Just as summer vacation season starts to wind down, conference season heats up. We've identified 12 events taking place in the second half of 2015 that have something to offer all IT leaders. Whether you are focused on the big-picture opportunities presented by digital transformation, your personal career or IT talent development, or have a specific technical challenge you are trying to resolve, you'll find answers and insights at these events.
Mark your calendars, and get ready – it's going to be a busy fall!
CIO 100
When: August 9-11
Where: Colorado Springs, CO
Why you should be there
One of CIO Magazine's biggest gatherings of CIOs and senior IT and business executives of the year, the CIO 100 Symposium will be dedicated to the challenges and opportunities for innovating in the digital economy. Speakers from Facebook, Cisco, Kimberly-Clark, Dun & Bradstreet, VMware, and other leading tech companies will discuss topics such as enterprise mobility, Big Data, risk management, cloud, and disruptive technology. The agenda will also feature several case studies from the CIO 100 Award winners, including the FCC, CVS Health, Progressive Insurance, Kroger, and DHL.
Fortune Brainstorm E
When: September 28-29
Where: Austin, TX
Why you should be there
This conference will explore the new technologies and disruptive business models of a future focused on sustainability. The agenda will bring together CEOs and senior technologists, environmentalists and thought leaders as they attempt to answer myriad questions around how new disruptive technologies – from solar to self-driving cars – will impact businesses worldwide and the strategies needed to bring about transformational change.
Strata + Hadoop
When: September 29-October 1
Where: New York, NY
Why you should be there
Some of the brightest minds in the data community come together at this conference to discuss how they are moving their business forward with data. Attendees will have the opportunity to both dive deep into the nitty gritty of data science, techniques, and algorithms, as well as think big picture and share ideas about how big data is evolving for the future.
Code/Enterprise
When: September 29
Where: New York, NY
Why you should be there
While you are in NYC for Strata + Hadoop, head over for an evening interview series with Re/Code senior editor Arik Hesseldahl. In addition to networking with senior business and technology leaders, the program will offer in-depth interviews with enterprise technology leaders and entrepreneurs about trends including cloud, big data, automation, and data security. So far on the agenda, Martin Chavez, CIO of Goldman Sachs, and Todd McKinnon, co-founder and CEO of Okta.
Gartner Symposium
When: October 4-8
Where: Orlando, FL
Why you should be there
Gartner's largest annual gathering of senior IT leaders, it's where CIOs go to set their agenda for the next three to five years. This year's event will focus on how digital transformation is impacting mission-critical priorities for CIOs. With keynotes from GE, IBM, and Tony Robbins, and exclusive Gartner research revealed on stage, this event is a must-attend for CIOs who want to discover the disruptive trends that will help them both move their business forward and become a better leader.
ITExpo
When: October 5-8
Where: Anaheim, CA
Why you should be there
If you prefer an “everything under one roof” type of conference, this may be the one to attend. Covering a broad range of technical topics for all IT professionals – including cloud services, data analytics, Internet of Things, mobility, open source, security, and much more – this event will have something for everyone on your IT team. Specialized training and workshops are also available, as well as the chance to network with over 6,000 attendees.
NASCIO
When: October 11-14
Where: Salt Lake City, Utah
Why you should be there
The National Association of State Chief Information Officers has a mission “to foster government excellence through quality business practices, information management, and technology policy.” Their annual event will focus on advancing smart government by empowering state CIOs with the latest knowledge and thought-leadership around topics including security, cloud, strategic IT planning, and talent management. It's a must-attend if you are a state CIO and wish to hear about the unique challenges and opportunities ahead.
Grace Hopper Women in Computing
When: October 14-16
Where: Houston, TX
Why you should be there
Dedicated to increasing visibility around the contributions of women in the field of technology, this conference brings together female leaders across industry, academia, and government for three days of technical sessions combined with career development workshops for attendees. Topics covered will include open source, artificial intelligence and data science.
DevOps Enterprise
When: October 19-21
Where: San Francisco, CA
Why you should be there
If your challenge is DevOps and continuous delivery in large, complex organizations, this is the conference for you. All three days will be focused on how to bring lean principles into the IT value stream. The event is hosted by Enterpriser Gene Kim, co-author of The Phoenix Project: A Novel About IT, DevOps, and Helping Your Business Win, and the agenda will feature tips, techniques, lessons learned from practitioners in well-known enterprises who have successfully turned DevOps into business results.
Technology Business Management Conference
When: October 26-29
Where: Chicago, IL
Why you should be there
Managing IT like a business is the theme of this event as CIOs from companies including ExxonMobil, Microsoft, SunTrust, and Dupont take the stage to discuss how to better communicate and showcase IT's value to the business. Designed specifically for CIOs and senior IT leaders in the Global 2000, attendees will learn how to optimize IT costs, plan more efficiently and accurately, and transform the IT operating model.
The CIO Forum
When: November 5
Where: New York, NY
Why you should be there
More intimate in nature, this program is designed to address only a few, hand-selected topics by CIOs based on the critical issues they are facing in their day-to-day. After an opening keynote by David Rose, author of Enchanted Objects: Design, Human Desire, and the Internet of Things, attendees will split into discussion groups of 25 or less to hear from their industry peers and experts on topics including governance, CIO leadership, and the pillars of IT project management.
Master Class for Tech Executives
When: November 17-20
Where: Boston, MA
Why you should be there
It's back to school for IT executives as CIO Magazine and Boston University Questrom School of Business team up to deliver an intensive 4-day curriculum designed to help CIOs lead digital transformation. Attendees will have an opportunity to work collaboratively with their peers on real-world scenarios and an in-class project.
What's on your calendar? Are there any events that we missed? Let us know in the comments.
