

    • Media companies and other data owners to easily scale analytics for their advertisers through templated queries, visualizations and automa- tion to improve campaign optimization, performance and sales growth

    • Advertisers to gain secure access to high-value datasets and pre-pack- aged insights across media companies, CTV, retail media and social part- ners for smarter insights, activation and measurement

    • Seamless connection to any partner, across any cloud – unifying mea- surement across the advertising ecosystem

    LiveRamp is a Silver Sponsor of DDAC

    The Future of AI with Qubika's Compound Model AI System

    Experience the future of AI with Qubika’s Compound Model AI System, a
    breakthrough in intelligent computing. Designed for versatile applications,
    our system seamlessly integrates multiple specialized AI models to deliver
    accuracy and performance.

    Whether you’re optimizing complex workflows, analyzing large datasets or en- hancing your product, Qubika’s AI system adapts dynamically to meet diverse demands. It combines the strengths of neural networks, RAGs and data plat- forms, ensuring comprehensive solutions across industries.

    Join us for a live demonstration to see how Qubika’s innovation can acceler- ate your business, drive efficiency and unlock new opportunities. Discover the power of a truly integrated AI ecosystem.

    Qubika is a Silver Sponsor of DDAC

    SAP + UiPath(r): Analytics and Automation Better Together

    Discover how SAP Analytics Cloud and UiPath(r) Intelligent Automation can help customers elevate and automate Planning and Analysis capabilities. Speakers will demonstrate the benefits of SAP Analytics Cloud and UiPath Intelligent Automation and discuss how they are better together.

    SAP & UiPath are Silver Sponsors of DDAC

    Set Up Your Data Catalog in a Day with Generative AI

    Join us for a 20-minute demo session to explore Select Star, an intelligent data catalog and data lineage platform. Learn how companies use Select Star for data migration, data democratization and cost optimization for their data cloud.

    Select Star automatically analyzes and documents your metadata, providing a user-friendly data portal for your team. In this session, we will demonstrate how Select Star's data catalog, column-level lineage tracking, usage analysis and AI assistants can streamline your data discovery and data governance for your team.

    Don't forget to visit our booth #514 and learn how Select Star can serve as a co-pilot for your data team!

    Select Star is a Silver Sponsor of DDAC

    Future-Proof Your Data Pipelines with Advanced Automation

    Integrate diverse data sources, maintain real-time data flow, and ensure centralized control and observability — it's all possible with Stonebranch Universal Automation Center (UAC). Learn how to replace fragmented automation with a streamlined, end-to-end solution that includes event-based triggers, automated managed file transfers, and detailed monitoring. Through practical demonstrations, we'll show how UAC empowers DataOps teams to enhance efficiency, reduce errors, and optimize performance. Embrace the future of data pipeline management with a robust, scalable approach that adapts to evolving enterprise needs.

    Stonebranch is a Silver Sponsor of DDAC

    Previous Speakers

    Thomas Mazloum
    President, New Experiences Portfolio and Disney Signature Experiences

    Thomas Mazloum is the president of New Experiences Portfolio and Disney Signature Experiences, leading several key growth businesses for the Disney Experiences segment and inspiring teams around the world to deliver the company's unparalleled family vacations. Based in Celebration, Florida, Thomas oversees Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, Adventures by Disney, National Geographic Expeditions, Golden Oak, Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Disney Institute, National Geographic Live and Storyliving by Disney.

    Before being named to his current role, Mazloum served as senior vice president of operations at the Walt Disney World Resort, overseeing 30 Disney resort hotels as well as premium services, security and transportation operations at one of the world's premier vacation destination.

    At Disney Cruise Line, Thomas is responsible for the entire award-winning operation, including the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and Disney Wish cruise ships, as well as Castaway Cay (Disney's private island in the Bahamas) and Disney's Port Canaveral cruise terminal. He also oversees the much-anticipated expansion of Disney's cruise fleet, with three new ships on the horizon, all of them showcasing the immersive family entertainment, enchanting storytelling and world-class service for which Disney is well known.

