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The Studio
USA

Back in the States. Bigger than ever.

October 2026

Award winning C-suite event series

The Studio is where the world’s most influential executives come together to shape the future. With a global network of over 19,000 C-suite leaders—including CIOs, CTOs, CISOs, CDOs, and CMOs—this award-winning series is a global platform for bold ideas, transformative partnerships, and industry-defining leadership

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Leadership, rhythm & real conversations—US edition

We’re heading back to the US in 2026. Exact city? That’s still under wraps. But one thing’s certain—it’ll be bold, brilliant, and full of the world’s most inspiring leaders.

Following an unforgettable run in Nashville the past two years, we’re planning something even bigger. Think high-impact networking, powerful conversations, and the kind of experiences that spark lasting relationships.

Why attend?

Over three transformative days, The Studio delivers the perfect mix of leadership insight and immersive experiences. From big ideas to breakout moments, every detail is designed to challenge your thinking—and grow your network.

You’ll walk away energised, connected, and ready to lead with fresh perspective.

The event ends on a high with the Global C-suite Awards, honouring the leaders shaping the future of business. Whether you're a CIO, CISO, CDO or CMO, this is where bold thinking meets bold action.

 

Event details

Venue:
To be announced soon! 

Date:
October 2026

Who can attend:
This exclusive event invites senior leaders from the following C-suite communities:

  • CIOs, CISOs, CMOs, CDOs and other senior leaders and executives

Studio highlights

Global CIO 100

The Global C-Suite Awards ceremony

Celebrate leadership at its best

Join us for an unforgettable evening recognising the world’s top 100 technology and business leaders. Big ideas, bold impact—and a few moments worth raising a glass to.

Global CIO 100-min-2

Unforgettable moments, lasting connections

Relaxed, shared moments

The Studio is about more than great conversations—it’s about the people you share them with. Between powerful sessions, you’ll unwind with experiences you won’t find anywhere else.

real talk, bold thinking

Real talk, bold thinking

Candid conversations with the C-suite

Forget the buzzwords. These are straight-talking, insight-packed sessions with global leaders tackling what really matters—from AI to leadership, and everything in between.

Past agenda

Morning
Jack Daniel’s Distillery experience
vip Experience

Take a journey to Lynchburg for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of the world-famous Jack Daniel’s Distillery. Discover the craft of whiskey-making, enjoy a private tasting, and connect with fellow executives in a truly iconic setting.

Limited availability. Current wait list in place.

Lunch
A true taste of the south
VIP Experience
Lunch at the legendary Miss Mary Bobo’s—serving up tradition since 1908. Enjoy a classic Southern, family-style meal in one of Lynchburg’s most storied settings. It’s more than just lunch—it’s a warm welcome, shared stories, and a real taste of Tennessee hospitality.
Evening
The Studio launch party at Category 10
VIP Experience

Kick off The Studio Nashville in true Music City style at Country legend Luke Combs' rooftop bar - Category 10. 

Join us on the rooftop at The Eye for a high-energy night of food, drinks, line dancing, and live music— with the backdrop of Downtown Nashville, The Cumberland river and iconic Nissan Stadium. 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.
9:00 am → 9:15 am
Opening speeches
Arrival & Networking
Country Music Hall of Fame
A few words to set the tone, spark the energy, and officially kickstart The Studio
9:15 am → 9:35 am
Opening Keynote
Keynote
Country Music Hall of Fame
Join Fahim Siddiqui, former CIO of The Home Depot and HotTopics Hall of Fame winner, as he shares his journey and philosophy on servant leadership. In this inspiring keynote, Fahim explores why true leadership is not about authority, but about empowering others, building trust, and creating a culture where people thrive. Drawing from his extensive experience of leading high-performing teams in complex environments, he reveals how putting people first drives innovation, loyalty, and long-term success.
Fahim Siddiqui
Former EVP, CIO - Home Depot
9:35 am → 10:05 am
Leadership in the spotlight: A C-suite awards showcase
Fireside
Country Music Hall of Fame
This session celebrates one of our 2025 global award winners, and visionary executive who is shaping the future of business. and the wider world around them. This exclusive awards showcase honors bold leadership, strategic excellence, and the transformative impact of the C-suite at its best.
Pavan Pidugu
CIO - US Department of Transportation
10:05 am → 10:30 am
Refreshments
Networking
Country Music Hall of Fame
10:30 am → 11:00 am
The growth equation: CMO + CIO = value unlocked
fishbowl
Country Music Hall of Fame
Join us as we challenge the outdated divide between tech and marketing. In a world where results matter more than roles, this session reveals how the smartest companies are breaking silos, building powerful alliances — and turning collaboration into competitive advantage.
Erik Vaveris
Global Marketing - Shure
Jason Oliver
CTO - Western University
Sue Pulendran
VP, WW Field Marketing - NetApp
Joanna Drake
CTO - THG Ingenuity
Robert Sheesley
CIO - Bump Connect
11:00 am → 11:30 am
The collaboration conundrum: Productivity vs. performance
Panel
Country Music Hall of Fame

