All 2025 Conference Sessions

Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo™ conference dove deep into key topics for CIOs and IT executives around AI, cybersecurity, cloud and more.

Session Takeaways

Dive into some of the key takeaways you may have missed from Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo™ conference.

Gartner Opening Keynote: Walking the Golden Path to Value

Speakers:

  • Alicia Mullery, VP Analyst
  • Daryl Plummer, Distinguished VP Analyst

Key takeaways

  • Avoid extremes of AI disbelief and hype; most GenAI initiatives fail, so focus on realistic value rather than vendor claims.
  • Appoint a dedicated AI leader to improve project sustainability, trust, and performance outcomes.
  • AI value depends on human readiness: invest in upskilling, change management, and strategic alignment to maximize benefits.
  • Evaluate AI readiness, calculate hidden costs, and choose vendors carefully; build human skills and AI literacy to capture long-term value.

Leadership Greatest Hits – 2025 Edition: A Playlist of Actions for CIOs to Lead Better

Speakers:

  • Kevin Smith, Sr Director Analyst

Key takeaways

  • Leadership is Multidimensional. Leaders must lead up, across peers, down to their own group, outside the organization, and from within as an evolving leader.
  • Leveraging AI for leadership success is not cheating, it is simply using emerging technologies to strengthen influence and impact and champions a team-based approach.
  • Co-leadership is essential for scaling IT change. Today's technology leaders foster much of the change but will need to co-lead transformation with stakeholder leaders in all parts of the organization.

4 Generative AI Skills to Master in 2025

Speakers:

  • Tori Paulman, VP Analyst

Key takeaways

  • Bridging the AI Optimism Gap: Executive leaders are enthusiastic about AI’s potential, but most workers feel their skills are underutilized and remain skeptical. Closing this gap is critical.
  • Mastering Four Essential GenAI Skills: Success with generative AI depends on proficiency in use case identification, tech fluency, effective prompting, and output discernment. 
  • Fostering Ongoing Engagement and Community: Dedicate time for experimentation, reward breakthrough ideas, and form GenAI communities of practice to accelerate skill development and innovation.

The AI Future of Leadership and Management

Speakers:

  • Kristin Moyer, Distinguished VP Analyst

Key takeaways

  • By 2028, 75% of employees will be trained and coached by AI when entering new roles. Leverage AI as a mentor to accelerate junior employee skills development.
  • AI should augment, not replace, managers. Reduce mundane tasks so managers can focus on delivering greater value.
  • AI turns good leaders into unstoppable powerhouses. Use AI as a sounding board to magnify executive capabilities and capacity.

Be the first to receive the 2026 conference agenda

Get the latest details around the 2026 conference agenda, speakers and more straight to your inbox.

By clicking the "Continue" button, you are agreeing to the Gartner Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Contact Information

All fields are required.

background wave background wave background wave
Look back at 2025 Conference Sessions

Hundreds of conference sessions were presented each day at the 2025 Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo. While we work to develop this year's agenda, filter to see sessions that align with your role and interests.

Show Filters

Filter Sessions Cancel
Showing 608 Sessions
Clear All
Sunday, October 19, 2025

06:00 PM - 07:30 PM EDT

Welcome Reception

We invite you to join us at our Welcome Reception Block Party for an evening of networking, food, drinks, and music from our DJ entertainment! Keep an eye out for “Industry Neighborhoods” - informal areas to connect with peers in your industry - while venturing through the entire block. We recommend wearing comfortable clothes and shoes so you can enjoy the beach setting! Please note, you must pick up your conference badge from registration to attend. ... Show More Show Less
Monday, October 20, 2025

10:00 AM - 10:45 AM EDT

Gartner Opening Keynote: Walking The Golden Path to Value

Daryl Plummer, Distinguished VP Analyst, Gartner
Alicia Mullery, VP Analyst, Gartner
AI isn't everything, but it's touching everything. To achieve the next level of value, you must navigate the blinding hype surrounding AI readiness and the lagging progress of human readiness. Join Gartner’s Opening Keynote to discover how CIOs, AI leaders and IT leaders can chart their own "golden path" – navigating vendor choices, reimagining the workforce and redefining organizational identities – to be agents of change. ... Show More Show Less

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM EDT

6 Measures That Will Enhance Your IT Business Value Story

Robert Naegle, VP Analyst, Gartner
Communicating IT’s business value can be challenging. What makes a good business value story? What metrics should CIOs use to communicate IT’s value to business leaders and board members? This session will propose six universal value measures, explain how to build value metrics and when to use them in your business value narratives. ... Show More Show Less

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM EDT

Ask the Expert: How Do I Overcome Resistance From My CxO Peers?

