What does it take to build confidence in AI as organizations introduce it into more areas of their business?

For executives responsible for data, technology, security, and enterprise transformation, that question reaches beyond the capabilities of individual AI tools.

On November 5, CDO Magazine brought together Southern California’s data, AI, and technology community for an Executive Boardroom Dinner at Restaurant 917 at the Porsche Experience Center in Carson, California.

The Executives from healthcare, financial services, technology, consumer businesses, and other industries engaged in an open exchange of perspectives.

Rather than following a formal presentation or panel format, the gathering gave participants an opportunity to connect directly with peers and discuss the opportunities and responsibilities that accompany enterprise AI adoption.

Building Trust Without Slowing Innovation

As AI becomes more deeply integrated into business operations, organizations face decisions about how to balance innovation with oversight.

Questions of transparency, accountability, security, and responsible use become especially important when AI systems influence business decisions or handle sensitive information.

For Doss Tychicus, AIDS Healthcare Foundation Chief Information Officer, the evening reinforced the importance of approaching innovation and governance together:

“It was a pleasure to be part of an evening that brought together technology leaders to exchange ideas and perspectives on the future of AI governance. As AI continues to transform organizations, innovation must go hand in hand with responsibility, transparency, security, and accountability. AI governance is not about slowing innovation; it is about building the trust, policies, and safeguards that enable organizations to adopt AI confidently and responsibly. Ultimately, our goal should be to harness AI to create meaningful business value while protecting the data, people, and communities we serve.”

His reflection captures an important distinction for enterprise leaders: governance and innovation do not have to compete.

Establishing clear policies, accountability, and safeguards can help organizations pursue new AI capabilities while remaining responsible for how those capabilities are used.

Connecting AI Strategy With Organizational Responsibility

One of the challenges facing organizations is ensuring that AI initiatives align with broader business priorities.

The value of an AI investment cannot be measured solely by what the technology can accomplish. Leaders must also consider whether the organization has the appropriate data, processes, controls, and accountability to support its use.

Organizations operating in healthcare, financial services, and other sectors may have different requirements, but they share an interest in adopting AI in ways that protect information, support sound decisions, and deliver meaningful outcomes.

The Southern California gathering created space for executives working in different environments to exchange perspectives and build relationships with peers navigating similar questions.

The Value of an Open Executive Conversation

The evening’s open format allowed executives to connect without the structure of a formal panel.

George Trujillo, Collibra Senior Business Value Consultant, served as lead moderator, supporting the exchange among participants.

For CDO Magazine, creating opportunities for executives to connect across organizations and industries remains central to building strong local communities.

Anthony Losanno, CDO Magazine Managing Director, shared his reflection:

“What I appreciate about bringing this community together is the willingness of executives to share perspectives across industries. These conversations remind us that while organizations may be approaching AI from different starting points, many leaders are working through similar questions about trust, accountability, and business value. Creating space for those connections is what makes our Executive Boardroom Dinners meaningful.”

Data, AI and Technology Leaders Who Joined the Southern California Conversation:

• Devansh Agarwal, DoorDash Senior Data Scientist
• Akbar Akbari Esfahani, Central California Alliance for Health Enterprise AI Transformation Leader
• Amanda Bailey, Former Xbox Media Solutions Vice President, Global Analytics
• Yael Berkovich, UCLA Health Director, Enterprise Information Architecture
• Julianne “Jules” Brownell, MetLife AVP Global Data Strategy
• Quincey Collins, Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP Chief Security Officer
• Amir Dahbashi, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services Data Intelligence Director
• Vishal Garg, Pacific Life Data Management Consultant
• Shant Gharibi, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services Data Analytics Director / Technology Specialist
• Ian Joyce, The Honest Company Senior Manager, Data and Integrations
• Kiran Kanetkar*, Cencora Head of AI Insights and Engineering
• Saydulu Kolasani*, AXS Chief Digital & Technology Officer
• Abhijeet Kumar, Providence Executive Director, Head of Marketing Analytics
• James Lin, Experian Head of AI/ML Innovation
• Trisha Mitra-Nedic, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services Chief Analytics Officer
• Manzoor Mohideen*, Beckman Coulter Director, Enterprise Data & AI Strategy
• Sid Ramesh, Creative Arts Agency Executive, Head of Data Strategy & Operations
• Desmond Smith, United Talent Agency Head of Enterprise Applications
• Jay Tomkins, Thrive Market Head of Analytics and Data Engineering
• Doss Tychicus, AIDS Healthcare Foundation Chief Information Officer
• Hari Krishnan Umapathy, BODi Director, Data Engineering
• Lindsay Combs Roland, Collibra Senior Field Marketing Manager, North America
• Katherine DeWolfe Teresczenko, Collibra Senior Account Executive
• Charles Mae, Collibra Staff Customer Engineer
• George Trujillo, Collibra Senior Business Value Consultant
• Allison Witt, Collibra Global Practitioner
• Gerri Caveness, CDO Magazine Global Community Director
• Anthony Losanno, CDO Magazine Managing Director

*Kiran Kanetkar, Saydulu Kolasani and Manzoor Mohideen are CDO Magazine Global Board members. 

CDO Magazine thanks Collibra for supporting the Southern California Executive Boardroom Dinner and helping bring the regional data, AI, and technology community together.