Event Agenda

Laurie Buczek

Group Vice President, Executive Insights, IDC

Laurie Buczek is the Group Vice President of Executive Insights at IDC, where she spearheads the global research initiatives that shape the industry’s understanding of digital business transformation, evolving buying behaviors, and technology investments. She leads IDC’s premier research practices, including the CMO Advisory Practice, C-Suite Tech Agenda, and Digital to AI Business Transformation.

Jennifer Hamel

Senior Research Director, Enterprise Intelligence Services, IDC

Jennifer Hamel is a Senior Research Director for IDC’s Worldwide Services team, responsible for the Enterprise Intelligence Services research program. In this research, Ms. Hamel covers the life cycle of project-oriented, managed, and support services related to the deployment of technologies, such as data management, analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), and automation, as part of enterprise intelligence initiatives. In particular, her research focuses on how services providers work with organizations to ensure investments in enterprise intelligence technologies result in improved business outcomes.

Stewart Bond

Vice President, Data Intelligence and Integration Software, IDC

Stewart Bond is Vice President of IDC’s Data Intelligence and Integration Software service. Mr. Bond’s core research coverage includes watching emerging trends that are shaping and changing data movement, ingestion, transformation, mastering, cleansing and consumption in the era of digital business. Having worked in the IT industry for over 30 years, from early experience in database and application development, through solution design and deployment, to strategic architectural consulting, Stewart has worked through some significant changes in the IT industry. His depth of field experience coupled with market insight gives him a unique perspective, valued by his customers and peers.

Dave McCarthy

Research Vice President, Cloud & Infrastructure Services, IDC

Dave McCarthy is Research Vice President within IDC’s worldwide infrastructure research organiztion and global research lead for the cloud and edge services practice. Dave leads a team of analysts covering research on shared (public) cloud, dedicated (private) cloud, and edge deployments, services, adoption trends, vendor strategies and market dynamics. Benefiting both technology suppliers and IT decision makers, Dave’s insights delve into ways in which hybrid and distributed cloud platforms provide the foundation for next-generation workloads, enabling organizations to innovate faster, automate operations, and achieve digital resiliency. His research is available via syndicated research programs (subscription services), data products (IDC Trackers) and custom engagements.

Ashish Nadkarni

Group Vice President/GM, Worldwide Infrastructure Research, IDC

Ashish Nadkarni is Group Vice President and General Manager within IDC’s worldwide infrastructure research organization. Ashish oversees seven global research practices: infrastructure software platforms, cloud and edge services, storage and converged systems, performance intensive computing, compute infrastructure and service provider trends, enterprise and emerging workloads, and the future of digital infrastructure. Additionally, he oversees two regional research practices: Canadian infrastructure solutions, and Latin America enterprise infrastructure and cloud services. Ashish and his team also curate BuyerView, an industry leading portfolio of primary research products that provide a voice of the IT buyer on technology and services adoption trends including cloud and edge services, artificial intelligence (AI), high performance computing (HPC), security and networking, xOps, and software development.

Chris Barnard

Vice President, European Telecoms and Infrastructure, IDC

Chris Barnard is vice president, European Telecoms and Infrastructure, at IDC. He joined the company in 2000 and is responsible for European research covering all aspects of telecoms and IoT, datacenter infrastructure, networking, unified communications & collaboration, related professional services.

He is the author of numerous white papers and trade press articles on telecoms, professional services, convergence, unified communications, ebusiness, infrastructure, and networking strategies. He is widely quoted in the international technology and business press. In 2010, Chris was named telecoms analyst of the year by the Institute of Industry Analyst Relations (IIAR). He is frequently asked to speak at international industry conferences, customer events, and road shows.

Jeff Janukowicz

Research Vice President, Semiconductors and Enabling Technologies, IDC

Jeff Janukowicz is a Research Vice President at IDC where he provides insight and analysis on the SSD market for the Client PC, Enterprise Data Center, and Cloud market segments. In this role, Jeff provides expert opinion, in-depth market research, and strategic analysis on the dynamics, trends, and opportunities facing the industry. His research includes market forecasts, market share reports, and technology trends of clients, investor, suppliers, and manufacturers.

Lynne Schneider

Research Director, Data Collaboration & Monetization, and Location & Geospatial Intelligence, IDC

Lynne Schneider is Research Director leading IDC’s Data Collaboration & Monetization, and Location & Geospatial Intelligence market research and advisory practices. Ms. Schneider’s core research coverage in DaaS includes data sourcing and delivery services from traditional and emerging data providers along with evolving data aggregation and dissemination platforms. The breadth of coverage includes services that enable an organization to externally monetize data generated as part of the organization’s ongoing operations, value-added information derived from this data, and the marketplace for combining data with other solutions. This research analyzes the supply and demand side business and technology trends of this emerging category.