Christie Struckman, Distinguished VP Analyst, Gartner
While the demand for technology solutions is at an all-time high, many CIOs face what feels like resistance from their peers when delivering these solutions. It can be difficult to get the right level of engagement during the design and development of those solutions, and often there is pushback on the costs. Join this session to learn strategies to overcome resistance. ... Show More Show Less

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM EDT

Ask the Expert: How to Navigate Operational Technology Digitalization Challenges and Opportunities

Jo-Ann Clynch, Sr Director Analyst, Gartner
Power and utilities have progressed the IT/OT integration agenda. To be successful, utilities must leverage both OT and IT data in a unified data fabric. This is foundational for operational and financial success. Move beyond the chaos of passive dashboards to operational insights that lays the foundation for simulation and optimization. Join peers to navigate the traps and pitfalls of the journey. ... Show More Show Less

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM EDT

Ask the Expert: Navigating International AI Laws and Regulations

Whit Andrews, Distinguished VP Analyst, Gartner
Join this session to understand the evolving landscape of AI laws and regulations, and their impact on your organization. This session will equip CIOs with the knowledge to ensure compliance and mitigate risks associated with AI deployment. Gartner does not offer legal advice. ... Show More Show Less

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM EDT

Autonomous Business: What's Next After Digital Business

Don Scheibenreif, Distinguished VP Analyst, Gartner
After 10 years, organizations are at various stages in their digital transformation journeys. However, AI is disrupting even these transformations. What will business look like when AI and automation changes the nature of competition and value, what a customer is, what a product is, your operating model, and the nature of leadership itself? In this presentation you will learn about Gartner's view of what's next: Autonomous Business ... Show More Show Less

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM EDT

Black Leaders in Technology Peer Meetup: Navigating the Tech Industry as a Black Professional

Join this session to connect with your peers as we celebrate the power of being a Black technologist in the tech space. How are you navigating some of the current challenges in the space? What are some best practices that we can learn from one another? This Peer Meetup is open to all end-user attendees. Peer Meetups are networking sessions that allow you to connect and share with a small group of your peers, without Gartner facilitation; Please make every effort to attend as other attendees will be looking forward to meeting with you. ... Show More Show Less

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM EDT

CIO Circle Roundtable: Getting Ahead of Strategic Trends for the Future (Multi-Group)

Annette Dunn, Executive Partner, Gartner
Dick Steiner, Sr Executive Partner, Domains, Gartner
Pinkaj Klokkenga, Executive Partner, Gartner
Vinay Dhawan, Sr Executive Partner, Gartner
Janet Lee, Sr Executive Partner, Gartner
William Snyder, Sr Executive Partner, Domains, Gartner
Paul Friedman, Sr Executive Partner, Gartner
Steve Goldberg, Sr Executive Partner, Domains, Gartner
With quantum, GenAI, agentic AI, blockchain, next generation cloud all on the horizon, what do CIOs need to future-proof both themselves and their organizations? What strategic trends and investments are you focusing on now to prepare for the next five years? Join this conversation with your CIO peers to discuss your perspectives on the trends shaping the near future and how you're picking your head up from the day to day to prepare for the future. ... Show More Show Less

... Show More Show Less
Items per page: 19 of 608 Items
1 of 67 Pages

Sorry, no sessions match your criteria. Please refine your filters to display sessions.

“It really helps you get away from the operational things you’re doing every day, and think about what’s next.”

JR Williamson
Senior Vice President & Chief Information Security Officer, Leidos

Discover what it’s like to experience #GartnerSYM