Top Sessions at Data and AI Forum

Choose Wisely

As excitement around the upcoming Data and AI Forum continues to grow, attendees are already starting to build their agendas.

Choosing which sessions to attend can be tricky. In a few short days, you need to sort through the scores of keynotes, roadmap presentations, technical labs, and workshops to find the topics most relevant for you and your organization. Sometimes, it’s cut and dry; other times, a catchy presentation title betrays irrelevant content.

Our Top Picks

To help you plan your time wisely, our consultants compiled a list of some of the top sessions at Data and AI Forum. This post is Part 1 of a two-part series outlining our recommendations. Check back next week for Part 2!

OCTOBER 22, 2019

Turning the Ordinary into Extraordinary: How We Are Capable of Exceeding Our Perceived Limits

8:30 am - 9:15 am | Keynote | Ray Zahab

Start things off right—by getting pumped up! If you’re not inspired by a guy who has run thousands of miles across deserts and completed unsupported expeditions to the Arctic, Antarctica and Siberia… then do some deep personal reflection before proceeding with the rest of the conference.

Demystifying Metadata Management and Data Catalogs: The Missing Link to AI

10:30 am - 11:15 am | Organize | Jo Ramos Emma Tucker | Isle | IBM InfoSphere family

 The only logical progression from extreme outdoor adventure expeditions is to Unified Governance of data, right? But seriously, “IA (Information Architecture) before AI” is a buzzy catch-phrase that’s actually worth repeating, so gathering intel about how to solidify your organization’s data foundation makes loads of sense. Plus, we keep hearing about closer integration of IBM’s UGI tools with Cognos Analytics, so it would be a good idea to stay informed on this front.

IBM Cloud Pak for Data with RedHat OpenShift: See What's New in v2.5

1:15 pm - 2:00 pm | Modernize | Hemanth Manda | Chopin Ballroom | IBM Cloud Pak for Data

We want to see the rubber meeting the road with the RedHat acquisition, and this seems to be exactly where that is happening, so we’re tuning in.

Roadmap Alert: Recent and Future Enhancements for IBM Cognos Analytics

1:15 pm - 2:00 pm | Infuse | Kevin McFaul | Biscayne Ballroom | IBM Cognos Analytics

Does this really need any explanation? Everyone loves a roadmap presentation, and Kevin McFaul is the one in the know about what’s coming next in Cognos Analytics. Pro Tip: the first part of this presentation will likely be things that you’re already aware of if you stay tuned into PMsquare’s blog, newsletter and webinars, but we expect there will be some juicy “future” morsels at the end.

Be a Changemaker: The Key to Unlocking Adoption in Your Analytics Community

1:15 pm - 2:00 pm | Infuse | Multiple Products | Isle Room

If you’re already up to speed on the Cognos Analytics roadmap, then pop over to hear PMsquare’s own Ryan Dolley drop knowledge about how vital a focus on adoption is to successful analytics projects in your organization—along with practical and proven strategies. You could also attend Ryan’s session for most of the hour, but make him feel terrible by walking out in the last 10 minutes so see what’s next in the roadmap session… that’s also a good option. But seriously, Ryan is an outstanding and engaging speaker—you won’t go wrong here.

Hands-on Lab: Create the Perfect View of Your Data with IBM Planning Analytics Workspace

1:30 pm - 3:30 pm  | Hands-on Lab | Infuse | Toluwase Arogunmati Tracy Peppy | Escorial | IBM Planning Analytics

IBM Planning Analytics has quite the fan club (we’re included), but people are often confused about exactly where, when and how to deploy Planning Analytics Workspace (PAW); especially as compared to other options such as Planning Analytics for Excel (PAX), TM1Web and Cognos Analytics. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to this question, so the best way to make those decisions is to get some quality time with PAW and the tool’s Offering Manager (Toluwase Arogunmati).

You, Too, Can Be a Data Guru! Unleash Your Data Exploration Skills with IBM Cognos Analytics Explorer

2:15 pm - 3:00 pm | Infuse | Leah Hostetler | Chopin Ballroom | IBM Cognos Analytics

If you haven’t seen the Cognos Analytics “Exploration” tool in action or had a chance to use it to dive into your own data, then make sure you drop in this session. “Augmented AI” is all the rage, and for good reason…although it’s early in its evolution, there is a massive amount of potential in this tech to transform how you approach your data. Matt and Rachel will get you up to speed.

Two of a Kind: Why IBM Cognos Analytics and IBM Planning Analytics Make the Perfect Pair

3:15 pm - 4:00 pm  | Infuse | Jason Tavoularis | Brickell | IBM Cognos Analytics

The Planning Analytics fan club mentioned above should migrate to this session, because for all PAW’s strengths, it’s not going to fulfill all your reporting and dashboarding hopes and dreams. When you plug Cognos Analytics into Planning Analytics sooner or later, you’ll be grateful for the notes you took in Jason’s session. (And you’ll be able to build on this the next day with our own session, “Stack the Deck: IBM Cognos Analytics + IBM Planning Analytics = A Winning Strategy” the next day.)

The Beauty of BI: How to Create Compelling, Impactful Visuals with Ease in IBM Cognos Analytics

4:15 pm - 5:00 pm | Infuse | Matthew Denham | Biscayne Ballroom | IBM Cognos Analytics

This session promises to focus on using data visualization to… *gasp*… effectively convey insights. Around these parts, we always appreciate folks out there preaching the message that data visualizations should indeed be beautiful, but never at the expense of obscuring the meaning of the data!

Rest up… then party!

You made it to 5pm! Grab a quick nap (or if you’re still feeling motivated by the morning keynote, a quick workout!) and then join up with PMsquare at 7pm at our after-party to relax by the pool and have some food + beverages. (Make sure you get on the list ahead of time).

Day 1 in the books!

We hope you found this article informative. Keep an eye out for Part 2 of our list of the top sessions at Data and AI Forum. Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter for data and analytics news, updates, and insights delivered directly to your inbox.

Next Steps

If you have any questions or would like PMsquare to provide guidance and support for your analytics solution, contact us today.