Phil Goodwin

Research Vice President, Infrastructure Software Platforms, Worldwide Infrastructure Research, IDC

Phil Goodwin is Research Vice President within IDC’s worldwide infrastructure research organization and global research lead for the infrastructure software platforms practice. He leads a team of analysts that provide detailed insights and analyses on evolving infrastructure software trends, vendor performance, and the impact of new technology adoption. Mr. Goodwin’s own research focuses on multi-cloud data management, data logistics, on-premises and cloud-based data protection as-a-service, cyber protection and recovery, and recovery orchestration. He takes a holistic view of these markets, and covers risk analysis, service level requirements and cost/benefit calculations in his research. Mr. Goodwin also contributes regularly to IDC’s CIO advisory practice.

Mark Leary

Research Director, Network Observability, Automation and AI, IDC

Mark Leary is Research Director for Network Analytics and Automation responsible for worldwide technology market research and analysis. Mark’s core research coverage focuses on the advancement and adoption of network performance management solutions (both on-premises systems and cloud-based services) and the development of network automation capabilities by both technology suppliers and enterprise operators. Sample key areas of interest include end-to-end visibility, predictive analytics, AI/ML-driven insights, digital experience management, open-source technologies, cloud service monitoring, and “programmed” automation as they apply to a secure, dynamic, and predictable network environment. Based on his current work and background, Mark’s research also examines the evolution of enterprise and cloud network technologies; adoption of cloud services and software-defined systems; buildout of professional support services and partner ecosystems; fortification of network management best practices; and the reformation of IT staff roles and skills in this demanding hyper-connected digital era.

Stephen Elliot

Group Vice President, Application Development and IT Operations, IDC

Stephen Elliot manages multiple programs spanning IT Operations, Enterprise Management, ITSM, Agile and DevOps, Application performance, Virtualization, Multi-Cloud Management and Automation, Log Analytics, Container Management, DaaS, and Software Defined Compute. Mr. Elliot advises Senior IT, Business, and Investment Executives globally in the creation of strategy and operational tactics that drive the execution of Digital Transformation and business growth.

Michelle Abraham

Senior Research Director, Security and Trust, IDC

Michelle Abraham is a Senior Research Director in IDC’s Security and Trust Group responsible for the Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), Exposure Management and Related Artificial Intelligence Technologies practice. Ms. Abraham’s core research coverage includes SIEM platforms, exposure management platforms, attack surface management, breach and attack simulation, cybersecurity asset management, and device vulnerability management alongside AI-related security topics.

Frank Dickson

Group Vice President, Security & Trust, IDC

Frank Dickson is the Group Vice President for IDC’s Security & Trust research practice. In this role, he leads the team that delivers compelling research in the areas of AI Security; Cybersecurity Services; Information and Data Security; Endpoint Security; Trust; Governance, Risk & Compliance; Identity & Digital Trust; Network Security; Privacy & Legal Tech; and Application Security & Fraud. Topically, he provides thought leadership and guidance for clients on a wide range of security topics including ransomware and emerging products designed to protect transforming architectures and business models.

Andrew Buss

Senior Research Director, Digital and Datacenter Infrastructure Strategies, IDC

Andrew Buss is research director for IDC’s European Enterprise Infrastructure program. Based in London, he is responsible for driving IDC’s research covering present and future trends impacting servers, storage and networking and IT service delivery. Central to this is understanding how on-premises IT is evolving under the emergence of Open Source, Software-Defined Enterprise, multi-Cloud adoption and Cloud-native development practices, and how this will impact everything from the low level silicon underpinnings and system design, through to the design and integration of the different infrastructure components, up to the platform management and service delivery.

Tom Mainelli

Group Vice President, Device & Consumer Research, IDC

Tom Mainelli heads the Device & Consumer Research Group, overseeing a wide array of hardware and technology categories that cater to both home and enterprise markets. His team’s research spans PCs, tablets, smartphones, wearables, smart home devices, thin clients, displays, and virtual/augmented reality headsets. He also co-manages IDC’s supply-side research team, which monitors display and ODM production across various categories. IDC’s consumer research, anchored by the Consumer Market Model, employs regular surveys and proprietary models to forecast numerous consumer-focused activities and spending across hardware, software, and services.

