2026 Chicago CDAO Community Executive Summit

CDAOChicago CDAO CommunityChicago CDAO Programs

Collaborate with your peers

Get together with Chicago's top CDAOs to tackle shared business challenges and critical priorities facing your role today. Participate in this one-day, local program with peer-driven topics and interactive discussions with your true C-level peers.

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

Prioritize Practical AI Adoption for Business Value and Outcomes

Strengthen AI Governance to Ensure Compliance and Manage Risks

Cultivate Leadership and Culture to Drive Organizational Transformation

Governing Body Co-Chairs

Abhi Bhatt

CarMax Inc
VP, Technology - Data & AI

Kristina Chambers

TTX
CDAO

Sid Raina

Medline
VP & Global Head of Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics

Vijay Rajandram

Northern Trust
CDO

What to Expect

Interactive Sessions

Hear from CDAO practitioners and thought leaders on how they're solving critical challenges impacting your role today in Keynote sessions, and join smaller, interactive discussions with your peers in Breakout and Boardroom sessions.

Community Networking

Make new connections and catch up with old friends in casual conversations during dedicated time for networking designed to better acquaint you with your Chicago CDAO community.

Peer-to-Peer Meetings

Connect with like-minded peers in a private, one-on-one setting through Peer-to-Peer Meetings. You will be matched with peers in your community based on your shared interests and priorities.

Agenda

Executive Boardroom Session

Open Data Infrastructure — Next-Gen Data Architecture

Open Data Infrastructure is essential for organizations in the AI era, helping leaders scale analytics and AI while maintaining control. CDAOs must balance innovation, flexibility and cost as data platforms expand.

Join this session to learn about:

Designing interoperable architectures to avoid lock-in
Applying openness to semantics, metadata and governance
Enabling AI and operations with flexibility and cost transparency

Breakout Sessions

Trends vs. Truth — Focusing on What Works

Achieving real value from AI depends on addressing specific organizational challenges rather than following industry trends. Success is driven by clear data standards, cross-functional collaboration, and rigorous evaluation of technology projects. Focusing on measurable outcomes ensures that AI initiatives support genuine business needs.

Join this session to learn more about:

Establish data standards that support trusted decision-making
Prioritize AI investments using a problem-first approach
Align business and technology teams around measurable value

Stop Building Tools No One Uses

Integrating AI directly into operational workflows transforms routine documentation and reporting into seamless, user-friendly experiences. Success comes from building platforms that prioritize real user needs, foster organic adoption and bridge gaps in data literacy. By focusing on practical solutions and learning from past missteps, organizations can create tools that people genuinely want to use.

Join this session to learn more about:

Embed intelligence into daily workflows to simplify and standardize critical tasks
Design for product-market fit by solving real problems for users
Promote adoption through education, feedback and honest lessons from failure

Apply to Participate

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Each application is carefully vetted to ensure members meet established criteria, preserving the quality of the network and enabling meaningful, peer‑level discussions among leaders from the world’s leading organizations.

Once you submit your application, a Community Program Manager will schedule a conversation to understand your priorities and interests and complete onboarding, including access to year‑round community events.