IDC believes that the next phase of the market transition towards AI Everywhere will focus on delivering quantifiable business impact from ongoing AI investments. This will play out across three broad categories:
It will also mean new questions will be asked at every layer of the tech stack: What’s the optimal infrastructure environment (Cloud, On-Prem/Edge) for the various types of AI models? How will infusing AI in applications lead to monetization? And how will new value accrue due to the AI Transformation of services?
Join us at IDC Directions 2024 as we explore these themes, answer the emerging questions and showcase the Digital Business Impact of AI Everywhere!
Thursday, March 14, 2024 -- 7:15 am - 4:50 pm
Boston Convention and Exhibition Center
Registration Rates
Standard Rate: $895
Attention IDC Clients: contact your IDC account executive for a complimentary registration code for your tickets to Directions 2024.
Who Attends
Directions is attended by executives from ICT companies, technology professionals, and members of the investment community, including those in: Executive management, IT, marketing/business development, product management, strategy and planning, financial services, and more.
7:15 AM |
IDC Product Showcase - Open Throughout the Day |
An interactive IDC Product Showcase highlighting our latest offerings through a series of detailed demonstrations and conversations with IDC analysts and product specialists. The IDC Product Showcase is open throughout the day for walk-up service and discussions. All attendees are welcome to stop by without appointment. |
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7:15 AM |
Registration and Continental Breakfast |
8:45 AM |
IT and The AI Moment |
Over the last 12 months, AI has changed collective thinking around the future of technology markets. Like the internet and the browser, AI promises changes we are only beginning to understand. What do these advances mean for technology markets overall? What can we expect in terms of total market demand? What challenges and opportunities lie ahead for customers as they navigate a new AI-enabled world? This session will provide highlights of IDC’s latest ICT market data and AI spending expectations, along with key tech predictions for 2024 and beyond. Crawford Del Prete President, IDC
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9:05 AM |
The IT Industry's AI Pivot: Thinking Global, Delivering Local |
Enterprises are shifting the weight of their technology investments toward AI-enhanced products/services and use of AI across the business. One industry, however, must make this AI pivot even faster: the IT Industry itself. Every IT company — from silicon to software to devices to network services to datacenters to professional services — is investing treasure, brain power, and time to make AI the foundation of their business. This session will provide insights into how the AI pivot changes enterprises’ cloud decisions; what role embeddable-AI in devices play in enabling AI expansion; and how AI-driven transformation alters relationships across the software and services Industries. The AI pivot will be the fastest worldwide IT Industry shift ever, but it will also be the most sensitive to local conditions and requirements. We will identify critical region/country specific issues that must be addressed to deliver AI everywhere.
Rick Villars Group Vice President, Worldwide Research, IDC
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9:25 AM |
From Breakthrough to Impact: Monetizing AI in the Enterprise |
Why is there always a significant time lag from breakthrough technology innovation to get to scale in the enterprise? For example, it took approximately more thana decade for the cloud market to reach 10% of total IT spend. In parallel, we have seen other innovation technologies such as blockchain and the Metaverse make an initial breakthrough, but then fail to make a meaningful impact in the business. The big question for 2024 is whether the emergence of Generative AI will be the catalyst for rapid AI adoption and drive another phase of tech investments for the C-Suite - particularly given the number of AI false starts in the past. This session will leverage the latest findings from IDC’s CEO Study 2024 to highlight key investment drivers, high value use cases as well as key barriers that need to be surmounted in order to accelerate the AI adoption in the enterprise in 2024 and beyond. Philip Carter Group Vice President, Worldwide Thought Leadership Research, IDC
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9:50 AM |
Q&A with Crawford Del Prete, Rick Villars and Phil Carter |
Tony Olvet Group Vice President, Worldwide C-Suite and Digital Business Research, IDC
Crawford Del Prete President, IDC
Rick Villars Group Vice President, Worldwide Research, IDC
Philip Carter Group Vice President, Worldwide Thought Leadership Research, IDC
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10:15 AM |
Networking Break and IDC Product Showcase |
During the break, check out the interactive IDC Product Showcase highlighting our latest offerings through a series of detailed demonstrations and conversations with IDC analysts and product specialists. The IDC Product Showcase is open until 3:30 pm for walk-up service and discussions. All attendees are welcome to stop by without appointment. |
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10:25 AM |
Analyst 1:1 Meetings - Session #1 |
10:50 AM |
Analyst 1:1 Meetings - Session #2 |
11:20 AM |
Thriving Strategy for an AI Era: Reinvent Business Model to Unlock Defensible Moats |
