Data & AI Think Tank

As chief cloud architect James is lead, coach and developer of the enterprise cloud architecture at Boeing. Charting the technology strategy which includes considering both technology and business trends & factors. Identify the IT functions which can be centralized across the company and work seamlessly. The identification of the enterprise architecture view of infrastructure design on performance of cloud design and consumption.

Sameer is the SVP , Technology at Forbes Media LLC and leads their DevOps, Security , Corp IT , Engineering and QA . He has extensive experience in all facets of IT right from starting out as a C++, Java developer to DevOps , Security and Cloud infrastructure. Sameer is also a member of ISC2 and has CISSP and CCSP certifications. He loves to work out , to go on long walks , a Linux hobbyist and avid gardener

Finance Information Technology Enterprise Architect, specializing in Treasury, responsible for design and delivery of a high-performing and scalable architecture supporting Finance’s goals of enhancing controls and information quality, leading to greater capacity for analysis and advice of financial data. PMP certified, Senior Project Manager with technology management experience designing and implementing information technology systems. Strong leadership expertise in Business Intelligence solutions for Investment Banking and Financial Services. Specialties: Design and implement robust and scalable Business Intelligence solutions for various LOBs for Investment(Credit Risk) and Financial services.

A rare C-suite digitally native executive with deep operational and advisory leadership experience, passionate about helping clients envision and execute aggressive transformation agendas while ensuring operational resilience. Expert in leading consensus-rooted change to automate and streamline legacy operations, digitally transform the customer experience, and create a security-first, data-centric mindset, no matter the industry involved. Adept at working with CEO’s, Boards, and Investors to envision, launch, and successfully implement multi-billion-dollar technology transformations, merger integrations and divestitures, and new products. Demonstrated ability to view business portfolios (legacy, existing or acquisition targets) dispassionately, and to transform, reposition, integrate, or divest as needed to accomplish strategic aims while preserving essential culture.

Yelena is a seasoned technology professional, whose career journey reflects her deep commitment to innovation, technology, and leadership. She began her career as a software developer, quickly distinguishing herself through her adeptness at coding and problem-solving. Overtime Yelena transitioned her focus towards data, driven by a passion for data and its potential to revolutionize virtually every industry. In her current role, Yelena is a Head of Public Cloud Data at Citi, where she oversees the strategic direction and execution of cloud data initiatives for the firm, fostering innovation to provide robust data solutions that support the organization's goals and objectives

Natalie is a global Financial Services executive with a unique combination of business innovation, strategy, and transformation experience based on a foundation of technology and risk management.  In her role at Adobe, Natalie drives a global financial services vision and leads the development of best-in-class digital document strategies, solutions, and partnership ecosystems.  Previously, Natalie held VP and Directorate positions at Société Générale Group and Leumi USA banks where she was responsible for driving forward each organization's innovation and transformation agenda.  Natalie honed her consulting skills as an Engagement Manager for McKinsey & Company.  She has been recognized with the Gold Stevie Award for Female Executive of the Year and titled one of Crain’s New York Business - Notable Women in Finance.  She holds her MBA from INSEAD and a Master’s in Computers & Economics from BNTU.  Natalie currently resides in New York City. 

Roeder Fletcher is the innovation success lead for some of the world's most recognized organizations at Reply, helping business leaders use the power of proprietary data to optimize decision-making and foster long-term innovation for revenue growth. With over a decade of experience bridging the gap between executive leadership and technical teams, Roe specializes in guiding customers through AI investments to increase competitive advantage and overall margin while aligning technical roadmaps to business strategy for continuous growth.

Don is a Partner at Reply, specializing in the governance, planning, and implementation of AI, data, and cloud solutions. With over 25 years of experience, he provides consulting services to organizations looking to leverage data and technology as essential differentiators and catalysts for growth. Passionate about guiding clients in defining and executing digital transformation strategies, Don plays a vital role in expanding Reply’s presence as a leading System Integrator Partner in North America, serving a diverse array of industries, including manufacturing, technology, distribution, and logistics.

Don lives in Northbrook, IL, and is a proud graduate of the University of Michigan and DePaul University. He is married and has two grown children, both recent college graduates.