Mickey North-Rizza

Group Vice President, Enterprise Software, IDC

Mickey North Rizza is Group Vice-President for IDC’s Enterprise Software. She leads the Enterprise Applications & Strategies research service along with a team of analysts responsible for IDC’s coverage of next generation of enterprise applications including digital commerce, employee experience, enterprise asset management and smart facilities, ERP, financial applications, HCM and payroll applications, procurement, professional services automation and related project-based solutions software, supply chain automation, and talent acquisition and strategies. In her role, Mickey and the team advises clients on these intelligent, modern, and modular enterprise applications for businesses of all sizes with an emphasis on the key trends, opportunities, innovation and the IT and Business Buyer concerns, requirements, and buyer behaviors.

Ahmad Latif Ali

Associate Vice President, Communications Service Providers, IDC

Ahmad Latif Ali leads IDC’s EMEA Telecommunications Insights program, directing research in this area as the telecommunications industry becomes an integral part of cutting-edge technology adoption. He provides strategic insight and perspectives on how European telcos are evolving from traditional CSPs to platform players at the heart of digital ecosystems — deciding where to operate in the digital value chain, who to partner with, and how to manage and orchestrate new technologies.

Jitesh Bhayani

Research Vice President, Communications Services, IDC

Jitesh Bhayani is a Research Vice President in the WW Network and Telecommunications group, serving as a Research Lead and Thought Leader across a diverse set of Telecom Services, collaborating across IDC’s team of telecom research analysts. He provides strategic direction and advisory services across a variety of disciplines such as wireless, wireline, voice, and managed services. Jitesh is a key collaborator with IDC’s Consulting Services Team and serves as a trusted advisor to multiple Communications Service Providers, Cloud Services Providers, and IT Solutions vendors.

Nancy Gohring

Senior Research Director, AI, IDC

Nancy Gohring is a senior research director, co-leading IDC’s GenAI and Agentic AI Strategies program. Nancy covers big picture trends related to enterprise adoption of AI, including GenAI and agentic AI. Key research themes include business, organizational, and technology architecture transformation, in the context of AI and GenAI. As part of the Worldwide AI, Automation, Data & Analytics Research practice, Nancy supports a range of clients across the technology stack including hyperscalers, developer tool providers, enterprise application vendors, professional services organizations, automation frameworks providers, and infrastructure suppliers.

Heather West

Research Manager, Quantum and Analog Computing, IDC

Heather West, PhD, is Research Manager within IDC’s worldwide infrastructure research organization and part of the performance intensive computing (PIC) practice. She leads IDC’s quantum, analog and neuromorphic computing research and plays a supporting role in IDC’s research on artificial Intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructure stacks and deployments. Dr. West is deeply engaged with her clients on their solutions and services, as well as on their business and technology strategies. Her domain knowledge of the quantum computing industry including proficiency in related workloads and use cases has made Dr. West a trusted advisor to several emerging quantum and analog computing vendors and positioned IDC as the go-to vendor for market research on Quantum Computing.

Rick Villars

Group Vice President, Worldwide Research, IDC

Rick is IDC’s leading analyst guiding research on the future of the IT Industry. He coordinates all IDC research related to the impact of Cloud and the shift to digital business models across infrastructure, platforms, software, and services. He helps enterprises develop effective strategies for using their diverse portfolio of cloud investments and applications. He supplies early guidance on implications of critical innovations such as the shift to cloud-based control platforms for deploying/managing infrastructure, data, and code delivery as well as the emergence of AI as a critical IT workload and part of all IT products/services.

Sarah Lee

Research Director, Manufacturing IT Strategies, IDC

Sarah Lee is Research Director for IDC Manufacturing Insights responsible for the IT Priorities & Strategies (ITP&S) practice. Sarah’s core research coverage includes IT investments made across the manufacturing industry and manufacturers’ progress with digital transformation. Based on her background covering the manufacturing space, Sarah’s research also includes an emphasis on the technology enablers that help manufacturing executives make better-informed operational decisions.

Bryan Ma

Vice President, Data & Analytics, IDC

Bryan Ma is Vice President of Client Devices research, covering mobile phones, tablets, PCs, AR/VR headsets, wearables, thin clients, and monitors across Asia as well as worldwide. Based in Singapore, Bryan provides insights and advisory services for both vendors and users, and coordinates his team of analysts in building IDC’s core market data, analysis, and forecasts in these sectors.

Andrea Siviero

Senior Research Director, MacroTech, Digital Business, and Future of Work, IDC

Andrea Siviero leads IDC’s European Digital Business and Future of Work Research group. The group provides market research insights to foster a purposeful and fair adoption of technologies supporting digital societies, businesses and workforce and empower tech providers in strategic decision making, planning and go-to-market activities. Siviero also co-leads the IDC Worldwide MacroTech Research program, focused on the intertwined connection between the Economical and Digital worlds – analyzing the impact key MacroEconomic factors have on the digital landscape and viceversa, how technologies are impacting economies around the world.

