IDC Connections 2021 Canada

Accelerating Your Path to a Digital-First Enterprise

Canada, November 4, 2021
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Overview

The digital economy is quickly advancing, and the recent pandemic disruption, along with complex economic and technology trends have only served to further increase the urgency of navigating digital transformation requirements across all businesses and industries. Soon, most Canadian executive leaders will be running companies that look more digital than physical. Digital is a permanent, yet dynamic fixture in this world. Digital-first applies to any entity (company, government, consumer, patient, constituent) that is always looking for some digital-based enhancements that could improve our lives and desired outcomes. Entities and people are more connected, with greater interdependencies in a digital-first world. Entire ecosystems can intelligently leverage data to their advantage because access to digital technologies extends from individuals to organizations, and from governments to societies.

A digital-first world requires a digital-first economy. Such an economy expands the impact of digital technologies in the production and consumption of digital products, services, and experiences to at least 65% of GDP. In this economy, all industries will be driven and shaped by Future Enterprises. The Future Enterprise is IDC’s vision for how organizations must operate and invest to participate in increasingly digital-first markets. It is a framework for fostering a digital-first culture, one that leverages trusted industry ecosystems, generates profitable revenue growth from empathetic customer experiences, and demonstrates an ability to adapt operating models to complex customer requirements. All of this is built on digital infrastructure and enabled by an intelligent, empowered, and well-connected workforce.

Although we can envision a digital-first economy, the economic and business outlook for the next 3 years remains highly fluid due to the pandemic and a growing range of global challenges. IDC believes that as the world slowly moves from a pandemic to a digital-first state, we will see permanent shifts in the way we live, work, play and learn. Join IDC Canada and its sponsors for our IDC Connections 2021 Canada virtual event on the afternoon of November 4th, 2021 to learn how to accelerate your organization along its path to becoming a digital-first enterprise. Key topics of discussion include:

  • creating digital innovation at your organization
  • embracing digital infrastructure and
  • leveraging new industry ecosystems.

We'll also explore how some Canadian organizations are transforming themselves into digital-first enterprises during our popular CIO Best Practices panel discussion. You won't want to miss our closing keynote from Humza Teherany from Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment as he explores the Future of Sports in a Digital-First world.


Event Highlights


We would like to thank all the delegates and the partners who participated at this event.

A selected group of IT and business leaders came together to network and learn from IDCs analysts, inspiring speakers and dedicated advisory board members, who were at the forefront of the lively and interactive discussion.

If you missed the event or if you would like more information on any of the topics we discussed, click the button below to watch a recording or access the post-event content.


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Key Topics

This IDC Connections 2021 Canada event will provide essential guidance on the following topics:

 

 

Future Enterprise

 

Future of Digital Innovation

 

Future of Digital Infrastructure

 

Future of Industry Ecoystems

 

Digital Transformation

 

Cloud

Agenda

All event times are listed in Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4). Click on the 'v' to view the session descriptions or the circled "i" to view more.

Time Event & Speakers
12:45

Digital Networking & Virtual Expo

13:00

Welcome & Opening Remarks

Lars Goransson

Managing Director, IDC Canada

Michael Hainsworth

Executive Producer, Futurithmic
13:05

When Innovation Meets Digital Transformation | Presented by Dell Technologies

James Scott

Field CTO, Canada, Dell Technologies

As businesses evolve it can be challenging to keep the focus on innovation.  However, as more and more businesses expand their edge, core, and cloud approaches, driving innovation and providing the latest tools and technology across the business is critical to staying ahead.  Remaining agile and focusing on future operations, means taking on new roles, providing new layers of abstraction, and evolving our thinking on IT security. During this session, we’ll discuss how we’re helping our customers drive innovation across all areas of the business, how you can avoid adding complexity to an already complex landscape, and how to help drive consistency in a multi-cloud, multi-edge world.

Presented by Platinum Sponsor, Dell Technologies.

13:25

Going Digital-First on Hybrid and Multi-Cloud - Challenges & Opportunities | Presented by Carbon60

Robin Percy

Chief Technology Officer, OpsGuru (A Carbon60 Company)

As new technologies emerge, consumer habits change, and the way we work evolves, companies must be willing to adapt continuously to stay competitive. Organizations need to be positioned for innovation and can no longer afford to operate business as usual. But many organizations make the mistake of rushing into implementing technology without a sufficient strategy for digital transformation in the cloud.  Join Robin Percy, CTO at OpsGuru, A Carbon60 Company, as he explores some of the common challenges and opportunities organizations face when adopting digital-first initiatives on hybrid and multi-cloud.

13:40

IDC Keynote: Accelerating Your Path to a Digital-First Enterprise | Sponsored by Carbon60

Meredith Whalen

Chief Research Officer, IDC

By 2025, IDC predicts the addressable market for online digital experiences will top 6.5 billion consumers globally, while eCommerce revenues will grow to over US$6 trillion. From supporting personalized customer experiences, a hybrid workforce, and remote operations, an enterprise operating in this digital-first world need to align its technology roadmap to support it.  Tech leaders will find themselves architecting for a wireless-first, edge-first and automation-first world. Join Meredith Whalen, IDC’s Chief Research Officer as she outlines the requirements for operating in a digital-first enterprise and what tech leaders need to do to prepare for it.

The IDC Keynote presentation is sponsored by Carbon60.

