Speakers/Topics

Chris Wilke - Keynote Speaker

Chris is a leader in SaaS (Software as a Service) with over 25 years in SaaS implementations.
He is the Chief Product Officer at AKW Ventures and the Head of Technology at Viewport, and he frequently publishes articles and blog posts on Artificial Intelligence.
 

Topic: AI Foundations and the Emergence of Digital AI Teams

Why is Generative AI such a big deal?
Get oriented.  See what’s possible.  Start building.
And, learn about where the trends are going.

Chloe LaPorte - Featured Speaker

After graduating from Tulane, Chloé worked in education reform with Teach For America in New Orleans, LA as a teacher, then an administrator for five years. Chloé pursued a Masters of Social Work because of her interest in mental health and her desire to work with adolescent girls and young women. In graduate school, Chloé worked in a correctional setting, providing group therapy to female inmates. Additionally, Chloé interned with an organization in Sydney, Australia, CanTeen, for adolescents and young people affected by cancer by providing online and phone counseling, as well as facilitating camps and programs for the young people. Chloé loved working with youth in this way, providing psychosocial support in a fun, peer-supported, and wholly nurturing environment. Chloé is thrilled to be a part of the Girls Empowerment Network team and is dedicated to improving the lives of girls by helping them find their power.
 

Topic:

The stories we tell ourselves are powerful. These stories can alter our behaviors and change the way we see ourselves and the world! By understanding what stories we are telling ourselves, we can become the author and redefine what we want our story to be. When we have a fixed mindset, we put ourselves into a box and believe that our stories cannot change. When we have a growth mindset, we don't allow ourselves to be put in a certain box. Instead, we believe that we can change and grow!
 
 

Carrie Goldberger

As a Principal Product Manager on Blackbaud's Data Intelligence team, Carrie manages an AI-driven product to serve prospect researchers and fundraisers in the social good community.
 

Topic: Lessons Learned Delivering an AI-Driven Product

Two years ago, I moved to the Data Intelligence team at my company in order to bring a new AI-driven product to market. In this session, I'll share some of my lessons learned from that experience.
Ultimately, my goal is to provide you with actionable ideas for responsibly incorporating AI into your product, as well as resources to help get you started on that journey.

 

Danelkis Sierra, CBAP

Danelkis is the Chapter Operations Manager at International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA), the global association for business analysis professionals. She has over 20 years of business analysis experience in various industries, ranging from hospitality and tourism to fintech and non- profit organizations. She holds the Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) credential, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality Management, focusing on Event Management.
 

Topic: Ignite your Leadership and Communication Skills

Effective communication and leadership skills are key to all positive outcomes, especially in our Business Analysis world with diverse stakeholders. This tutorial aims to empower individuals to unlock their potential by honing their communication and leadership skills. We will begin by exploring the fundamental principles of effective communication, delving into various communication styles, and the art of active listening. Participants will learn to navigate complex interpersonal relationships and articulate their ideas with clarity. With these foundational skills, they can build trust and rapport, both crucial for effective leadership. In line with this years’ theme “Igniting Your Potential” this tutorial is designed to equip individuals with the means to transform their personal and professional lives. It is not merely a tutorial but a catalyst for personal growth and development. By harnessing the power of effective communication and dynamic leadership, participants will unlock their true potential and embark on a journey toward achieving their loftiest aspirations.

Laura Robey

Laura Robey, CBAP, IIBA-AAC, IIBA-CPOA is currently a principal product manager with Walmart, Inc. in the total rewards domain, specifically supporting benefits systems for over 1.6 million US-based employees.
With over 20 years experience, Laura fell in love with visual modeling and other representations of business requirements ever since she was asked to “draw me a picture” over a decade ago. Laura currently serves her local BA community as president of the northwest Arkansas IIBA chapter and in her free time, likes to play trivia with friends at local restaurants and is a bit obsessed with Solitaire.

Colleen Cristarella

Colleen Cristarella, MBA, CBAP, IIBA-AAC, IIBA-CPOA is an endlessly curious business analysis practitioner for more than 20 years. With a passion for delivering the right solutions to customers, Colleen’s current role is that of a functional analyst at Simmons Foods. She is driven to support others in their pursuit of analysis excellence, participating as a volunteer and former staff member of the IIBA, VP of Marketing of the northwest Arkansas IIBA chapter, and blogs at www.analysisrocks.com.
 