Tony Olvet

Group Vice President, Worldwide C-Suite and Digital Business Research, IDC

Tony Olvet is Group Vice President, Worldwide C-suite and Digital Business Research at IDC. His team’s global research focuses on the connection between business transformation and digital investments across enterprises. Tony’s analysis and insights help vendors, IT professionals, and business executives make fact-based decisions on technology strategy and digital business.

Jennifer Glenn

Research Director, Information and Data Security, IDC

Jennifer Glenn is Research Director for the IDC Security and Trust Group and is responsible for the information and data security practice. Ms. Glenn’s core coverage includes a broad range of technologies including messaging security, sensitive data management, encryption, tokenization, rights management, key management, and certificates. As part of this research, Ms. Glenn will demonstrate the critical role of data security in top enterprise initiatives such as generating customer trust and digital transformation.

Madhumitha Sathish

Research Manager, AI and High Performance Computing Infrastructure Stacks, IDC

Madhumitha Sathish is Research Manager within IDC’s worldwide infrastructure research organization and part of the performance intensive computing (PIC) practice. She leads IDC’s artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure research and plays a supporting role in IDC’s research on high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructure stacks and deployments. In her role, Ms. Sathish delivers syndicated and custom qualitative and quantitative insights, including market size and forecast studies, and custom market models.

Marlanna Harrington

Research Analyst, Data, Analytics, AI, and Automation, IDC

Marlanna Harrington is a Research Analyst on the data, analytics, AI, and automation team. Ms. Harrington’s research concentrates on data platforms, including data warehouses, lakes, and lakehouses, focusing on data storage and management. She examines core technologies for implementing analytic data platforms across various environments, data modeling techniques, and emerging open table structures. Her research closely aligns with the data control plane that helps govern and manage data, all in preparation for analytics that provide data-driven solutions to impact business operations.

Devin Pratt

Research Director, Data Management, IDC

Devin Pratt is a Research Director within IDC’s AI, Automation, Data & Analytics (AAD&A) practice, where he oversees the database management tools and technologies software market. His primary research centers on the evolution of database management tools and technologies, covering both current and future capabilities across various relational, non-relational, and dynamic database systems designed for operational or analytic data workloads. Additionally, Mr. Pratt’s research encompasses related technologies used for data modeling, database development, optimization, and maintenance. By analyzing market trends, buyer behaviors, and the business value of these technologies, Mr. Pratt’s research helps vendors enhance their products and refine marketing strategies, while also guiding end-users in selecting data management solutions for challenges such as cloud migration and AI-driven data initiatives.

Roger Beharry Lall

Research Director, Advertising Technologies and SMB Marketing Applications, IDC

With over 25 years’ experience leading technology driven marketing programs, Mr. Beharry Lall is now a Research Director with IDC covering Advertising Technologies and SMB Marketing Applications. He brings a unique multidisciplinary perspective, evangelizing the innovative and pragmatic use of both martech and adtech solutions for companies of all sizes.

Jordan Jewell

Sr. Research Director, Persuasive Content and Digital Experience, IDC

Jordan Jewell is a Sr Research Director for IDC’s Persuasive Content and Digital Experiences practice. Mr. Jewell’s core research coverage includes web content management (WCM) applications, headless content architectures, managed web hosting solutions, and SaaS template website builders; digital asset management (DAM) and dynamic media software; digital experience platforms (DXPs); content personalization applications; GenAI search disruption; video platforms for marketing and enterprise uses; and creative tools, among other areas. His research emphasizes how content is evolving in the age of AI and agentic commerce.

Greg Ireland

Senior Director, Consumer Markets and GenAI for Content Creators and Consumers, IDC

Greg Ireland is a Senior Director for the Consumer Markets programs at IDC. In this role, he manages IDC’s Consumer Market Trends, Consumer Market Model, and GenAI for Content Creators and Consumers research programs. He focuses on consumer adoption of and engagement with digital technologies, services, and applications that transform consumer experiences, business models, and market opportunities. Greg leads IDC’s coverage of consumer GenAI, and he also has expertise in and provides in-depth analysis on the ways in which digital video content is distributed, consumed and monetized across traditional pay TV, over-the-top (OTT), and social media services and platforms.

Brian Donnelly

Transformation Director, INVISTA

Katie Kregel

SVP Corporate Marketing, IDC

Katie is a storytelling-driven marketing leader with a flair for turning complex tech into compelling brand narratives. With 15+ years in SaaS and tech, she’s orchestrated bold campaigns, built high-impact teams, and brought big ideas to life on the global stage. Whether navigating M&A comms or crafting executive thought leadership, Katie blends creativity with strategy – always with an eye on culture, connection, and what’s next.