14:05

Breakout Sessions (Parallel Sessions)

Cloud Breakout Session: What’s Next For Canadian Digital Infrastructure? Sponsored by Pure Storage

14:05 - 14:10

A Modern Data Experience is the Catalyst to Digital Evolution | Presented by Pure Storage

Shawn Rosemarin

GVP, Emerging Technology Solution Sales, Pure Storage
14:10 - 14:35

Cloud Breakout Session: What’s Next For Canadian Digital Infrastructure?

Dave Pearson

Research Vice President, Infrastructure Solutions

Future of Industry Breakout Session: New Digital Scenarios Across Canadian Industries | Sponsored by Capgemini

14:05 - 14:10

Rethinking Business Resilience | Presented by Capgemini

Phillip Hattingh

Head of Strategic Advisory, Capgemini Canada
14:10 - 14:35

Future of Industry Breakout Session: New Digital Scenarios Across Canadian Industries

Nigel Wallis

Research Vice President, IoT & Industries
Cloud Breakout Session: What’s Next For Canadian Digital Infrastructure? Sponsored by Pure Storage
14:05 - 14:10

A Modern Data Experience is the Catalyst to Digital Evolution | Presented by Pure Storage

14:10 - 14:35

Cloud Breakout Session: What’s Next For Canadian Digital Infrastructure?

Future of Industry Breakout Session: New Digital Scenarios Across Canadian Industries | Sponsored by Capgemini
14:05 - 14:10

Rethinking Business Resilience | Presented by Capgemini

14:10 - 14:35

Future of Industry Breakout Session: New Digital Scenarios Across Canadian Industries

14:35

Virtual Expo & Digital Networking Break

14:50

Welcome Back Comments

Michael Hainsworth

Executive Producer, Futurithmic
14:51

Navigating the Future of IT: Turning your Digital Ambitions into Reality | Presented by KPMG

Doron Telem

National Leader, Risk Consulting, KPMG Canada
14:55

Canadian CIO Best Practices Panel Discussion | Sponsored by KPMG

Tony Olvet

Group Vice President, Research

Stephanie Terrill

National Leader, Management Consulting, KPMG Canada

Kalyan (KC) Chakravarthy

Chief Information Officer, Durham Region

Roman Coba

VP Technology and CIO, Federated Co-operatives Limited

Risa Zaleski

Senior Director, Technology Programs, Canfor

Join our popular CIO Panel segment, as IDC's Tony Olvet explores top challenges faced by 3 Canadian CIOs in 2021, and how they are overcoming those challenges through digital innovation. Confirmed panelists include: Kalyan (KC) Chakravarthy, CIO for Durham Region; Roman Coba, VP and CIO at Federated Co-operatives Limited, and Risa Zaleski, Senior Director, Technology at Canfor. Key themes to be discussed:

  • Securing data, systems and clouds
  • Managing the required changes from investments in digital technologies
  • Skills shortages and talent management

KPMG's National Leader of Management Consulting, Stephanie Terrill also joins in the conversation.

The CIO Panel Session is sponsored by KPMG.

 

15:30

Digital Infrastructure in the New Normal, Organization Resiliency Through the Pandemic | Presented by Hitachi Vantara

Ian Sinclair

Chief Technology Officer, Hitachi Vantara
15:40

Closing Keynote: Innovation Through Adversity: Digital Arenas, NFTS, & More | Presented by Humza Teherany, MLSE | Sponsored by Hitachi Vantara

Humza Teherany

Chief Technology & Digital Officer, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment

Listen as our special guest, Humza Teherany, Chief Technology and Digital Officer for Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment discusses how the MLSE's head start on digital transformation has helped navigate the pandemic and prepared the organization to thrive moving forward through core business critical support, digital fan engagement, and innovation. 

The Closing Keynote is sponsored by Hitachi Vantara.

16:00

Closing Remarks

Michael Hainsworth

Executive Producer, Futurithmic
16:05

Virtual Expo & Digital Networking (until 4:35pm)

Partners

Platinum Sponsor
Panel Sponsor
Gold Partner
Gold Partner
Silver Partner
Silver Partner

General Information

 

Thursday, November 4, 2021

 

 

12:45 PM - 4:30 PM ET

 

 

Virtual Event on Hopin

 

 

Language
English

Registration Fee
No Charge: For Canadian Technology Executives

 

 

Attendee Benefits

  • Learn why your Canadian organization needs to adopt a digital-first mentality to thrive in the post-pandemic era
  • Hear how to adapt your infrastructure, applications and services to accelerate your path to a future enterprise
  • Understand why your organization needs to be more innovative with your solutions and how it can leverage new industry ecosystems
  • Learn some best practices for accelerating your digital transformation agenda from our Canadian panel of CIOs
  • Understand how your organization compares to other Canadian organizations in their digital transformation efforts
  • Meet our Canadian CIO panelists and ask them questions about their digital transformation strategies and/or your related challenges
  • Get practical advice from your peers in Canada on how to move your organization forward as a digital enterprise

Who Should Attend

C-Level executives from Canadian businesses and organizations

Managing Directors for Canadian operations

Senior IT executives from Canadian businesses and organizations

Senior decision-makers from Canadian businesses and organizations

Guests of our sponsors

Contact Us

Cristina Santander

Manager, Marketing & Customer Experience

+1 (416) 673-2235

About IDC

57 Years | 1300 Analysts | 110 Countries

International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. With more than 1,300 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. IDC's analysis and insight helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based technology decisions and to achieve their key business objectives. Founded in 1964, IDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of International Data Group (IDG), the world's leading media, data and marketing services company. To learn more about IDC, please visit www.idc.com.