Generative AI is undeniably a growth catalyst, transforming industries and reshaping the way businesses operate. Its ability to generate content, streamline processes, and drive innovation alongside traditional AI is propelling organizations into a future where creativity and efficiency go hand in hand. Striking the right balance between innovation and responsible use is crucial to ensure that GenAI continues to be a force for growth. Whether you are an emerging vendor or an incumbent technology supplier, the topic of the hour is how do you build defensible business value when intelligence is being democratized. This session will walk through a framework for reinventing your business model and transforming how you create, deliver and capture value leveraging the defensible moats. Ritu Jyoti Group Vice President, Artificial Intelligence Research, Global AI Research Lead, IDC
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11:40 AM |
Optimizing Infrastructure for the GenAI Era |
Technology continues to be foundationally important for businesses working to revolutionize their operations using enhanced data models and efficient workload deployments. This session delves into the crucial impact of technology in generating value for companies as they securely manage workloads throughout edge, core, and hybrid cloud settings. The focus will be on customizing infrastructure approaches and automating IT operational processes for optimal performance. Join Matt Eastwood, as he discusses how to navigate the changing landscape of infrastructure optimization, fueled by new data models and cutting-edge generative AI applications. Matthew Eastwood Senior Vice President, Enterprise Infrastructure, Cloud, Developers and Alliances, IDC
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12:00 PM |
The New Era of Experience Orchestrated Applications |
Organizations have multiple innovation pathways to effectively compete in the digital economy. They have many options in sorting out deployment models, integration, legacy custom and packaged applications, modernization, and the scenarios for layering in AI capabilities. Adding in industry differentiators, technology/employee resource optimization, cultural shifts and change management, the complexities are magnified and creating the right application strategy becomes daunting for many. IDC has introduced an approach to this challenge that builds on a robust data platform and orients development efforts and investment toward personalized user experiences. In this session, Mickey North Rizza will share the Experience Oriented (XO) framework and will discuss how this will impact application development strategies, AI adoption, and software investment. Mickey North Rizza Group Vice President, Enterprise Software, IDC
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12:20 PM |
Q&A with Ritu Jyoti, Mickey North Rizza and Matt Eastwood |
Tony Olvet Group Vice President, Worldwide C-Suite and Digital Business Research, IDC
Ritu Jyoti Group Vice President, Artificial Intelligence Research, Global AI Research Lead, IDC
Matthew Eastwood Senior Vice President, Enterprise Infrastructure, Cloud, Developers and Alliances, IDC
Mickey North Rizza Group Vice President, Enterprise Software, IDC
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12:50 PM |
Lunch and Lunchtime Sessions |
1:00 PM 1:30 PM |
Lunch & Learn Sessions (Parallel Sessions) |
Lunch Session #1 - Sustainable AI and AI for Sustainability – Leveraging the upside while mitigating the risks of artificial intelligence to accelerate sustainable transformation
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Sustainable AI and AI for Sustainability – Leveraging the upside while mitigating the risks of artificial intelligence to accelerate sustainable transformation
Artificial intelligence has a tremendous potential to accelerate organizations’ sustainable transformation journeys and create business value by helping them automate their ESG data collection and increase the accuracy of their reporting, improve operational efficiencies as well as anticipate and respond to supply chain risks. However, the use of AI also poses risks that can harm their ESG performance, compliance, and trustworthiness, e.g., if algorithm bias leads to unfair or unethical decision making. As organizations are implementing artificial intelligence into their operations, they need to be strategic about the sustainability-related use-cases that generate the greatest financial and non-financial ROI, and aware of the industry-specific risks that this technology can pose. This Lunch & Learn Session highlights current market trends and research findings in the context of IDC’s sustainable transformation and maturity research Bjoern Stengel Global Sustainability Research and Practice Lead, Sustainable Strategies and Technologies
Lunch Session #2 - Skilling Up, Skilling On: The Zen of GenAI Training
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Five Truths and a Lie: How GenAI Impacts Skills Training Now
More than half of enterprises are either already implementing GenAI for enterprise work or plan to do so this year. But training IT workers on how and when to use ChatGPT and similar Large Language Models (LLMs) is only half the equation. Organizations that use GenAI to create training and personalized courses get employees up-to-speed on important technologies faster. In this presentation Gina takes a long look at how organizations can train workers on Gen AI and also use GenAI to create training writ large, especially in the context of a widening IT skills shortage.
