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HotTopics Studio Nashville

Country Music Hall of Fame

26th - 28th October 2026

Apply to join

HotTopics Studio World Tour

HotTopics Studio is the award-winning C-suite series where technology and marketing leaders come together to learn from peers, build meaningful relationships and shape what's next through trusted conversation and shared experience.

The HotTopics Studio World Tour connects six flagship Studios across the UK, Europe and the US, bringing one community together through a year of leadership, learning and shared experiences.

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Recognising the people shaping what's next

As the next stop on the HotTopics Studio World Tour, Nashville brings together leaders from across the global HotTopics community to recognise achievement, celebrate innovation and honour the people driving change across business and technology.

Set within the iconic Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville combines trusted peer conversation, shared experiences and community celebration, creating a unique opportunity to connect with some of the world's most influential technology and marketing leaders.

Event details

Venue:
Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville  

Date:
26th - 28th October 2026

Who can attend:
HotTopics Studio Nashville is an invitation-only experience for senior technology and marketing leaders, including:

  • CIOs, CTOs, CISOs, CDOs, CMOs and other senior executives and decision-makers

Why attend?

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Celebrate achievement

Recognise the leaders, teams and organisations making a difference across technology, security, data, digital and marketing while celebrating the achievements shaping the future of business.

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Learn from the people doing it

Hear honest stories, practical lessons and real experiences from leaders driving change inside some of the world's most influential organisations.

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Build relationships that count

Spend time with peers facing similar challenges, opportunities and decisions in an environment designed for meaningful conversation.

 

Why Nashville?

Every Studio takes place in a location worth experiencing.

Known for its culture, creativity and storytelling, Nashville provides the perfect backdrop for a Studio focused on celebration, recognition and community.

After two successful years in the city, we're returning to the Country Music Hall of Fame because it consistently delivers what HotTopics Studio does best: bringing exceptional people together in memorable ways.

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Agenda

11:00 am - 2:00 pm
The Ultimate Music City Tour
Daytime VIP Experience

Ride through the heart of Nashville aboard the Old Town Trolley and experience a city that truly lives and breathes music. Enjoy live performances from an entertainer tour guide as you pass iconic landmarks, including the Ryman Auditorium, Music Row, Historic Jefferson Street, and the Elliston Place Rock Block. Complete the experience with a lunch stop in Midtown - this is Nashville at its very best.

Limited availability. Current wait list in place.

7:00 - 9:00 pm
HotTopics Studio Nashville launch party
Launch Party

Join us on the Ole Red Rooftop for honky-tonk vibes, live country music and some true southern food, drinks and line dancing. Meet your fellow peers, connect with Global C-suite Award winners, and hear a few words to officially launch an unforgettable few days ahead.

8:00 am → 9:00 am
Registration and networking breakfast
Networking
Country Music Hall of Fame
Join us as we kick off The Studio Nashville. Grab a coffee, meet your peers, and get ready for a day of bold conversations and leadership insights.
9:30 am → 9:40 am
Welcome to HotTopics Studio Nashville
Welcome
Country Music Hall of Fame
9:40 am → 10:00 am
Opening Keynote
Keynote
Country Music Hall of Fame
Pavan Pidugu
CDIO - U.S. Department of Transportation
10:00 am → 10:30 am
Less reactive, more adaptive - What if change was never the disruption?
Panel
Country Music Hall of Fame

What if change isn’t something to manage, but something we’ve failed to design for?

As change becomes a permanent operating condition, advantage shifts to organisations built to adapt continuously—without the drama, heroics, or narrative whiplash we still seem to rely on. So what would it mean to design an organisation where change no longer feels exceptional?

Eileen Bridges
SVP, Business Information Security Officer - Truist
Tipu Swaran
Director - Technology Strategy & Transformation - Capital One
10:30 am → 11:00 am
What happens to the brand when the algorithm gets it wrong?
Panel
Country Music Hall of Fame
When AI decisions go public, failure is no longer an engineering issue—it’s a leadership one. Trust broken by systems no one can fully explain can’t be repaired with messaging or velocity. Are leaders ready to stand behind decisions they didn’t directly make?
Sridher Arumugham
VP & CDAO - DigiKey Electronics
Howard Miller
CIO - UCLA Anderson School of Management
11:30 am → 12:30 pm
Networking Roundtables
Roundtables
Country Music Hall of Fame
1:30 am → 2:00 pm
If your organisation chart vanished, who would still listen to you?
Panel
Country Music Hall of Fame

In complex, engineering-led environments, formal authority weakens as it crosses teams, platforms, and incentives. Credibility—not title—determines whose voice carries.

