Note: Schedule subject to change
Friday, Oct. 24
All sessions to be held in the Business Entrepreneurship Leadership Center
8:30 – 9:00 a.m.
Registration and Networking Breakfast
BELC Lobby & Amphitheater
Kick off the day with check-in, breakfast, and informal networking.
9:00 – 9:45 a.m.
Opening Session – Framing the AI Imperative: Risks, Rewards and Strategic Posture
BELC Amphitheater, 3rd Floor
- Speakers:
Ross Gittell, President, Bryant University; Rupendra Paliwal, Provost and Chief Academic Officer, Bryant University
9:45 – 10:30 a.m.
State of AI: What Business Leaders Need to Know
BELC Amphitheater, 3rd Floor
This session presents ISG’s latest research on enterprise AI adoption, investment priorities, and scaling challenges. Attendees will learn where organizations are investing, where gaps persist, and how AI initiatives are structured to deliver measurable value.
- Speaker:
David Menninger, Executive Director, Technology Research, ISG Software Research & Distinguished Analyst
10:30 – 10:35 a.m.
Introduction of Breakout Topics
BELC Amphitheater, 3rd Floor
10:45 – 11:15 a.m.
Speaker Presentations on Industry Applications of AI
BELC, 2nd Floor
Breakout discussions will focus on sector-specific applications of AI, from BFSI to healthcare, retail, and business functions.
- BFSI (Banking, Financial Services & Insurance)
BELC S253
Speaker: Lois Coatney, Partner, Banking, Financial Services and Insurance, ISG - Healthcare
BELC S267
Speaker: Alex Kleinman, Senior Vice President, Genpact - Business Functions (HR, Finance, Marketing, Sales)
BELC S243
Speaker: Loren Absher, Director, Americas Lead – Applied AI Advisory, Market Position & Enablement, ISG
11:15 a.m. – Noon
Panel Discussion on Industry Applications of AI
BELC 2nd Floor
- BFSI Panel: Exploring risk, regulation, and AI-enabled decisioning in financial servicing
BELC S253
Speakers: Jeff Brown ’86, Partner, P&C, ManageMy; Bob Calabro ’88, Partner & Boston Tax Market Champion, PwC; Lois Coatney, Partner, Banking, Financial Services and Insurance, ISG; Rajaram (Raj) RK, Vice President, Global BU & Sales Head of Banking & Financial Services, Americas, Infosys - Healthcare Panel: AI in diagnostics, imaging, and policy implications
BELC S267
Speakers: Dr. Kirsten Hokeness, Director, School of Health and Behavioral Sciences, Bryant University; Dave Comella, Vice President of Data, Analytics & AI, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island; Karen Carlson, Chief Operations Officer, NHPRI; Dr. Grayson Baird, Vice Chair of Research, Brown University; Shafqat Azim, Americas Lead – Digital Transformation Practice, ISG - Business Functions Panel: Augmenting processes in HR, Finance, and IT with AI
BELC S243
Speakers: Dr. Suhong Li, Chair & Professor, Information Systems and Analytics, Bryant University; Loren Absher, Director, Americas Lead – Applied AI Advisory, Market Position & Enablement, ISG; Manjanath Nayak, Global Chief Delivery Officer, Microland; Dr. Stefanie Boyer, Professor of Marketing, Bryant University
Noon – 1 p.m.
Networking Lunch
BELC Event Space, Ground Floor
Enjoy a full hour for lunch and informal discussion.
1:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Navigating the Impact of AI on Software and Services
BELC Amphitheater, 3rd Floor
This session will explore how AI impacts enterprise software, service delivery, and pricing models. Discussion includes consumption-based economics, retraining costs, and vendor selection frameworks.
- Speakers:
David Menninger, Executive Director, Technology Research, ISG Software Research & Distinguished Analyst; Loren Absher, Director, Americas Lead – Applied AI Advisory, Market Position & Enablement, ISG
1:30 – 1:45 p.m.
AI @ ISG: How AI is Transforming Our Business Processes
BELC Amphitheater, 3rd Floor
ISG will share how it embeds AI into research, benchmarking, and operations – balancing governance, agility, and innovation.
- Speaker: Paul Reynolds ’91, Partner & Chief Officer, ISG
1:45 – 2:15 p.m.
Panel: Enterprise Transformation Driven by AI – Rethinking Your Business Model
BELC Amphitheater, 3rd Floor
A strategic dialogue on how AI is reimagining core business models, ecosystems, and revenue strategies.
- Speakers: Thomas Dougherty, Executive in Residence, ISA Department, Bryant University; Matt Butler, Director of AI, Brown University Health; Loren Absher, Director, Americas Lead – Applied AI Advisory, Market Position & Enablement, ISG; John Boccuzzi, Jr., Partner & President, ISG Research; Todd Foley, Chief Digital Officer & Chief Information Security Officer, Lydonia
2:15 – 2:30 p.m.
Coffee Break
BELC Amphitheater, 3rd Floor
Refresh, recharge, and connect with fellow attendees.
2:30 – 3:00 p.m.
AI Impact on the Workforce – Panel Discussion
BELC Amphitheater, 3rd Floor
Exploring the future of work in the AI era: reskilling, ethical adoption, and designing effective human + AI models.
- Speakers: Dr. Todd Alessandri, Dean, College of Business, Bryant University; Laurie White, President, Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce; John Boccuzzi, Jr., Partner & President, ISG Research
3:00 – 3:15 p.m.
The Business Case for AI
BELC Amphitheater, 3rd Floor
A practical framework for building ROI-driven AI roadmaps, balancing risk, governance, and scalability.
- Speaker: David Menninger, Executive Director, Technology Research, ISG Software Research & Distinguished Analyst
3:15 – 3:30 p.m.
Closing Remarks – Looking Ahead: Sustaining Momentum in AI Adoption
BELC Amphitheater, 3rd Floor
Closing reflections from Bryant University leadership on sustaining AI transformation and embedding agility into operating models.
- Speaker: Rupendra Paliwal, Provost and Chief Academic Officer, Bryant University
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Closing Reception and Open Networking
BELC Event Space, Ground Floor