In-Person

New Jersey CISO Community

Executive Summit

October 29, 2025 | Hilton Parsippany

October 29, 2025
Hilton Parsippany

Collaborate with your peers

Get together with New Jersey's top CISOs 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 CISOs today:

Aligning IT and Security for Business Impact

Bridging Risk and Resilience at Scale

Leading with Purpose for Resilient and Empowered Organizations

New Jersey CISO Governing Body

The Governing Body Co-Chairs shape the summit agenda, ensuring that all content is driven By CISOs, For CISOs®.

Governing Body Co-Chairs

Roota Almeida

Kyowa Kirin
Global CISO

Lookman Fazal

NJ Transit
Chief Information & Digital Officer

Zouhair Guelzim

L'Oréal
VP & CISO

Hussein Syed

RWJBarnabas Health
CISO

What to Expect

Interactive Sessions

Hear from CISO 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 New Jersey CISO 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

October 29, 2025

8:00am - 8:30am  Registration & Breakfast

8:30am - 9:15am  Keynote

Scaling Leadership — Lessons from Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

Scott Strickland headshot

Scott Strickland

EVP, Chief Commercial Officer

Wyndham Hotels and Resorts

Michael Mahar headshot

Michael Mahar

SVP, Head of Commercial Technology, Loyalty & Digital Products

Wyndham Hotels and Resorts

The most impactful leaders continually evolve their roles, pushing beyond traditional boundaries. At Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, elevating technology leadership has not only reshaped the business but also redefined career trajectories across the organization. Recent changes at the C-suite level demonstrate a powerful model for succession planning, strategic growth, and cross-functional collaboration.

Join this fireside chat to discover:

  • Strategically evolve leadership roles to amplify influence and drive business outcomes
  • Practical approaches to succession planning that foster growth and seamless transitions
  • Eliminating barriers between Business and IT to drive business innovation through technology

9:15am - 9:40am  Networking Break

9:40am - 10:25am  Breakout Session

AI is Boring, and That’s Okay

AI boosters have promised a lot, setting up a wide gulf between serious discussions of sentient AI taking over the world and expensive LLMs that can’t count the letter Bs in “blueberry.” But regardless of how we feel about the future of AI, it’s already here — it’s just a lot more basic than we might have expected, and should play a key role in mitigating the security risks you care about, from data security to human resilience.

Join this session to hear:

  • How threat actors are currently leveraging and attacking AI in the wild
  • What use cases are actually driving value with AI agents
  • The top 5 mistakes to avoid

9:40am - 10:25am  Breakout Session

Strategic Storytelling for C-level Buy-in

In today’s enterprise landscape, CIOs and CISOs must do more than lead technology initiatives — they must translate them into strategic narratives that resonate across the C-suite. Whether driving resilience, automation, or continuous improvement, success often hinges on the ability to communicate value in business terms. This interactive boardroom explores how IT and security leaders can craft compelling stories that secure executive alignment and accelerate enterprise-wide support.

Join this interactive session to discuss:

• Turning complex initiatives into compelling executive narratives
• Communicating operational value in business-first language
• Building trust and alignment across the C-suite

9:40am - 10:25am  Executive Boardroom

Optimizing Data for Strategic Impact

Mahim Gite headshot

Mahim Gite

Head of Data & AI Architecture

Honeywell

Up to 80% of enterprise data remains unorganized—slowing decisions, inflating costs, and increasing risk. Data optimization isn’t just an IT priority; it’s a strategic advantage that drives trusted insights, AI readiness, and enterprise resilience. Are you unlocking the full value of your data—or falling behind?

Join this roundtable to explore how to:

  • Unlock value from untapped enterprise data assets
  • Strengthen decision-making through analytics utilizing clean, optimized data
  • Accelerate AI with trusted data foundations

10:25am - 11:10am  Networking Break

10:35am - 11:00am  Peer-to-Peer Meetings

Peer-to-Peer Meetings

Connect with like-minded peers in a 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.

11:10am - 11:55am  Breakout Session

The AI Imperative — Driving Business Outcomes in a Changing World


The current business landscape is characterized by rapid change and increasing complexity. Organizations must leverage AI not just as a trend, but as a strategic tool to drive measurable outcomes, enhance employee experiences, and unlock new avenues for growth and innovation. 