Collaboration is essential—but has it gone too far? This panel examines whether teams are collaborating efficiently or simply getting bogged down by excessive meetings and shared documents. Discover if and how leaders draw the line between high-value collaboration and cognitive overload, and learn strategies to make teamwork truly effective.

In partnership with Shure

Sam Sabett
Executive VP and CTO - Shure
Datta Junnarkar
CIO - Boeing
Douglas York
Deputy CIO & Chief of Staff - Nissan Motor Corporation
Olivia Kew-Fickus
CDO - Vanderbilt University
Peter Stojanovic
Editor - HotTopics
11:30 am → 12:30 pm
Themed roundtables
Roundtables
Country Music Hall of Fame
Small group conversations. Big, honest topics.

Curated to match your role and expertise, these intimate roundtables connect you with likeminded leaders for frank, cross-industry discussions on the most pressing issues facing the C-suite today.

Themed discussions:
  • AI beyond the hype: What’s really driving business value?
  • Data is power—so why are most companies still fumbling it?
  • What comes after the digital transformation?
  • Are boardroom decisions making you more vulnerable?
  • CIO priorities: Fixing culture isn’t just HR’s job anymore
  • Resilience as the new ROI: Bounce back faster
  • The loneliness of leadership: What today’s C-suite isn’t saying out loud
  • Customer loyalty is disappearing, so what's the next move?
  • Geopolitics: Business' new core department?
  • In a market that never slows down, how do you choose what not to do?
Mark Bramwell
CDIO and Director of Strategic Digital Partnerships - Saïd Business School, University of Oxford
Caroline Carruthers
Chief Executive - Carruthers and Jackson
Tipu Swaran
Director - Technology Strategy & Transformation - Discover
Anna Barsby
Managing Partner - Tessiant
Miloš Topić
Vice President for IT and Chief Digital Officer - Grand Valley State University
Wendy Zhang
VP, data and AI - Hayward
Robert Sheesley
CIO - Bump Connect
12:30 pm → 1:30 pm
Lunch
Lunch & Networking
Country Music Hall of Fame

Refuel, reset, and connect with peers over good food and great conversation.

1:30 pm → 2:00 pm
More than hype - The AI human impact
Panel
Country Music Hall of Fame
This session will explore how AI is reshaping the human experience — from the way we work and lead to the values we prioritise. This session goes beyond the headlines to examine AI’s real-world impact on people, performance, and purpose.
Howard Miller
CIO, UCLA Anderson School of Management
Rohit Jain
CIO - Harvard Business School, Association of Northern California
Laura Preitula
Technology Leader
Ariane Schiereck
CIO - Hollister Inc.
Doug Drinkwater
Host - HotTopics
2:00 pm → 3:00 pm
Themed roundtables
Roundtable
Country Music Hall of Fame
Small group conversations. Big, honest topics.

Curated to match your role and expertise, these intimate roundtables connect you with likeminded leaders for frank, cross-industry discussions on the most pressing issues facing the C-suite today.

Themed discussions:
  • AI beyond the hype: What’s really driving business value?
  • Data is power—so why are most companies still fumbling it?
  • What comes after the digital transformation?
  • Are boardroom decisions making you more vulnerable?
  • CIO priorities: Fixing culture isn’t just HR’s job anymore
  • Resilience as the new ROI: Bounce back faster
  • The loneliness of leadership: What today’s C-suite isn’t saying out loud
  • Customer loyalty is disappearing, so what's the next move?
  • Geopolitics: Business' new core department?
  • In a market that never slows down, how do you choose what not to do?

In partnership with Shure

3:00 pm → 3:30 pm
AI, IT and security’s existential threat
Panel
Country Music Hall of Fame

The rapid adoption of AI is creating new opportunities, and risks, for business, IT and security leaders. For the CISO, facing ever-shorter tenures, heightened personal accountability and reduced autonomy, it represents a sliding doors moment in their career.

