Agenda

What if every data breach could teach us how to prevent the next one? In this keynote, Jeff Crume, IBM Distinguished Engineer and Master Inventor, reveals deep insights into the financial and operational impacts of data breaches across industries and geographies. Jeff will highlight how AI, quantum computing, and automation are mitigating risks and share actionable strategies to reduce breach-related expenses.

In a world where AI is evolving from passive assistants to autonomous agents, Keith Johnson from Amazon Web Services (AWS), Head of Solutions Architecture for Global Defense, will take you behind the scenes on how AI agents are transforming business operations. Drawing from AWS's extensive experience with enterprise customers, Keith will explore the rapid evolution of AI from simple assistants to autonomous agents capable of complex decision-making and execution. Learn about key technological breakthroughs driving this shift, real-world applications across industries, and practical frameworks for implementing agentic AI. You’ll walk with greater knowledge of what skills to develop if you want to build or lead agentic systems, what architectures matter, and how you can test or prototype agentic ideas now.

How do you embed AI into mission-critical operations inside a technical startup? In this session, Matt Welsh, CIO of X-energy, will walk through the journey of building an internal AI function from the ground up in a high-stakes, heavily regulated industry. You’ll learn how X-energy created an AI department, hired leadership (including their AI Director), and began embedding AI tools into engineering, operations, and decision workflows—all while navigating constraints of safety, regulatory risk, and technical complexity. For students, this talk offers a rare window into what it takes to lead AI in mission-driven organizations—what skills matter, what surprises come up, and what separates ideas from impactful systems.

2025 is the year the AI shockwave truly hit — not as a headline, but as a new normal. Artificial intelligence is now embedded in how we think, work, and make decisions. In this session, Ben Walker from Kearney explores how AI has reshaped business and consulting from the inside out, sharing real examples of how the firm has deployed AI to transform performance and client impact. He’ll also reflect on what’s changed in just twelve months from the last Day for Data — and what this new era means for the next generation of data-driven leaders.

Join Mehul Sanghani, Founder and CEO of Octo, for a fireside chat moderated by Michelle Fultz, DHS Client Leader for IBM’s Technology business. From growing up in Blacksburg to building one of the most respected firms in the federal community, Mehul shares insights on entrepreneurship, leadership, and culture, and how Hokie values continue to shape his approach to business and life.

As artificial intelligence continues to transform industries, its impact on the workforce—especially for emerging professionals—is profound. In this dynamic panel, Leigh Sheldon (Guidehouse), Keith Johnson (Amazon Web Services), and Paul Needleman (Snowflake) will join moderator Meghan Achimasi (Norfolk Southern) to explore how AI is reshaping entry-level roles, the ethical responsibilities tied to AI-driven analytics, and the evolving collaboration between humans and intelligent systems. Through real-world examples and forward-looking insights, panelists will discuss how students and early-career professionals can leverage AI tools to enhance academic and internship experiences, while also preparing for a future where adaptability and ethical awareness are key. The conversation will conclude with personal reflections on what excites—and concerns—leaders most about AI’s growing role in the workplace. Whether you're a student, educator, or industry leader, this session will offer practical guidance and thought-provoking perspectives on navigating the AI-powered future of work.

The path from classroom to career is rarely a straight line—especially in today’s fast-changing economy. In this panel, successful alumni from Pamplin’s MSBA-BA program will share candid perspectives on navigating uncertainty, building resilient career strategies, and preparing for opportunities you may not see coming. Together, panelists will explore questions like: How do you find your footing when industries shift? What skills matter most across different career paths? How can students stand out to employers while remaining adaptable? Whether you’re an undergraduate exploring your first job options or a graduate student refining your career path, this panel will give you practical strategies, personal stories, and encouragement for charting your own way forward.

In a world reshaped by AI and complexity, how do leaders and learners stay ahead of the curve? This panel explores the rise of lifelong learning as a core leadership competency. Featuring tech and education pioneers Rishi Jaitly (OpenAI advisor), Somiah Lattimore (Apex Center, VT), and Mehul Sanghani (CEO, Octo), the session will examine how executive education, innovation ecosystems, and career agility equip professionals to thrive amid uncertainty. Moderator Jennifer Riley (Director, Pamplin College of Business Office of Graduate Programs, VT) will guide a dynamic conversation on what it means to lead with purpose, build learning cultures, and develop the human side of the AI-powered future.