Samrah Kazmi serves as the Chief Innovation Officer at RESRG, an innovation advisory firm. She also serves as adjunct professor at New York University and The Pratt Institute. Samrah's extensive experience in leadership roles in Financial Services and Technology, as well as her deep domain expertise make her a trusted advisor to a wide range of clients, including complex financial institutions, government agencies, higher education, startups, and corporate boards. She covers a broad spectrum of topics, including Artificial Intelligence, Digital Ethics, Cybersecurity, Privacy, GRC, Regtech and Regulation. Notably, Samrah led the merger of the New York Stock Exchange with InterContinental Exchange as part of an elite Risk team and the $200bn Risk Transformation of General Electric. As an entrepreneur, she was the co-founder of Maiden Century, an alternative data platform. She has been ranked as a Top 100 Global Regtech influencer and received the Inspiring Fintech Female award from NYC Fintech Women and serves on the boards of multiple startups. In addition to degrees in Economics, Journalism, and Business, Samrah also holds certifications in Disruptive Strategy from Harvard, Digital Transformation from UC Berkeley, and Corporate Innovation and Fintech from MIT.

Experienced Vice President Of Technology and Provost with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry. Skilled in Educational Technology, Adult Education, Academic Advising, Grant Writing, and Higher Education Leadership. Unique strength is my ability to integrate technology and higher education. Primary Strengths: --Organization Building: I have created a college from scratch; two institutes; traditional degree programs; online degree programs; a mobile app; and a company to deploy the app. --High Technology Proficiency: Fluent and versed in most contemporary technologies, with a focus in EdTech; previous experience includes the development of a mobile app; director of two technology-based institutes; and clear understanding of the theories and values that drive technologies. --Expertise in Learning: 35 years working in both Higher Education and EdTech; served in roles at all levels of diverse learning organizations; have worked with multiple learning modalities. --Intellectual Ability: Current work is focusing on technologically supported curriculum development and deep learning and virtual reality in learning.

Alex Shulman-Peleg, PhD, is a Managing Director and cybersecurity consulting leader at Ernst & Young in the Americas. She is supporting hundreds of clients with modernization and cost reduction via secure enablement of Clouds and AI, addressing the involved risk, cybersecurity and regulatory requirements. In her previous role, she was the Director and Head of Cloud Security at Citibank, where she established and led a global CISO cloud security program, as well as cloud-native security engineering enabling massive modernization and faster application development. Being a pioneer in Cloud security, she led IBM’s early products and groundbreaking R&D initiatives including multi-national European consortiums consisting of industry and research leaders. She has 14 patents and more than 30 scientific publications having thousands of citations. She has decades of technological leadership and holds PhD, MSc and BSc degrees in computer science in the areas of ML, AI and computer vision.

Roeder Fletcher is the innovation success lead for some of the world's most recognized organizations at Reply, helping business leaders use the power of proprietary data to optimize decision-making and foster long-term innovation for revenue growth. With over a decade of experience bridging the gap between executive leadership and technical teams, Roe specializes in guiding customers through AI investments to increase competitive advantage and overall margin while aligning technical roadmaps to business strategy for continuous growth.

Alaa Moussawi serves as Chief Data Scientist for the New York City Council, where he oversees the operations of the data and web development units. Under his leadership, the data operations unit promotes the utilization of data to shape legislative initiatives aimed at addressing the diverse needs of NYC's residents. Utilizing advanced statistical and technological tools, they analyze a broad spectrum of issues pertinent to the city, ranging from pay equity to school bus delays. Their objective is to empower policymakers with data-driven insights, ensuring transparency and reproducibility in their models and research. Simultaneously, the web development unit designs and implements technologies aimed at enhancing the efficiency of council staff while reducing cognitive load. By leveraging algorithms and natural language processing (NLP) technologies, they streamline user interfaces and automate complex tasks. Their solutions, developed exclusively using open source technology, are customizable and include CRMs, internal websites for streamlined processes like paperless hearings, dashboards, and machine learning models deployed to facilitate daily council operations.