Topic: Fearless and Unapologetic Diagramming 

A picture is worth more than 1,000 words. Yet sometimes we’re intimidated by notation standards and/or the very topic which we’re trying to depict. The result? The potential to spend way too much time doing something that should be super-simple in order to come to shared understanding with our business partners. Let me show you how to abandon the fear and plunge unapologetically into creating powerful diagrams to drive your projects forward fast!

In this session you will:

  • Learn why pictures can make all the difference in a project.
  • Eliminate fear of notation standards
  • Work with a familiar scenario to develop a set of highly-usable and reusable diagrams; for example: create a Data Flow Diagram in 5 minutes flat!
  • Bring your own real-life scenario to develop one or more diagrams.

Gaby Lio

Gaby Lio is a seasoned data scientist and the Emerging Technology Practice Lead for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) at CGI's U.S. Commercial & State Government operations. She leverages her extensive expertise in data analytics, data science, and predictive modeling to transform vast amounts of data into actionable insights for clients. Gaby's experience spans multiple industries, including healthcare, telecom, pharmaceuticals, and oil and gas.
 

Topic: Why Functional Analysts are the Secret Sauce for AI Solutions

In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, functional analysts play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between complex AI technologies and practical business applications. In this talk we will explore the lifecycle of deploying an AI solution and the pivotal areas functional analysts are needed for success.

The objectives of this session are to understand:

  • The end-to-end lifecycle for AI development
  • Why these projects tend to fail
  • Strategies to ensure success

Cindy Brummer

Cindy Brummer is an accredited UX professional – #030701001 and is the founder of Standard Beagle StudioIf you could only use one word to describe Cindy Brummer, it would be resilient. She is full of grit and demonstrates perseverance every day.

Everybody loves a comeback, and Cindy Brummer’s story is full of them. She has overcome setbacks to find her way into UX and become a pillar in the UX community.

 

Topic: Accessibility Is for Everyone

Ensuring accessibility is not just a legal obligation but the right thing to do. This presentation is designed to empower individuals and organizations to communicate inclusively. We'll explore practical, actionable steps that can be implemented immediately to enhance accessibility in various forms of communication, from digital content to everyday interactions.
Participants will learn:
  • The fundamentals of accessibility and its importance in today’s diverse society.
  • Key principles for creating accessible digital content, including websites, social media, and documents.
  • Techniques for ensuring non-verbal communication is inclusive.
  • Tools and technologies that support accessibility.
  • Best practices for making presentations accessible.

Leadership Panel Discussion

Discussion Topics:
  • Understanding Leadership Styles: Explore different leadership approaches and identify which resonates most with your personal style.
  • Influencing Without Authority: Learn techniques for gaining buy-in from stakeholders and fostering collaboration across teams.
  • Communicating with Impact: Develop essential communication skills to articulate insights and drive decision-making.
  • Navigating Change: Equip yourself with strategies to lead teams through organizational change, ensuring smooth transitions and sustained engagement.
  • Building a Leadership Mindset: Cultivate confidence and resilience to tackle challenges and inspire others.

Moderated by Danelkis Sierra (bio above)

Panelists:

  • Laura Robey (bio above)

  • Colleen Cristarella (bio above)

  • Jose DeLeon

    • Jose currently serves as the Director of Business Analysis & Customer Success at the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS). Jose provides guidance and collaborates with ERS stakeholders on devising effective and efficient approaches to achieving ERS goals and objectives. Jose also serves as the VP, Treasurer for IIBA Austin Chapter.
      Jose earned his Bachelor of Business Administration (Finance) from the University of Texas at Austin and his Master of Business Administration (Management Information Systems) from St. Edward’s University, where he currently serves as Adjunct Faculty Professor in the Bill Munday School of Business.
  • Michael Bailey

    • Michael started his career with the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) in December of 2006 as a CPS Investigations Caseworker. Since that time, his roles included Child Placement Specialist placing children into foster homes, CPS Trainer training new caseworkers, IT Functional Analyst (2015), IT Business Analyst, and IT Business Analyst Manager. In 2022 Michael briefly left DFPS and was a Business Analyst for the General Land Office and Health and Human Services. In 2023 he returned to DFPS IT as a Business Analyst Manager, which is his current role.
      Given his many years and roles with DFPS, Michael is committed to DFPS’s mission of protecting the vulnerable citizens of Texas. He found his calling combining the critical mission of DFPS and building/maintaining the software that support DFPS caseworkers that help them meet that mission. He loves his role as a Business Analyst Manager and takes his responsibilities as a Leader seriously.
      As a father of an almost 6-year-old daughter, Michael’s free time is almost completely consumed with puzzles, dress-up, fancily painted toenails, play dates, and family vacations