Roundtable: Leading Innovation and Growth in a Disruptive Era

In an era of disruption, Canadian CIOs remain uniquely positioned to lead their organizations through rapid technological evolution and economic shifts.

Staying ahead of emerging technology trends is essential. IT leaders must balance the rapid pace of change with risk mitigation, workforce transformation, and strategic growth initiatives. An interactive forum presents a valuable opportunity to learn from the successes and experiences of peers, uncover new approaches to solving common challenges, and collaborate on shaping the future of digital leadership.

With these principles in mind, The IT Media Group brought together 20 cross-industry IT executives for a roundtable entitled "Leading Innovation and Growth in a Disruptive Era." The session uncovered the strategies and tactics CIOs and CTOs employ to lead their organizations during challenging times.

Jeff Ishii, Chief Technologist at The IT Media Group, moderated the roundtable. Also participating were executives from the session sponsor Pythian, CIO & CTO, Paul Lewis and Field CTO, Ernest Solomon.

Roundtable members discussed obstacles and best practices for the following topic areas:

1. AI Adoption and Business Transformation

• AI Organizational Transition Strategies
• Compelling AI Use Cases
• AI Integration and Optimization

2. Data-Driven Decision-Making

• Choosing the Right Analytics Platform
• Data Integration and Access Complexities
• The Data Modernization Mandate

3. Cloud Optimization and Automation

• Cloud Data Configurations
• AI-Centric Cloud Modernization

Ernest Solomon expressed appreciation for the shared insights and urgency for action in what he described as the "warp speed era of innovation." He urged tech leaders to recognize that the rapid evolution of AI, data, and cloud technologies is fundamentally reshaping how organizations operate across industries. "It is going to be a new way of working," he noted, highlighting the shift toward not just customer- or operation-centric models but also employee-centric approaches that prioritize adoption. He framed this era as a transformational moment that requires CIOs to rethink strategies, architectures, and engagement models.

Solomon's central call to action was the imperative to embrace data as a foundational asset. "Organizations must now double down on making data central to transformation efforts." He also acknowledged persistent challenges such as platform selection, BI integration, operationalization, and the "humanization" of tech. Success, he argued, will come from building robust frameworks that balance innovation with governance, risk, and compliance.

Paul Lewis emphasized that while many organizations are still figuring out how to harness AI, it's essential to approach it with strategic intent rather than fear or hype. He encouraged leaders to shift from reactive to proactive, stating, "It's not a matter of if AI is coming; it's already here. The question is: are you ready to apply it in meaningful ways to your business?" Lewis urged CIOs to go beyond proof of concepts and instead focus on operationalizing AI as sustainable and scalable. His core message was about readiness—not just technological, but organizational.

He also challenged participants to think more natively about AI, data, and cloud integration, saying, "We're not layering AI onto old systems; we need to think AI-native, cloud-native, and data-native." This mindset involves reimagining workflows, redesigning decision-making processes, and upskilling teams to use AI tools effectively. His call to action was clear: invest in foundational capabilities—data governance, infrastructure, and digital literacy—and "be deliberate in how you embed AI into the DNA of your organization."

All participants will receive a report providing critical insights into the discussion topics and more than 100 challenges, strategies, and tactics CIOs consider to ensure AI success.

Watch this space for video session highlights

The IT Media Group's CIO roundtables are among the most successful event programs for IT executives, bringing together scores of senior-level peers for thoughtful private discussions around the top issues facing enterprise IT. For a better understanding of these events, please visit our Video section.

The IT Media Group is an award-winning producer of events and content for senior IT executives. Based in Toronto, our leadership team includes some of the most experienced and well-respected media, technology and business professionals serving the IT executive community.