Justin Heller

Day 1 Wednesday, April 22, 2026

8:40 AM Morning Mindshare Meetup: Mastering Your Data Future - The Game-Changing Do's and Don'ts for Your Success

Fuel your morning with a stimulating exercise designed to engage, enlighten, and evolve. We’re not just setting the tone but pioneering conversations that matter, creating a dynamic platform in which brainstorming meets expertise. In deep-dive conversations led by our distinguished advisory board, get ready to reimagine your data strategies by unveiling the transformative ✅’s and ❌’s pivotal for driving unparalleled success. Once you’ve exchanged best practices and benchmarked with your fellow data leaders, our distinguished advisors will share their group’s findings with the entire audience from the main stage.

10:25 AM Spotlight: Building Data-Driven Organizations that Empower Data Leaders

Empowerment and accountability remain critical questions for CDOs and their data teams. This campfire-style spotlight provides concrete, peer-led case studies demonstrating how organizations successfully secured executive alignment and built the necessary cultural, governance, and technological foundations to empower their data leaders to thrive. Join two data champions to learn:

Actionable strategies for overcoming internal politics
Framing complex data conversations for executive consumption; and
Transforming data teams into essential revenue-driving partners

1:45 PM Data Dives

Join these incisive deep dives into specific, nitty-gritty problem-solving. Take control of your event experience by seizing this unique opportunity to benchmark directly with data executives.

1. From Dirty Data to Golden Record: Implementing a Data Readiness Framework that Drives Real Business Value

Hosted by Vincent DelGuercio, Chief Customer Officer, Redpoint Global

2. Your Legacy Core Is Your Biggest Regulatory Liability — And You Can't See Inside It

Hosted by Caitlyn Truong, CEO, Zengines

3. Selling Governance to the Business – Overcoming Internal Politics and Reluctance for Data Ownership

Hosted by Fabien Thiaucourt, SVP, Data Governance & Enablement, Mastercard

4. Navigating the Technology Tightrope: Evaluating Build vs. Buy for AI & Analytics Capabilities

Hosted by Diego de Aragao, SVP, Balance Sheet Management & Analytics, Citi

5. Data Quality Messes: Sharing Failures and Lessons Learned

Hosted by Justin Heller, Former SVP, Chief Data Officer, Synchrony Financial

6. Removing Organizational Friction and Operationalizing Information Work with a Strong Data Foundation

Hosted by Michael Lowe, Account Executive, M-Files

7. Predictive Power for Credit Unions: Leveraging External Data for Targeted Campaigns

Hosted by Ramesh Sepehrrad, VP, Head of Tech and Cyber Risk, Navy Federal Credit Union

Day 2 Thursday, April 23, 2026

9:25 AM Panel Remix: Cross-Industry Insights - Strategi Lessons Learned from Data Leaders Beyond Finance

Data leaders in insurance, healthcare, and other data-driven sectors have navigated challenges that mirror those now facing financial institutions—from governance and data quality to AI readiness and cultural transformation. In this panel, executives from across industries share candid lessons learned—the wins, the missteps, and the strategies that delivered real value. Join us to explore how financial data leaders can adapt these proven approaches to drive innovation, resilience, and smarter data ecosystems in banking and asset management.

Practical strategies from other industries to accelerate data maturity in financial services
Lessons learned from failed data initiatives—and how to avoid repeating them
Proven governance and culture frameworks adaptable to financial institutions
Cross-industry approaches to scaling AI, analytics, and data-driven innovation