    Thomas also leads the team at Disney Vacation Club, the company's popular vacation-ownership program. The club offers a portfolio of 15 themed resorts, from its newest property, Disney's Riviera Resort, to Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii, to properties across Walt Disney World Resort, at Disneyland Resort and in Vero Beach, Florida and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. His other responsibilities include Adventures by Disney and National Geographic Expeditions, the company's guided group travel businesses; Golden Oak, Disney's luxury whole-ownership community of custom homes at Walt Disney World Resort; and Disney Institute and National Geographic Live, which celebrate advancement and exploration through engaging and enriching programming.

    In addition, Thomas is responsible for the development of a newly launched business, Storyliving by Disney. These master planned communities are intended to inspire residents to foster new friendships, pursue their interests and write the next exciting chapter in their lives – all while enjoying the attention to detail, unique amenities and special touches that are Disney hallmarks. The first Storyliving by Disney community, Cotino, is being built in Rancho Mirage, California. Additional locations in the U.S. are under exploration for future development.

    Thomas began his Disney career in 1998 as a hotel director for Disney Cruise Line and was instrumental in launching the Disney Wonder, the second ship in the Disney fleet. He later served as general manager of Food & Beverage and Special Events at EPCOT. Before returning to Disney in 2017, Thomas served as the chief operating officer of Crystal Cruise Line, leading efforts to define “The Crystal Experience,” a concept that would set the bar for luxury vacations, with a focus on nurturing a positive employee culture.

    Born in Austria, Thomas earned his degree in hotel management and administration in Innsbruck. A lifelong learner, he has also received several business certifications from institutions including Cornell University, the Hotel School of Lausanne and the Hotel School of Salzburg.

    Presented:

    • From Ear to Eternity: Using Data to Unlock Your Imagination


    Shingai Manjengwa
    Head of AI Education, ChainML

    Shingai Manjengwa is the head of AI education at ChainML, a startup building an open-source platform for the rapid and responsible development of generative AI tools. She is also the founder of Fireside Analytics Inc., a data science education company that develops customized programs to teach digital and AI literacy, data science, bias and fairness in machine learning, and computer programming to various audiences.

    A data scientist by profession, Shingai previously led Technical Education at the Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Toronto, where she translated advanced AI research into educational programming to drive AI adoption and innovation in industry and government.

    Shingai’s online courses have over 500,000 registered learners on platforms like IBM’s CognitiveClass.ai and Coursera. Her book, "The Computer and the Cancelled Music Lessons," teaches data science to kids from ages 5 to 12.

    She was one of the DMZ’s Women of the Year in 2022 and is the recipient of the 2023 Womxn in Data Science Guiding Light Award. You can find Shingai on LinkedIn and Twitter: @Tjido.

    Presented:

    • From Analytics to AI: Building Successful Teams in a Rapidly Changing World


    Ozan Varol
    Rocket Scientist Turned Professor, Bestselling Author & Expert on Creativity & Critical Thinking

    Ozan is a rocket scientist turned award-winning professor, #1 bestselling author and internationally acclaimed speaker. He is one of the world’s foremost experts in creativity, innovation and critical thinking.

    Ozan has been called a “true original” by Adam Grant and dubbed a “superhero” by Dan Pink. His work has been described as “must read” by Susan Cain and featured in the Wall Street Journal, Time, BBC, CNN, Fast Company, Washington Post and more. His books and articles have been read by millions around the globe.

    He’s the author of two bestselling books, "Awaken Your Genius" and "Think Like a Rocket Scientist." The books have been translated into 25 foreign languages and received numerous accolades, including being selected as:

    - One of Amazon's Top 20 business books of the year

    - Adam Grant’s # 1 pick of his top 20 leadership books of the year

    - One of Inc.com’s “6 Business Books You Need to Read This Year (according to Bill Gates, Satya Nadella, and Adam Grant)”

    - One of 6 Groundbreaking Books of Spring 2020 (according to Malcolm Gladwell, Susan Cain, Dan Pink, and Adam Grant)

    Presented:

    • Reimagine the Status Quo with Moonshot Thinking