The 4th Annual Wisconsin Digital Symposium is your gateway to mastering digital transformation and driving product-led growth amidst the latest trends like AI-powered automation, generative AI democratization, and the rapid evolution of digital ecosystems. As organizations face heightened pressures from economic turbulence and emerging cyber threats, this event will equip you with the strategies needed to thrive.
Join us for a forward-thinking experience tailored to both technology and business leaders. Whether you aim to refine your digital strategy, harness the power of generative AI, or accelerate your organization’s adoption of cutting-edge digital tools, this symposium provides the insights and practical approaches you need to stay competitive in today’s fast-paced environment.
Don’t miss the chance to hear from industry pioneers, network with forward-thinking professionals, and take concrete steps toward future-proofing your business in the digital age.
This half-day program, hosted by UWEBC, will take place on May 1, 2025, from 8:00am-1:00pm. In-person attendance will be at Union South on the UW–Madison campus and includes lunch, and a virtual option will also be available. All sessions will be recorded and made available on demand for registered participants.
Registration is now open.
Keynote Speakers
Dr. Michael Proksch
Global AI & Data Expert, Author, and Chief Scientist at AccelerEd
Dr. Michael Proksch is a distinguished AI and Data Executive with a track record of driving large-scale AI transformations and delivering multi-million-dollar business impact through cutting-edge innovations. As a recognized thought leader in the field, he has worked with Fortune 500 companies and currently serves as Chief Scientist, leading AI and data initiatives at AccelerEd, where he spearheads AI-driven transformation for the University of Maryland Global Campus on a global scale. Dr. Proksch is also a bestselling author of The Secrets of AI Value Creation, co-written with Nisha Paliwal (MVP, Capital One) and Dr. Wilhelm Bielert (CIO, Premier Tech), providing strategic insights into AI’s role in business success.
Dr. Proksch is a sought-after speaker at industry conferences, sharing insights on AI strategy, innovation, and value creation, and we are excited to have him at our event!
Cortney Thompson Rowan
EVP, Strategy & Design, Delve
Cortney Thompson Rowan is an accomplished innovation executive and strategist, renowned for driving human-centered digital transformations and delivering significant business impact through intelligent and connected products and services. With extensive experience leading innovation initiatives across diverse industries, including roles as Managing Director for Accenture’s North America Smart Connected Products practice and currently serving as Executive Vice President of Strategy & Design at Delve, Cortney has successfully spearheaded multimillion-dollar innovation strategies and transformations for Fortune 100 companies and high-profile organizations such as NASA and the U.S. Marine Corps.
As a respected thought leader, Cortney’s insights have been featured in publications such as Harvard Business Review, MedCity News, and Fast Company, and she has delivered impactful TEDx presentations highlighting the transformative power of empathetic, user-centric design. Her expertise in leveraging digital platforms, AI, and IoT to create breakthrough product and customer experiences positions her as a sought-after speaker at leading industry events.
We are delighted to welcome Cortney Thompson Rowan to share her vision and strategies on driving innovation and delivering tangible business results at our event!
Distinguished Executive Panelists
Shane Achterberg
Position title: Director, IT Innovation, Automation and Architecture, Schneider
Michele Kaiser
Position title: Chief of Staff and Portfolio Manager, ISG, John Deere
Andrea McGill
Position title: GM - Global Order Operations, GE HealthCare
Paul Ryan
Position title: CIO, Kohler Co.
Event Hosts
Doug Barton
Director, UWEBC
As Director of the UWEBC, Doug Barton provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for this premier university-industry partnership involving more than 80 companies across diverse industries. Doug manages UWEBC staff, including practice directors and shared-services teams in event and member services, marketing, communications, and sales. He ensures the high-quality delivery and continuous improvement of UWEBC’s offerings, including peer-to-peer learning forums and advisory services designed to advance thought leadership, innovative business strategies, and emerging technologies.
Doug plays a pivotal role in establishing and nurturing relationships with member companies. He coordinates strategic initiatives aimed at sustainable growth and enhanced UW impact on Wisconsin industry under the Wisconsin Idea. Additionally, he leads the UWEBC Advisory Board and collaborates closely with industry and corporate relations professionals and executive and professional development programs across the UW-Madison campus. With over 30 years of experience, Doug brings extensive expertise from mission-driven and values-rich organizations, including senior leadership roles at UBIX.AI and IBM. He is an accomplished speaker, having presented globally on design thinking, entrepreneurship, disruptive technology, AI, and innovation.
Matt Seitz
Director of the AI Hub, UW–Madison
Matt Seitz is a leader with a passion for driving growth through technology and AI. A recognized thought leader in artificial intelligence, data analytics, and digital transformation, Matt brings 30 years of experience helping organizations solve business challenges through technology. As Director of University of Wisconsin’s AI Hub, Matt leads initiatives to advance AI research while fostering industry partnerships and preparing students for AI leadership roles. He authors a widely-read newsletter on AI and regularly delivers keynote presentations on technology and AI for business.
