Panel discussions and fireside chats designed to empower teams, support organizations through change, and turn uncertainty into structured, confident progress.
These are two of my core talks. Every session is tailored to the audience, recent topics have ranged from how AI is reshaping the consulting industry to practical AI adoption strategies for growing businesses.
AI is ultimately a business opportunity that demands strategic readiness. This conversation focuses on practical governance, and the confidence to see past the technical noise and lead with what already makes your organization strong.
The power of AI adoption comes from human alignment. Together, we'll address the real concerns people have about their roles and skills, and build the kind of trust between technical and business teams that actually lasts.
Guest lecturer, Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University
Students in the Managerial Consultancy course brought experience from a range of industries. I walked through three shifts AI is bringing to advisory work: wider access to information, outcome-driven engagement models, and frameworks rebuilt to keep pace. My takeaway: as the tools change, the consultant's role stays anchored in relationships.
Panelist, Illinois State Black Chamber of Commerce (ILBCC), 21st Annual Convention
I shared the stage with Patrick Nolan, Sherron Sadler, and Dr. Erica Blakely, with Dr. Michael L. Crawley and Dr. LaDonna Raeh moderating. We covered what AI agents cost to operate and how businesses can protect client data as adoption accelerates. My takeaway: AI amplifies whatever an organization already has, clarity or confusion. Read the coverage in Rolling Out
Co-host with 8th Light, during GOTO Accelerate
Travis Frisinger and I brought together leaders from fintech, healthcare, retail, publishing, and enterprise software for a private dinner. Our conversation centered on running AI agents well, from usage-based costs to how much access an agent should have. My takeaway: guardrails protect your budget as much as your systems. Read the coverage in 8th Light's Spark Engine
Moderator, Emerging Tech Club, University Club of Chicago
I led a conversation with Rita Gupta, Managing Director at Deloitte, and Kevin Boyd, CIO at the University of Chicago, for an audience with widely varying technical backgrounds. We used a five-layer framework to explain how AI works, then took on common myths and ways to stay current. My takeaway: human judgment stays central as the technology evolves.
Discussion leader, Economic Club of Chicago Exchanges
John Head, Chief Evangelist at Netrix, LLC, and I explored how AI is moving from large language models to agents: autonomous partners that reason through multi-step goals. We also addressed the "innovation fatigue" that comes with constant new releases. My takeaway: for small and medium enterprises, the edge with agents is the data they already have, secured and put to work.
Featured speaker, North Shore Country Day School
Randy Nornes, Executive Vice President at Aon, and I joined Head of School Tom Flemma for a fireside chat with parents and alumni. We talked about preparing students for a world where AI changes the way work gets done. My takeaway: when AI makes answers easy to find, what matters is knowing how to reach one, and that takes critical thinking, adaptability, and agency.
Have a topic or idea in mind? Start a conversation.