Gina Smith, PhD Research Director – IT Skills for Digital Business, IDC
Lunch Session #3 - GenAI Use Cases - Moving the Needle
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM
GenAI Use Cases - Moving the Needle
Your organization may already be experimenting with generative AI, or perhaps you are just jumping in. Clearly there are many opportunities to deploy GenAI for improved business outcomes, but where should you begin? Which use cases will move the needle? This Lunch & Learn session will provide an overview of key functional and industry use cases, as identified by recent C-suite research and a multi-disciplinary/multi-regional team of IDC analysts. This could be the inspiration that you need! Holly Muscolino Group VP, Content Strategies and the Future of Work, IDC
Lunch Session #4 - Examining The Evolution of The Finance Department
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Examining The Evolution of The Finance Department
The current uncertainty has sharpened the focus on financial operations. The processes of financial close, budgeting, forecasting, cash management are being forced to become faster and more efficient. This is ushering in a new way of thinking about the future of financial operations and the tools/technologies needed to be effective. Join us as we explore the evolution of the finance function. Kevin Permenter Research Director, Financial Applications, IDC
Lunch Session #5 - The Emergence of GenAI Use Cases: Industry Knowledge and Expertise Becomes Imperative
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM
The Emergence of GenAI Use Cases: Industry Knowledge and Expertise Becomes Imperative
Generative AI is having a profound impact across all industries. Nearly 2 out of 5 technology buyers report that generative AI has already disrupted their business (19.1%) or will have a significant impact in the next 18 months (18.3%). With the emergence of AI use cases industry knowledge and expertise is more important than ever for technology suppliers according to IDC’s GenAI ARC Survey (August 2023). In this session we will provide an overview of our generative AI research, IDC Industry Intelligence, and a sneak peek at IDC TechPath Survey that will cover AI, cloud, and cybersecurity by industry. Lynne Dunbrack Group Vice President, Public Sector, IDC
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1:05 PM |
Analyst 1:1 Meetings - Session #3 |
1:35 PM |
Analyst 1:1 Meetings - Session #4 |
2:00 PM 3:10 PM |
Afternoon Track Sessions (Parallel Sessions) |
Track #1 - Infrastructure
2:00 PM - 2:20 PM
Strategies for Successful GenAI Infrastructure Operations at Scale
The anticipated pace of GenAI workload deployments planned for 2024 is driving enterprise infrastructure teams to rethink data center, cloud and edge strategies. Hybrid and multicloud architectures demand robust data integration and workload interoperability. Rising operational complexity is forcing organizations to rethink IT and Cloud Ops skills and processes, even as they race to embrace a new generation of AI-enabled automation. Business imperatives around intellectual property protection and cyber security further complicate GenAI infrastructure deployment choices, governance models and ROI assessments. Attend this session to hear how leading enterprise IT buyers are adapting digital infrastructure operating models to enable more effective delivery of GenAI at scale while paving the way for broader AI implementations in the coming years. Mary Johnston Turner Research Vice President, Future of Digital Infrastructure, IDC
2:25 PM - 2:45 PM
The Networking Opportunity in Generative AI
In this presentation, we highlight the near, mid, and longer-term opportunities in Generative AI from a Multicloud and Datacenter Networking lens. Our market and technology insights are based on our primary research with Enterprise Buyers, across major industry verticals and use cases. Vijay Bhagavath Research Vice President, Cloud and Datacenter Networks, IDC
