GenAI Day

Opening Keynote: Leading in the Age of AI Agents

David Mantica • Managing Director, SoftEd

The leadership playbook is being rewritten. With Gartner predicting that 80% of project management tasks will be AI-driven by 2030 and KPMG reporting that 44% of leaders expect agents to take lead roles in managing projects, the question for every leader has shifted from "should we adopt AI?" to "how fast can we transform?" David sets the stage with a clear-eyed look at what's actually working in enterprise AI adoption, where organizations are stalling, and the leadership capabilities that separate companies scaling AI successfully from those stuck in pilot purgatory.

Agentic Workflows in Practice: Building AI Systems That Actually Scale

Zaki Medina • AI Consultant & Former Microsoft AI Business School Instructor

Over 40% of agentic AI projects are predicted to fail by 2027 - not because the models aren't smart enough, but because enterprises can't operationalize them. Drawing on 17+ years of experience shaping AI strategies for Fortune 100 companies, Zaki walks through the architecture, integration patterns, and governance models that separate agentic AI pilots that stall from those that scale to production. He'll cover real-world examples from healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing where multi-agent systems are delivering measurable results, and share the common pitfalls that trip up even sophisticated teams.

Meaning and Purpose in the Age of AI: Making AI Human

Jordan Plawner • Founder, Pacific AI Advisory & Former Intel AI Strategy Executive

AI is arriving fast, and most people are caught between hype, fear, and fatigue. This keynote helps professionals of all backgrounds understand what today’s AI actually is, what it can and cannot do, and how to use it in ways that protect identity, purpose, and creativity.

Jordan Plawner guides audiences through an inner loop of change—mindset, skills, and everyday AI use—that turns uncertainty into agency and frees time for more meaningful work. Then he opens the outer loop: how teams and organizations are beginning to redesign workflows and roles around AI, and what that means for your career, contribution, and sense of meaning at work.

Participants will gain:
- Practical ways to nurture personal growth, meaning, and contribution as automation grows.

Break

15-minute networking break

Building Custom AI Agents: A Hands-On Guide to Purpose-Built GPTs

George Churchwell • Director of Generative AI Solutions, Mt. Tam Innovations LLC

Generic AI tools produce generic results. George has built over a hundred custom AI applications - from sales intelligence scripts targeting billion-dollar markets to AI-assisted eLearning content for Cisco - and he'll show you exactly how to build purpose-built GPTs tailored to your team's specific workflows. This session covers practical prompt engineering patterns, how to design AI tools that your team will actually use, and the architectural decisions that determine whether a custom agent becomes essential infrastructure or just another tool gathering digital dust. You'll leave with a blueprint for building your first (or next) enterprise-grade custom AI application.

AI for Everyone: Practical Tools That Transform How You Work Today

Tony Rockliff • Founder, AI Connection Club

You don't need to be a developer to put AI to work. Tony has been building AI applications since 1998 and has delivered hundreds of AI seminars showing professionals how to integrate AI into their daily workflows. In this session, he'll demonstrate the most practical AI tools and techniques available right now - from multi-model platforms that consolidate your AI subscriptions to custom assistants that automate marketing, content creation, and research. Tony's approach is hands-on and tool-specific: you'll see live demonstrations of real workflows and leave with a curated toolkit you can start using immediately, regardless of your technical background.

AI-Powered Project Delivery: Transforming How Teams Plan, Execute, and Adapt

Chris Knotts • Principal Consultant, Technology Transformation Strategies

With AI agents on track to take lead roles in 44% of project workflows within the next two to three years, project managers and business analysts need to evolve their practice now. Chris brings two decades of experience in enterprise technology enablement to show how AI is transforming every phase of project delivery - from requirements gathering and sprint planning to risk prediction and stakeholder communication. He'll walk through concrete examples of how teams are using AI to accelerate data engineering, automate documentation, enhance decision-making in agile environments, and bridge the gap between business strategy and technical execution.

AI Visibility and Your Professional Edge

Lara Hill • VP Marketing, SoftEd

AI isn't just changing how we work. It's changing how professionals and organizations are discovered, evaluated, and trusted. Lara shares a forward-looking session on how AI is reshaping professional visibility: from AI-powered search and AI Engine Optimization to building a personal brand that stands out in an AI-saturated landscape. She'll cover actionable strategies for digital presence, ethical AI integration in marketing, and how to position yourself and your organization as AI-forward leaders in your industry.