2026 Chicago CIO Community Inner Circle

CIOChicago CIO CommunityChicago CIO Programs

Collaborate with your peers

Join Chicago's top CIOs for an intimate networking dinner and facilitated discussion on key business challenges. Enjoy a relaxed evening of dinner and drinks with your peers to share best practices, make new connections and build professional relationships.

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

Assuming leadership of cross-functional AI adoption

Achieving operational resilience through strategic agility and risk management

Uncovering real value from technology investments

Governing Body Co-Chairs

Agenda

September 1, 2026

4:30pm - 5:30pm Executive Networking Reception

5:30pm - 6:30pm Discussion Topics

Pivoting Under Pressure – Strategic Shifts for Organizational Agility

CIO success in the months ahead will depend on strategic pivots rather than static plans, as economic and geopolitical turbulence persists and AI becomes a cornerstone of IT strategies. Despite these complexities, IT budgets are expected to grow only marginally in 2026. CIOs will face sustained pressures to improve employee productivity and translate those gains into measurable financial impact.

To succeed, CIOs must know how—and when—to decisively terminate underperforming projects, weigh global versus local vendor trade-offs, and mitigate risk in a complex regulatory environment.

Discussion Questions:

How can CIOs ensure AI investments deliver measurable financial impact—not just efficiency gains?
What proven approaches convert employee productivity gains into measurable business value?
What strategies enable CIOs to continuously reprioritize IT initiatives amid ongoing disruption?
How should sourcing strategies adapt to new digital sovereignty laws and geopolitical risks?

6:30pm - 7:00pm Networking Break

7:00pm - 8:00pm Summary Discussion & Dinner

8:00pm - 9:00pm Social Hour

Apply to Participate

Already a Member? Sign In

Apply to participate in the Chicago CIO Community Inner Circle.

Gartner facilitates exclusive, C-level communities by personally qualifying and understanding the priorities, challenges and interests of each member.

Our selective approach maintains the high quality of the network and ensures top-level discussions with peers from the world’s leading organizations.

Each application will be reviewed, and once your participation is confirmed, you will have access to year-round community programs.

Community Member Criteria

To ensure peer connections and conversations at the highest level, members must meet the following criteria:

- C-level or senior most executive for respective function

- Organization revenue of $500M+

Exceptions are considered.

I meet the criteria above

I would still like to be considered

My contact information is….

First Name*

Last Name*

Organization*

Title*

Corporate Email Address*

Best Contact Number*

Organization Revenue *

You agree to our Privacy Policy and T&Cs, which includes sharing your contact details with your peers and sponsors.

Form contains errors, please review the above

Step

Location

Venue

The Metropolitan

Community Program Manager

For inquiries related to this community, please reach out to your dedicated contact.

Heather Ebner

Sr. Community Program Manager

heather.ebner@gartner.com