During this session, Future CISO and CISO 100 winners explore the vulnerability of security leadership, the criticality of C-suite partnerships and the importance of balancing governance, trust and innovation to drive secure transformation across the enterprise.

 

 

In partnership with Thales

Jay Thurston
Field CISO - Thales
Jelani Campbell
Cyber risk director - Fannie Mae
Donna Ward
Global VP Information Security - BCD Travel
Gernette Wright
IT Security Officer - Schneider Electric
Frankie Shuai
APAC CISO - DWS Group (Asset Management subsidiary of Deutsche Bank)
Peter Stojanovic
Editor - HotTopics
3:30 pm → 3:45 pm
Refreshments
Networkings
Country Music Hall of Fame
3:45 pm → 4:15 pm
How Nashville became home to healthtech - and Big Tech
Panel
Country Music Hall of Fame
Music City is fast becoming a strategic hub for technology leaders. With more than 900 healthcare companies driving nearly $100B in revenue, the city offers CIOs and CTOs a rare testbed where startups, providers, and payors intersect to accelerate digital health and enterprise transformation. At the same time, Amazon, Meta and Oracle’s planned East Bank campus are anchoring a new era of Big Tech investment, deepening talent pipelines and reshaping infrastructure. This session explores how technology executives can tap into Nashville’s unique blend of tech innovation, enterprise growth, and city-backed initiatives.
Mark Blaze
President & CEO - Greater Nashville Technology Council
Sam Davidson
CEO - Nashville Entrepreneur Center
Kristen Darby
CIO - State of Tennessee
Laine Hiera
Former VP of Data and Analytics - Bridgestone
Rod McDaniel
CEO & Board Member - S3 Recycling Solutions
4:15 pm → 4:45 pm
C-Suite Stories: TechGirl
panel
Country Music Hall of Fame

In this exclusive TechGirl panel at The Studio, senior technology leaders from across different industries share the pivotal moments that shaped their careers and the lessons they learned on the way up.

Through a series of raw, personal mini-stories, we’ll spotlight the human side of technology that often goes untold: the setbacks, the near-misses, the unexpected breakthroughs, and the mentors who changed everything.

Together, we’ll reflect on what still needs to change to create a more inclusive future — and close with a challenge: One bold commitment each leader will make to support the next generation of TechGirls.

Adriana Graham
CIO - Rollease Acmeda
Tanya Hannah
CIO - OneTen
Joyce Myers
Chief Data Officer - MTSI
Manika Gupta
CIO - GE
Caroline Carruthers
Chief Executive - Carruthers and Jackson
5:00 pm → 5:30 pm
Greenfield transformation: AMA with the Nashville Soccer Club CEO
Keynote
Country Music Hall of Fame

Nashville Soccer Club CEO Ian Ayre discusses building soccer clubs from the ground up, CEO perspectives in a volatile macroeconomic landscape and technology's role in future-proofing business.

Ian Ayre
Vice Chairman & Advisor - Nashville SC
Doug Drinkwater
Host - HotTopics
5:30 pm → 5:45 pm
The Studio 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.
6:00 pm → 7:30 pm
Backstage Nashville: The songwriters’ session
Experience
Country Music Hall of Fame
Go behind the curtain of Music City with an exclusive, private performance from Nashville legends Shawn Camp and Jim Collins—the hitmakers behind some of country music’s biggest anthems. Hear the stories, the songs, and the inspiration that shaped a generation. Intimate, electric, and unforgettable—this is Nashville like you’ve never seen it before.
7:30 pm → 9:15 pm
Global C-suite Awards dinner
Awards dinner
Country Music Hall of Fame

An evening to celebrate excellence. Join us as we honour the 2025 Global C-suite Award winners—recognising bold leadership, big ideas, and standout impact. Expect good food, great company, and a few moments worth raising a glass to.

Morning
The Studio at the Bluebird Café: from reflection to ambition: The journey ahead
experience
Bluebird Cafe

Step into Nashville music history. This iconic venue—famous for launching legends such as Faith Hill, Ed Sheeran, Garth Brooks and Taylor Swift—sets the stage for launching ideas and aspirations for 2026 and beyond.

Be a part of the conversation in this intimate session as we reflect on experiences, share key learnings, and inspire actions that can impact leadership and the future of our businesses.

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The Studio gallery

Register your interest
The Studio USA

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.

 

FAQS: The Studio USA 2026

 

What costs are covered by the event?

The Studio 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?

The Studio 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?

The Studio USA 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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