2:50 PM - 3:10 PM
Dawn of the AI PC
In 2024 we’ll see a fast ramp of PCs equipped with neural processing units (NPUs) designed to efficiently run AI tasks locally versus in the cloud. These new AI PCs could fundamentally change how we interact with our devices and data and may radically rewrite what it means to be productive. In this session, Tom Mainelli articulates IDC’s AI PC taxonomy, discusses early IT buyer interest in the category, and presents the company’s first worldwide AI PC shipment forecast. Tom Mainelli Group Vice President, Devices & Consumer Research, IDC
Track #2 - Data & Models
2:00 PM - 2:20 PM
Making GenAI Work for Business: Beyond Big Models in the Sky
The GenAI market has been kickstarted by the availability of consumer services powered by publicly-available, shared foundation models – colossal GenAI models that are pre-trained on colossal amounts of data. However when it comes to implementing GenAI use cases within businesses, public foundation models by themselves only have a limited role to play: organizations will custom-build and fine-tune models, as well as integrating pre-trained models with their own data. Attend this session to learn how organizations will leverage a variety of implementation approaches for GenAI, and to understand the implications for AI model platforms and data management and governance tools, processes and practices. Neil Ward-Dutton Vice President, AI and Intelligent Process Automation European Practices, IDC
2:25 PM - 2:45 PM
From AppDev to ModelDev: Creating and Monetizing Technologies that Optimize GenAI Models for Development
The maturation and proliferation of generative AI technologies has disrupted the software development lifecycle by foregrounding the importance of foundation and large language models for the development of digital solutions to business problems. This talk examines opportunities for technology suppliers to create solutions that enhance, enrich and streamline application development processes, with a specific focus on the development of the models and platforms that undergird generative AI-based application development. The talk will examine opportunities for technology suppliers to monetize technologies that optimize models for application development use cases and workstreams. Arnal Dayaratna Research Vice President, Software Development, IDC
2:50 PM - 3:10 PM
Harmonizing the AI and Machine Learning Lifecycle: The Importance of Orchestration
AI/ML Orchestration is the coordination and automation of various tasks involved in the end-to-end machine learning lifecycle, including building, deploying, managing, and monitoring models. Building an AI/ML model is easy, but operationalizing it can be very complex. AI/ML models must be seamlessly integrated into complicated enterprise applications, workflows, and infrastructure. Join this session to explore how disparate ML components can be united into a harmonious, repeatable, and adaptable AI/ML orchestra! Kathy Lange Research Director, AI Software, IDC
Track #3 - Security, Governance & Trust
2:00 PM - 2:20 PM
A Framework Based Approach to Securing AI & Embedding Trust
ChatGPT (Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer) launched to the world on November 30, 2022. Based on a large language model, it enabled users have interactive “conversations” with the artificial intelligence (AI) enabled software and unlock the riches buried in data stores. Microsoft Security Copilot, Google Cloud Security AI Workbench, AWS Titan/Bedrock, and IBM watsonx only served to intensify the buzz. GenAI has inspired a new way of thinking around interactions between human and machine.