Join this session to discuss:

  • Implement AI for measurable ROI and operational efficiency

  • Leverage AI-driven personalization while ensuring security and compliance

  • Build AI fluency and drive sustainable growth organization-wide


11:10am - 11:55am  Breakout Session

Cloud Network Security Meets Zero Trust Architecture

Chris McHenry headshot

Chris McHenry

Chief Product Officer

Aviatrix

As enterprises expand cloud use, CISOs must reduce risk, ensure resilience, and maintain compliance. Zero Trust in the cloud goes beyond identity — it hinges on segmentation, continuous visibility, and policy enforcement across multi-cloud networks. Closing gaps in east-west traffic, containerization, and egress controls is vital for protecting operations and reporting risk effectively.

Join this session to learn how to:

  • Embed zero trust principles into cloud network architecture
  • Eliminate blind spots across multicloud and containerized environments
  • Demonstrate risk reduction and regulatory compliance with confidence

11:10am - 11:55am  Executive Boardroom

Building Enterprise Resilience in the SaaS Era

Manish Nashine headshot

Manish Nashine

Global Head - Threat Exposure Management

The Home Depot

SaaS drives enterprise operations yet evolving risks and exposures can quickly lead to regulatory, shareholder, and reputational challenges. With AI amplifying threats and supply-chain vulnerabilities affecting even mature organizations, CISOs face growing pressure to protect data, maintain compliance, and demonstrate resilience to leadership.

Join this roundtable session to explore:

  • Regulatory impacts on SaaS security
  • AI, shadow SaaS, and identity risk trends
  • Strategies for resilient, compliant SaaS operations

11:55am - 12:25pm  Networking

Rising Together — Women Leaders in Security/Technology Networking Session

Join us for an informal networking break for women in information security/technology leadership and their allies to connect and build relationships with like-minded leaders in New Jersey who are making an impact in their organizations and communities. Come prepared to share ideas, inspire and be inspired, and forge new connections that can help empower each other to achieve your goals and broaden your perspectives.

This session is aimed at but not limited to women in the CIO and CISO community leading the information security/technology function(s) at their organizations (CISO/CIO/equivalent) and women reporting directly to the CISO/CIO/equivalent. Priority access will be reserved for these groups, with allies welcome as space permits

11:55am - 12:30pm  Lunch Service

12:30pm - 1:05pm  Keynote

Zero Trust & AI — Strengthening Security, Reducing Complexity, and Driving Innovation

Jay Chaudhry headshot

Jay Chaudhry

CEO, Chairman & Founder

Zscaler

Businesses stand to benefit from AI in unprecedented ways, but only if IT and security leaders overcome transformation challenges. This includes implementing a modern zero trust architecture to protect data and users, embracing AI while managing its risks, and handling the technical and financial implications of ever-expanding environments. A risk-based approach to security ensures CIOs and CISOs deliver a secure, phased transformation.

Join this session to:

  • Understand how zero trust and AI together, unlike firewalls, provide the strongest cyber defense by stopping threat actors from lateral movement within networks
  • Learn strategies for protecting AI applications developed in data centers and the cloud, while preventing data leaks from public AI applications
  • Discover how eliminating costly legacy hardware simplifies environments while cutting network and security costs

1:05pm - 1:30pm  Break

1:30pm - 2:15pm  Executive Boardroom

Strategic Resources Fueling Security and IT Success

Mark Eimer headshot

Mark Eimer

SVP, Associate CIO & Chief Technology Officer

Hackensack Meridian Health

Afzal Khan headshot

Afzal Khan

Global CISO

OPKO Health

Security and IT teams are continually expected to deliver impactful results within fixed budgets and headcount. How can CISOs and CIOs ensure their organizations maintain a resilient security posture and meet strategic objectives by leveraging the resources already at hand?

Join this session to explore:

  • Innovative strategies for maximizing the effectiveness of existing security resources
  • Leadership approaches for motivating teams and strengthening security culture
  • Methods to communicate and demonstrate the business value of security investments

1:30pm - 2:15pm  Executive Boardroom

Leading Governance in Intelligent Times

Raman Kaur headshot

Raman Kaur

VP of Technology

Elsevier

Jason McKay headshot

Jason McKay

CIO & VP, Business Process

Riggs Distler

As AI capabilities rapidly expand, organizations face mounting pressure to ensure responsible and transparent use of these transformative technologies. For CIOs and CISOs, the challenge is not only harnessing AI’s potential, but also establishing robust governance to protect data integrity, privacy, and ethical standards.