How many leaders are actually being followed, rather than merely complied with?

2:00 pm → 2:45 pm
Challenge Nashville - Building a tech scene and not just a sector
Fishbowl
Country Music Hall of Fame

Nashville has the talent, the ideas, and the energy—but how do we turn it into a thriving, world-class tech ecosystem?

During this collaborative session, we ask our C-suite community for their ideas, challenges and creative thinking to engage on how we connect, unite, develop, and promote this incredible city to attract global innovators, empower entrepreneurs, and lead the nation in technology-driven growth.

3:15 pm → 4:15 pm
Networking Roundtables
Roundtables
Country Music Hall of Fame
4:15 pm → 4:45 pm
Hiring for what you have or what you need
Panel
Country Music Hall of Fame
Laura Prietula
CEO - Seldon Advisory Services
Crystal Broj
Chief Digital Transformation Officer - Medical University of South Carolina
4:45 pm → 5:00 pm
HotTopics Studio Nashville close
Close
Country Music Hall of Fame
We’ll wrap up day one with a few final reflections before heading into the evening’s experiences, drinks, and the Global C-suite Awards Dinner.
7:00 pm → 9:00 pm
Awards ceremony and dinner
Awards
Country Music Hall of Fame
10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Reflections of the HotTopics Studio Nashville and looking into 2027
experience
Listening Room

Join us at The Listening Room for a curated executive session designed to reflect on the previous day’s discussions and turn insight into action. This intimate forum gives C-suite leaders the opportunity to review key takeaways, revisit critical themes, and dive deeper into the ideas that matter most—free from the noise of the main stage.

12:30 pm → 1:30 pm
Singer-songwriter experience and close
Entertainment
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What to expect

Global CIO 100

The Global C-Suite Awards ceremony

Peer nominated, peer judged and peer celebrated, the awards recognise the people shaping what's next and the achievements driving our industries forward.

real talk, bold thinking

Executive Roundtables

Join trusted peer discussions designed to encourage honest conversation, fresh thinking and practical insight.

Small-group discussions create the space for the conversations that rarely happen on a conference stage.

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A taste of Nashville

Some of the most valuable conversations happen away from the stage.

From community dinners and networking experiences to a taste of Nashville's unique culture and hospitality, every moment is designed to strengthen relationships.

Speakers

Pavan Pidugu

Pavan Pidugu

Chief Digital and Information Officer, U.S. Department of Transportation

Eileen Bridges

Eileen Bridges

SVP, Business Information Security Officer, Truist

Tipu Swaran

Tipu Swaran

Director - Technology Strategy & Transformation, Discover

Sridher Arumugham

Sridher Arumugham

VP & CDAO, Digikey Electronics

Howard Miller

Howard Miller

CIO, UCLA Anderson School of Management

Laura Prietula

Laura Prietula

CEO, Seldon Advisory Services

Crystal Broj

Crystal Broj

Chief Digital Transformation Officer, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)

Gallery

Thanks to our partner

Apply to join

Engage, share, and learn with the brightest minds in our global C-suite community at this exclusive, premium event.
While attendance is free, we require a commitment to attend or to send a representative if you cannot make it.
Simply fill in the form below to secure your spot.
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FAQS: HotTopics Studio Nashville 2026

 

What costs are covered by the event?

HotTopics Studio Nashville event is free to attend and includes all meals and curated experiences during the event.

 

What expenses are not included?

Attendees are responsible for their own flights, travel, and hotel accommodation, as well as any costs incurred outside of the official Studio event series.

 

What is the dress code for the event?

HotTopics Studio Nashville is an informal yet impactful event for C-suite executives. Please dress in attire that makes you feel comfortable and confident.

 

How do I register my interest in attending?

Simply fill in the registration form to express your interest

 

Is this event open to everyone?

HotTopics Studio Nashville is an exclusive, invite-only event. Applications will be reviewed, and confirmed participants will receive a personalised onboarding experience.

 

Who can I contact for additional questions or special requests?

For further information or special requests, please email us at thestudio@hottopics.ht.

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