Leadership-centered content is for you if:
You have been working in analytics and data science for more than 10 years and are likely leading a team or project of your own. Considered senior level in your career, possibly as an executive, you focus much more on the big picture of a company’s analytics needs than on the day-to-day solving of problems. You’re looking to learn more about where the industry will need to go in the coming years and network with others facing similar issues. You are looking to add new potential or training to your established team, or for ways to communicate your team’s importance to other executives.
Leadership-Centered Keynotes
Optimizing Supply Chains with Digital Twins: A Path to Resilience, Agility, and Strategic Advantage
Hanzhang Liu
Data Scientist, Johnson & Johnson’s
Balancing Growth and Profitability with AI: The Power of Holistic Experimentation Platforms
Kasi Rajeev Oduri
Director of Data Science, Media Science & Experimentation, Fortune 50
Building Trust in AI Agents Through Responsible AI
Andrew Blake
Managing Director at Opening Bell Ventures, Opening Bell Ventures
Transforming Data Analytics at Marriott: From Batch to Real-Time Insights & Actions
Julia Morrison
Vice President of Data and Analytics Technology, Marriott International
Image Processing and Matching Enhanced by Game Theory and Quantum Computing
Tom Lash
Chief Executive Officer, Vibrant
Large Language Models for Supply Chain Decisions
David Simchi-Levi
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Automating Safety Compliance in Dock and Loading Operations with Computer Vision
Franz Stoll
5th-year Ph.D. candidate , Purdue University
Strategic Service Level Policies: Using Data and Segmentation to Enhance Inventory Optimization
Daniela Aguilera
Director, River Rock Advisors
The Hard Truth About Soft Skills
Cassandra McZeal
Modeling, Optimization & Data Science Supervisor, ExxonMobil Upstream Company
Made with Care: Positive Impact Through Analytics Product Management
Melanie Collins
Advanced Analytics & Automation, Digital Transformation & Technology, Chick-fil-A
Large Scale Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) solution for store delivery schedule and delivery route planning
Satish Desai
Senior Data Scientist , Best Buy
DecisionOps: Utilizing collaborative tools and techniques that accelerate model development
Carolyn Mooney
CEO, NextMV
Reducing Hospital Procurement Costs through Vendor Contract Optimization: A Decision-Support Framework for GPOs
Willow Yang
Assistant Professor, Sam Houston State University
The Death of Dashboards and the Birth of Natural Language Analytics
Daniel Whitenack
Founder & CEO, Prediction Guard
Winning The Room: Creating And Delivering An Effective Data-Driven Presentation
Bill Franks
Director, Center for Data and Analytics , Kennesaw State University
Economically Derived Demand: Using data to explain and forecast demand for your business
Eric Starks
Chairman, FTR Transportation Intelligence
An Analytics Framework for Understanding Motorsports: An introduction to analytics challenges in professional motorsports focused on American stock car racing, and how Data Science can help to advance the art of the possible in a fast paced pressure filled environment.
Duncan Ellis
Principal Data Scientist , Ford Performance & Active Decision Support
Where Should the Analysts Live: Organizing Analytics within the Enterprise
Louis Luangkesorn
Lead Data Scientist, Highmark Health
Non-GenAI AI in GenAI: On the Importance of Embedded Traditional AI in an Agentic GenAI Augmented Workforce
Sebastian Gould
Manager of Data Science, Arrow Electronics
An Easy Button for Developing Analytical Applications
Jeremy TerBush
Management Consultant, TerBush Analytics
Building Practical Analytics Models for Better Supply Chain Decisions
Ehsan Khodabandeh
Principal Operations Research Scientist, Decision Spot
Building Data and AI Literacies at Scale: Your Organizational Superpower
Hamit Hamutcu
Co-Founder, Initiative for Analytics and Data Science Standards, Elements
Leading the Transition: Modernizing Coast Guard HR Analytics through Innovation and Buy-In
Gregory Higgins
Former O.R. Analyst, USCG HR Analytics
Exploring the Interplay of AI Assessment Tools: Metrics, Benchmarks, Testing, Red-Teaming, and Auditing
Heather Frase
Founder, VerAItech
Building Effective Teams in a Distributed Working Environment
Genetha Gray
Senior Manager Data Analytics, Edward Jones
The Voice of the Universe: Why more data may not help you
Thor Osborn
Principal Systems Research Analyst, Sandia National Laboratories
Tell Them stories: Going from Proof of Concepts to Value with Generative AI: Lessons Learned from Internal Dogfooding within AWS
Tucker Shouse
Data Science and Engineering Manager, Amazon Web Services
Networking Events to Attend
Executive Forum
This exclusive gathering for senior executives and enterprise leaders provides a special opportunity to network with colleagues and discuss important issues in analytics. The Executive Forum is an excellent kick-off for the 2025 INFORMS Analytics+ Conference that is especially tailored to help executives get the most out of the conference.
Edelman Competition Track
Learn from real-world case studies. Often referred to as “The Nobel Prize” of O.R. and advanced analytics, the Franz Edelman Award Competition attests to the contributions of operations research and analytics in both the profit and nonprofit sectors. Since its inception, cumulative benefits from Edelman finalist projects has topped the $400 billion mark. Edelman finalist teams have improved organizational efficiency, increased profits, brought better products to consumers, helped foster peace negotiations, and saved lives.
New to INFORMS? Here are additional opportunities to engage.
INFORMS Career Center
Make sure your next opportunity is in front of the right audience. List your next data science, operations research analyst, or decision science job in the INFORMS Career Center.
Enroll in Mentor Match
Give back to the community. Mentor Match is an online tool that matches knowledgeable mentors to enthusiastic mentees to help forge meaningful connections and foster future analytics leaders forward in their careers.
Write for Analytics Magazine
Analytics is a free digital magazine published by INFORMS that provides readers with news and information that showcases the power of analytics on organizational decision-making and outcomes. Establish yourself as a thought leader in the industry and contribute.
