HotTopics Studio: Abbey Road Studios

Day 1 Theme  

Leading at the edge of whats next:

Transformation with purpose

How leaders are setting direction, aligning teams and turning bold ideas into progress.

In an era where disruption is constant and innovation outpaces strategy, today’s leaders must do more than keep up—they must continuously evolve. Traditional business structures are flattening, go-to-market models are shifting overnight, and certainty is a luxury few can afford. This session explores how modern executives lead through ambiguity—balancing speed with purpose, and innovation with values—to not just survive change, but shape it.

In a corporate world driven by innovation, culture, and purpose, traditional top-down leadership is giving way to a more human-centric model: servant leadership. This approach—rooted in empathy, empowerment, and humility—is redefining what it means to be an effective leader at the highest levels. For today’s C-suite executives, servant leadership isn't soft; it's strategic. It creates trust, fuels collaboration, and drives sustainable performance by putting people first—teams, customers, and communities alike. This fireside explores how modern executives are embracing this philosophy to build stronger organisations from the inside out.

The promise was frictionless service, hyper-personalisation, and instant gratification. Instead, customers are navigating bots that don’t understand, systems that feel soulless, and experiences that often frustrate more than they delight. As AI rapidly reshapes the customer journey, are we confusing efficiency with empathy? This session challenges the hype and asks the uncomfortable question: is AI truly elevating customer experience—or just automating mediocrity at scale?

As organisations race to stay competitive, digital transformation, data, and AI initiatives are accelerating—but not always with intent. A growing flood of use cases promises innovation, yet too often prioritises activity over impact. In the rush to keep up, clarity is lost, complexity grows, and investment outpaces value. This session challenges leaders to question whether they truly understand what needs to change, or if they are simply responding to momentum and market noise. It asks a critical question for the boardroom: are we transforming with purpose, or just moving fast in the wrong direction?

We keep hearing it—the enterprise is transforming. But into what, exactly? Between the rush to adopt AI, the push to modernise infrastructure, and the pressure to meet global compliance demands, many organisations are charging ahead without a clear destination. This session unpacks the balancing act between staying ahead of the curve, and doing what is actually required.

Today’s workforce is more distributed, digital, and dynamic than ever—yet expectations for connection, clarity, and growth have never been higher. This session explores how leaders can create high-performing cultures by harnessing visibility and velocity—not just to move faster, but to move smarter. When employees feel seen, supported, and empowered in real time, potential is no longer hidden in silos or slowed by outdated systems. This is the new employee experience: agile, transparent, and deeply human.

As AI accelerates, so does the flood of data it creates — but is more always better? In today’s information-saturated landscape, the real challenge isn’t collecting data, it’s knowing what (and who) to trust. Are we leveraging AI to drive real innovation, or simply reacting to the outputs it feeds us? This session will challenge the narrative: Are your decisions truly insight-led, or are they shaped by systems you don’t fully understand, can we trust the data behind the innovation we’re chasing?

Day 2 Theme  

Evolving with resilience

Building trust while creating change

How leaders are protecting what matters, managing risk and building organisations that can keep moving, even under pressure.

What if real digital independence isn’t about control—but about trust, resilience, and smart choices? In a world where geopolitical shocks test the seams of our digital infrastructures, clinging to the idea of total control might be holding us back. This session challenges the rigid definitions of cyber sovereignty and explores a more strategic path: one built on reduced dependency, stronger trust, and resilience without sacrificing performance.

The role of the CISO is no longer confined to managing risk—it's expanding into one of the most strategically influential positions in the enterprise. As digital innovation accelerates, CISOs are stepping into boardrooms, shaping AI governance, securing high-stakes M&A deals, and leading digital transformation from the inside out.

This isn’t evolution—it’s elevation. The message is clear: the modern CISO is not just a protector of infrastructure, but a builder of trust, value, and competitive edge. Those who embrace this shift won’t just keep up with the future—they’ll define it.

In today’s digital economy, businesses face a stark choice: evolve or be left behind. Cyber Agile Organisations balance robust security with the freedom to innovate- Yet too many companies still treat cybersecurity as a blocker rather than a catalyst for progress.

If cyber agility unlocks growth, trust, and efficiency, why isn’t it a cultural priority in every organisation? This session will challenge outdated thinking, unpack the hidden costs of rigid security postures, and explore how to build a cyber agile culture—one that empowers every team, at every level, to move fast and stay secure.

Business continuity is no longer a plan—it's a daily expectation. As work models shift, IT leaders are under pressure to keep mission-critical services running no matter what. Downtime isn’t just inconvenient—it’s a reputational risk.

This session dives into what real resilience looks like now: fast recovery, zero disruption, and productivity that doesn’t flinch—even in crisis.

Are your systems built to bounce back—or built to break?