GenAI is also fueling the largest technology paradigm shift since birth of the Internet. Just as the Internet changed the manner in which we approached security so too will GenAI. The way we protect our GenAI applications and platforms will need to be adapted for evolutionary and revolutionary AI technologies. This session will provide a framework-based approach to the security and governance of AI, providing recommendations for organizations going down the AI path. Frank Dickson Group Vice President, Security & Trust, IDC
2:25 PM - 2:45 PM
GenAI: Privacy and Regulatory Challenges to Consider
This session discusses the privacy and regulatory implications associated with generative artificial intelligence technologies. Explore issues related to the generation of realistic and potentially sensitive content, addressing concerns such as data privacy, misuse of generated content, and the need for appropriate regulations to govern the ethical deployment of generative AI. The presentation will delve into potential solutions and best practices for mitigating privacy risks while fostering responsible development and use of generative AI technologies. Ryan O'Leary Research Director, Privacy and Legal Technology, IDC
2:50 PM - 3:10 PM
Improving Cybersecurity with GenAI
Using AI is not new to cybersecurity vendors since many incorporate AI today to find anomalies in behavior and configurations that would be missed if done manually. Now, however, cybersecurity companies see a lot of opportunity to help their customers be more efficient and productive by offloading some tasks to GenAI. We will look at the potential for GenAI to help security analysts and engineers with their day to day work. Michelle Abraham Research Director, Security and Trust, IDC
Track #4 - Experience-Orchestrated Applications
2:00 PM - 2:20 PM
AI-Infused Apps and the Evolving Employee Experience
AI and GenAI capabilities will change everything from job roles to day-to-day employee experiences in the coming years. How we work, how long we work at something, what we work on – all will take on new forms. Companies want better guidance on the technical and organizational impact of AI-infused applications. They need to know how the employee lifecycle will be changed, how to balance technical and human skills development, and how to navigate the complexities of IT deployment against change management. In this session Amy Loomis will explore the employee experience in context to IDC’s experience orchestrated (X-O) business framework – specifically how to support strategic decision making around AI adoption, app development, and employee lifecycle management to derive business value. Amy Loomis Research Vice President, Future of Work, IDC
2:25 PM - 2:45 PM
Delivering Customer Value with Experience Orchestrated Applications
Over the last year, GenAI has been successfully applied to improve employee productivity; however, improving customer experiences, not so much. As organizations become more comfortable with a future of AI Everywhere, digital businesses must take a step forward to extend that value to the customer. Not only is the customer in the driver's seat, but they are accelerating demand for faster response times and personalized engagement that AI/GenAI is primed to address. It means connecting the person in finance with the person who is paying the bill using AI-infused capabilities to improve the interaction. In this session Marci Maddox will look at how the future of experience-orchestrated intelligent applications will transform the software market and deliver shared value between the business and its customers. Organizations will move beyond process-oriented SLAs to value-oriented XLAs that emphasize the importance of data to connect the dots across customer journeys and employee workstreams fueling AI-driven decisioning and empowerment. Marci Maddox Research Vice President, Digital Experience Strategies, IDC
2:50 PM - 3:10 PM
How X-O Apps Can Help Drive Value
As technology innovations continue to accelerate, organizations are struggling to define, calculate and track the value of technology investments across the solution lifecycle. While technology initiatives typically start with robust plans and a solid road map, the reality of managing implementation, deployment and ongoing operations sets in fast. CFOs and CIOs need solutions designed to improve value realization across their technology landscape. The promise of experience-orchestrated (X-O) applications includes advanced services capabilities that can help. In this session, Elaina Stergiades will highlight how X-O applications can accelerate value realization throughout the solution lifecycle as well as the steps you can take to quantify the ROI for complex technology initiatives. Elaina Stergiades Research Director, Software and Hardware Support Services, IDC
Track #5 - AI Transformation of Services
2:00 PM - 2:20 PM
The AI Transformation of Services
AI, particularly GenAI, is both a disruptor and a value driver for the services industry. The pervasiveness of embedded AI in service delivery will reshape all services markets – from business services, to IT services, to digital and operational technology (OT) services – though the impacts will vary. While transforming internally, services providers need to continue delivering value and meeting evolving customer needs, including supporting customers through their own AI transformations. In this session, discover IDC’s latest research on buyer expectations for how AI will impact their relationships with services providers in the next few years, and hear recommendations on how to turn your AI transformation into competitive advantage. Jennifer Hamel Research Director, Enterprise Intelligence Services, IDC
2:25 PM - 2:45 PM
A Consulting-led Approach for AI Use Case Success
AI Use Cases are enticing to organizations as they offer the promise of accelerated business transformation. At the same time, AI will have significant and complex impacts on people, processes, platforms, applications, and infrastructure interdependencies that must be thoughtfully considered. In this session, attendees will understand how Professional Services offers are being developed to enable organizations to securely, sustainably, cost effectively, ethically, and innovatively implement and adopt AI and GenAI use cases into their business, technology, and operational roadmaps. Leslie Rosenberg Research Vice President, Network Life-Cycle Services and Infrastructure Services, IDC
2:50 PM - 3:10 PM
Services Providers' Strategic Value Is Under Attack: How Can They Fight Back?