During his tenure as Director of Performance for Google Retail, Matt helped top U.S. retailers leverage AI-powered advertising and analytics to drive growth. He pioneered Google’s retail insights program across merchandising, stores, and retail media, helping improve profit margins, customer experience and operational efficiency. Matt also led Google’s omnichannel strategy and built a playbook to help CFOs better evaluate financial impact of digital investments. Matt’s previous experience also includes technology leadership roles at McDonald’s, where he led systems integration for a global supply chain transformation and Abbott Laboratories, where he built a new approach for digital and social media analytics.
Lightning Talk Speakers
Jelena Diakonikolas
Position title: School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences (CDIS), UW–Madison
David Dwight
Position title: Director of the Erdman Center for Technology Strategy and Product Management, Wisconsin School of Business
Arissa Sato
Position title: People and Robots Laboratory, UW–Madison
Graphic Recorder
Lin Wilson
VP of Information Design at LINK, a creative group that untangles complexity, designs change and delivers impact
Lin Wilson tames information chaos with art. He has visually clarified complexity for brands like Trek Bikes, Gates Foundation, Sierra Club, Milwaukee Art Museum and dozens of ad agencies such as CP+B, Chiat Day and DDB. For live events and meetings, Lin draws pictures of speaker presentations with a service called “graphic recording”. These visuals capture the memorable and takeaway points of conference speakers and has done this for companies, a few of the big 4 consultants, Ted Talks and at the Knowledge Summit in Dubai.
His recent efforts in education began with co-teaching visualization workshops at Emory Goizueta Business School and Vanderbilt Owen School of Management. He recently lectured at the University of Wisconsin Madison, teaching information graphics within UW Art. Raised in St. Louis, he is a graduate of the University of Kansas with additional study at the School of Visual Arts in New York.
Lin is based in Madison and is currently VP of Information Design at LINK, a left-brain-meets-right-brain consulting agency based in the Washington DC area. They use visual methods to co-create solutions to drive meaningful change and inspire action. After long hours creating and designing, he stretches by hiking the Ice Age Trail and kayaking.
Lin Wilson will be providing “graphic recording” on large boards at this event. These drawings capture the memorable and takeaway points of our speakers. They are a mix of words and pictures that will be great artifacts to refer to some of the insights and concepts you heard during the event. Attendees will have the opportunity to take pictures of and with his art throughout the day and can download a digital copy after the event as a keepsake.
Agenda
All times listed below are for May 1, 2025, and are in Central time. This agenda is subject to change.
8:00 am: Breakfast and Networking
8:30 am: Opening Remarks
8:35 am: Keynote: Overcoming the Challenges of AI Value Creation with Michael Proksch, Ph.D.
9:25 am: Accelerating into the Future: Transforming Business Capabilities with AI and Automation with FarWell
9:35 am: Keynote: A Better World by Design with Cortney Rowan and Matt Seitz
10:35 am: Break and Gallery
10:50 am: Distinguished Executives Panel: Designing and Leading Successful Innovation
11:55 am: Closing Remarks
12:00 pm: Lunch
12:30 pm: Luncheon Lightning Talks
1:00 pm: Adjourn to Gallery
Registration
Registration is now open! The pricing structure is below. In-person attendance will be at Union South on the UW–Madison campus, and a virtual option is also available.
In-person attendance: Members: $200 | Non-Members: $250
Virtual attendance: Members: $50 | Non-Members: $75
Convince Your Supervisor: Here’s a letter you can edit and send to your supervisor to make the case for participating in the Wisconsin Digital Symposium.
Thank you to our Steering Committee
Talal Butt
Position title: EVP and Chief Information Officer, Generac Power Systems Inc.
Sidd Kuckreja
Position title: SVP and CTO, TruStage
Kusum Rawat Verma
Position title: CIO - Employee Experience, GE HealthCare
Zak Rottier
Position title: Director, Enterprise Data Science & Machine Learning Research, American Family Insurance
Event Sponsors
Our sponsors make this event possible. We are so grateful for their support and contributions!
FarWell
gofarwell.com | LinkedIn | Facebook | X/Twitter
FarWell helps clients overcome obstacles and complete critical projects with confidence. From strategy to implementation, we provide clear, practical solutions that make a real difference for your team and your success.
FarWell will be presenting on May 1 about Accelerating into the Future: Transforming Business Capabilities with AI and Automation.
In 2025, businesses are embracing digital acceleration as a driving force for innovation, efficiency, and competitive advantage. By leveraging the transformative power of AI and automation, organizations are optimizing their operations, enhancing decision-making, and moving forward with actionable insights.
What sets FarWell’s AI Value Delivery Framework apart is its unique ability to tailor transformation strategies to each organization’s distinct needs, ensuring not just technological integration but a culture of adaptability and sustained business value.
Through customized blueprints, FarWell empowers businesses to evolve their capabilities and processes with confidence. Join us as we navigate this new frontier and redefine the future of business operations.
What to Expect: Highlights from Last Year's Wisconsin Digital Symposium
Snapshots from the 2024 Wisconsin Digital Symposium
Community Partners
Thank you to these incredible community partners for their assistance with the promotion of this event!