Join this round table discussion to explore:

  • Embedding data governance frameworks to enable ethical AI initiatives
  • Defining executive leadership in shaping responsible AI strategies
  • Fostering cross-functional accountability for AI-driven decision-making

2:15pm - 3:00pm  Networking Break

2:25pm - 2:50pm  Peer-to-Peer Meetings

Peer-to-Peer Meetings

Connect with like-minded peers in a 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.

3:00pm - 3:45pm  Breakout Session

Designed for People — Human Centered Approach to AI

Lookman Fazal headshot

Lookman Fazal

Chief Information & Digital Officer

NJ Transit

Heather Lavoie headshot

Heather Lavoie

CIO

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey

Technology is evolving rapidly, but the core of impactful leadership remains unchanged — people first. AI and automation can serve as powerful tools; but only when anchored in human needs, customer priorities, and strategic thinking. Technology works best when it’s built around people — not in place of them.

Join this session to discuss:

  • Prioritizing customer experience in every technology decision
  • Centering technology decision making around the roadmap and strategy
  • Identifying where technology can impact business value

3:00pm - 3:45pm  Executive Boardroom

The Resilience Mindset — Evolving Incident Response


Cybersecurity has shifted from an exclusive focus on prevention to a broader mandate of organizational resilience. CISOs are now tasked with ensuring their teams can effectively withstand and recover from inevitable cyber incidents. How is your organization redefining incident response to support business continuity and sustained operations?

Join this peer discussion to explore:

  • Developing and testing an adaptive cyber resilience strategy
  • Enhancing response and recovery through cross-functional collaboration, board engagement and communication
  • Aligning incident response to business continuity needs


3:00pm - 3:45pm  Executive Boardroom

The Impact of Geopolitical Shifts

Ajoy Kumar headshot

Ajoy Kumar

CISO & Head of Application Security

Wells Fargo

 IT and Security Leaders must play a pivotal role in assessing corporate risk and taking action as necessary. The current state of geopolitical uncertainty leaves many variables for enterprise risk, including vendor reliability, supply chain consistency, and cyber threats.

Join this roundtable session to discuss:

  • Understanding the latest geopolitical tensions and regulations affecting the threat landscape
  • Evaluating operations in high-risk geographies to strategize resiliency
  • Planning disaster recovery in the event of a geopolitical disruption

3:45pm - 4:00pm  Networking Break

4:00pm - 4:35pm  Gartner Keynote

Empowering People Leaders in the AI Era

Alvaro Mello headshot

Alvaro Mello

VP, Advisory

Gartner

Artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping the leadership landscape, pushing people leaders to move beyond conventional models and embrace a new set of competencies. In today’s rapidly evolving environment, success hinges on blending AI-driven insights with emotional intelligence and self-awareness. Developing leaders who are both digitally fluent and deeply attuned to themselves is essential for driving sustainable, long-term growth.

Join Alvaro Mello, VP, Advisory at Gartner, to explore:

  • Cultivating self-awareness for authentic, high-impact leadership
  • Adapting leadership strategies to thrive amid technological disruption
  • Embedding AI fluency into leadership development for future readiness

4:35pm - 4:45pm  Closing Comments and Prize Drawing

4:45pm - 6:00pm  Governing Body Reception

Governing Body Reception

Finish the day sharing lessons learned with your peers over light fare and drinks at this closing reception hosted by your governing body members.

October 29, 2025

We look forward to seeing you at an upcoming in-person gathering

Gartner cares about the health and safety of our community. If you are feeling unwell, please refrain from attending the conference. At this time, Gartner does not have any health-related requirements in place for attendance. Should this change, we will follow up with updated guidance.

Location

Venue & Accommodation

Hilton Parsippany

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Hilton Parsippany at a reduced conference rate. Reservations should be made online or by calling 973-267-7373.

Deadline to book using the discounted room rate of $179 USD (plus tax) is October 13, 2025.

Your Community Sponsors

Global Thought Leader

CIO Thought Leader

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Key Sponsors

Program Sponsors

Community Program Manager

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

Ernest Hughes

Senior Territory Specialist

971-717-6611

ernest.hughes@gartner.com