IDC’s new ServicesPath research program has uncovered an uncomfortable truth for many traditional service providers—they have slipped backwards in their customers' strategic priority ranking compared with technology firms and/or public cloud providers. Come learn about what the ServicesPath survey data says and hear recommendations about how traditional service providers can manage the coopetition. Leveraging AI, addressing the talent squeeze, increasing the use of both managed services and asset-based consulting, and pricing for value will all factor prominently in addressing this reality. Gard Little Vice President, Global Services Markets and Trends, IDC
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3:15 PM |
Networking Break |
3:35 PM |
General Session |
Tony Olvet Group Vice President, Worldwide C-Suite and Digital Business Research, IDC
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3:45 PM |
Closing Keynote: Clarity in uncertain times: what to expect from today's economic and political uncertainty |
The Honorable Christopher E Campbell is one of the world’s leading experts in the economy and business markets, Christopher Campbell is the former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Financial Institutions. In one of the most critical roles in the Treasury department, Campbell was responsible for coordinating efforts regarding the legislation and regulation of financial institutions, federal agencies that regulate or insure financial institutions, and securities markets. Overseeing a staff of 200, he managed programs including government-sponsored enterprises, cyber security and compliance policy, the Federal Insurance Office (FIO), as well as small business, community development, and affordable housing policy. Christopher Campbell Former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Financial Institutions
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4:20 PM |
Closing Reception |
Crawford Del Prete
President, IDC
Rick Villars
Group Vice President, Worldwide Research, IDC
Philip Carter
Group Vice President, Worldwide Thought Leadership Research, IDC
Tony Olvet
Group Vice President, Worldwide C-Suite and Digital Business Research, IDC
Ritu Jyoti
Group Vice President, Artificial Intelligence Research, Global AI Research Lead, IDC
Matthew Eastwood
Senior Vice President, Enterprise Infrastructure, Cloud, Developers and Alliances, IDC
Mickey North Rizza
Group Vice President, Enterprise Software, IDC
Bjoern Stengel
Global Sustainability Research and Practice Lead, Sustainable Strategies and Technologies
Gina Smith, PhD
Research Director – IT Skills for Digital Business, IDC
Holly Muscolino
Group VP, Content Strategies and the Future of Work, IDC
Kevin Permenter
Research Director, Financial Applications, IDC
Lynne Dunbrack
Group Vice President, Public Sector, IDC
Mary Johnston Turner
Research Vice President, Future of Digital Infrastructure, IDC
Neil Ward-Dutton
Vice President, AI and Intelligent Process Automation European Practices, IDC
Frank Dickson
Group Vice President, Security & Trust, IDC
Amy Loomis
Research Vice President, Future of Work, IDC
Jennifer Hamel
Research Director, Enterprise Intelligence Services, IDC
Vijay Bhagavath
Research Vice President, Cloud and Datacenter Networks, IDC
Arnal Dayaratna
Research Vice President, Software Development, IDC
Ryan O'Leary
Research Director, Privacy and Legal Technology, IDC
Marci Maddox
Research Vice President, Digital Experience Strategies, IDC
Leslie Rosenberg
Research Vice President, Network Life-Cycle Services and Infrastructure Services, IDC
Tom Mainelli
Group Vice President, Devices & Consumer Research, IDC
Kathy Lange
Research Director, AI Software, IDC
Michelle Abraham
Research Director, Security and Trust, IDC
Elaina Stergiades
Research Director, Software and Hardware Support Services, IDC
Gard Little
Vice President, Global Services Markets and Trends, IDC
Christopher Campbell
Former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Financial Institutions
IT executives rely on IDC and Foundry events for discovering new ideas, trends, and solutions that drive their technology strategies. Leveraging IDC’s deep market intelligence and advisory expertise, and Foundry’s rich media brands (CIO, Computerworld, InfoWorld) and relationships, IDC and Foundry produce powerful learning and networking experiences for IT decision makers around the world.