Tech Horizons Executive Forum: Exploring the future of AI, business and innovation

On November 26, 2024, CIBC Square hosted the sold-out Tech Horizons Executive Forum in partnership with the University of Waterloo, curated by WatSPEED, the university’s professional, corporate and executive education division. The event brought together more than 300 senior leaders from organizations such as CIBC, IBM Canada, Manulife and Microsoft to explore the evolving landscape of technology and its impact on business and society.

The forum opened with remarks from Dr. Vivek Goel, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Waterloo, who emphasized the importance of stronger collaboration between industry and academia to stay ahead of technological disruption.

Richard Jardim, EVP and Chief Technology Officer at CIBC, reinforced the importance of forward-thinking approaches to innovation as the pace of technological change accelerates. He noted that leadership in innovation is not just about solving today’s challenges but also having the ability to adapt in real time. Jardim highlighted the collaboration between CIBC and WatSPEED as a strong example of how industry and world-class research institutions like the University of Waterloo can work together to drive meaningful impact.

• Bruce Flatt, CEO of Brookfield Asset Management, highlighted the upcoming investment era fueled by digitalization and renewable energy, emphasizing the transformative role of artificial intelligence in driving productivity and the need for Canada to capitalize on these opportunities.
• Victor Dodig, President and CEO of CIBC, sat down with Dr. Vivek Goel to discuss Canada’s economic future and technology’s role in driving national prosperity. They explored the need for building an AI-ready workforce, stronger digital infrastructure and a culture of continuous learning across businesses, policymakers and educational institutions.
• Mellody Hobson, Co-CEO and President of Ariel Investments, closed the series with insights on leadership in an AI-driven world. She emphasized the power of inclusive leadership, diverse thinking and the role of technology in shaping the future of business and financial services.

AI was a recurring theme throughout the day, with industry leaders discussing how organizations can prepare for and maximize AI-driven transformation.

In a panel discussion on AI applications, Jodie Wallis, Global Chief Analytics Officer at Manulife, highlighted how AI literacy is becoming essential across industries:

“We’ve moved from 200 people needing to understand AI to all 40,000 employees needing to engage with it. We’ve launched massive learning programs, ‘Prompt-a-thons’ and communities of practice that include everyone from junior employees to the CEO.”

This sentiment was echoed by Nicole Janssen, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of AltaML, who stressed the importance of hands-on experience with AI:

“How organizations enable AI use matters because you learn through using it. Get AI in the hands of your team — they’ll find more effective ways to leverage it than you think.”

• AI is already shaping the future – Organizations that embrace it thoughtfully will have a competitive advantage.
• Upskilling will be key – As AI becomes more integrated into work, ensuring employees at all levels have the right knowledge and tools will be essential.
• Collaboration drives progress – Cross-industry partnerships and knowledge sharing will be crucial in unlocking AI’s full potential.

Coming out of the event, it’s clear that business and technology are evolving together, and that evolution will only accelerate thanks to AI, automation and digital transformation.

CIBC was proud to host and help lead these discussions, and we’re grateful for our longstanding partnership with the University of Waterloo as we work to shape the future of financial services in Canada.