From CIO to CEO: ETCIO Annual Conclave 2025 Empowers Tech Leaders to Shape What's Next
The Economic Times CIO (ETCIO) proudly announces the 7th edition of its flagship gathering—the
ETCIO Annual Conclave 2025
,
returning to the iconic Grand Hyatt, Goa, for a four-day, invite-only experience from
29th May - 1st June 2025.
In a world defined by disruption, where AI, automation, and data reshape industries overnight, the role of the CIO is undergoing its most significant transformation yet. Today's CIO isn't just a technologist—they're a strategist, an innovator, and often, a
CEO-in-waiting
.
With this powerful shift in focus, this edition presents:
CIO 3.0: Where Innovation Becomes Business Reality
This year's theme, 'CIO 3.0: Transforming Innovation into Business Reality,' captures the essence of what's next. The CIO of today—and tomorrow—must go beyond delivering digital transformation to architecting growth, driving customer-centricity, and building future-proof enterprises.
The conclave will convene
200+ of India's most influential & visionary CIOs
,
tech leaders
, and digital strategists to explore how this evolution plays out in real-world leadership.
A Bigger, Bolder, Brighter Edition
As enterprises embrace
intelligent automation
,
hyper-personalized customer experiences
, and data-driven decision-making, the CIO has evolved into a strategic business partner. The CIO 3.0 is expected to build agile, scalable, and secure tech ecosystems that deliver real business outcomes.
The 2025 edition raises the bar with a
highly curated agenda
that blends strategic insight, peer-to-peer learning, and immersive experiences, including:
25+ future-forward sessions blending keynotes, panels, workshops, and live demos.An exclusive masterclass by globally acclaimed business strategist Dr. Ram Charan on 'How Tech Leaders Can Become a CEO'.1,000+ minutes of curated networking with India's top minds in enterprise tech.80+ innovation booths from leading tech solution providers.Powerful storytelling formats like CIO Spotlight: My Big Win in 8 Minutes and Cracking the Boardroom Code.
Conversations That Will Shape the Future:
The agenda will spark deep discussions around the most urgent shifts facing today's CIOs:The Three Arcs of the Modern CIOAI is the New OS: Are You Ready to Trust Your Enterprise to Think?The CIO Paradox: Leading When the Future Won't Sit StillData Democracy: Why IT Must Lose Control for Businesses to WinEvery Customer, One Journey: Radical Personalization at ScaleCloud 3.0: Is Your Infrastructure Agile or Fragile?
Inspiration Beyond the Boardroom
What sets ETCIO Annual Conclave apart is its ability to blend intellect with experience. Beyond the sessions, attendees will enjoy unforgettable evenings featuring insightful conversations with icons from
Bollywood, business, and sports, and musical performances
by India's most celebrated artists—adding moments of joy, culture, and connection to an already extraordinary experience.
When Visionaries Gather, the Landscape Changes
From banks to unicorns, auto giants to digital-first startups, tech leaders from India's most admired companies—ICICI Bank, Ola, Akasa Air, Zepto, Hero MotoCorp, NSE, Adani Group, VodafoneIdea, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail, RBL Bank, and more—will take the stage not just to speak, but to spark something bigger.
Lead the Future. Be the Future.
Whether you're leading a digital revolution or preparing for one, the
ETCIO Annual Conclave 2025
is where India's tech trailblazers come to learn, lead, and launch what's next.
🔗 To explore this conclave or request an invitation, visit:
https://cio.economictimes.indiatimes.com/annual-conclave
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Speed, Security, and Stakeholders: What CIOs Must Get Right in 2025
At the 7th edition of the ETCIO Annual Conclave 2025, held against the backdrop of surging technological momentum, India's top CIOs gathered not just to trade implementation strategies—but to redraw the contours of their own evolving Manish Gupta, Group CIO at Aditya Birla Group, reflects on the modern CIO's role, he's quick to move past the conventional definitions. 'The job of a CIO is not internal,' he says. 'It must reach out to all stakeholders. Start by mapping them out—a mammoth task to figure out the human dimension.' It's a sentiment that captures the deepening complexity—and pressure—facing technology leaders today. The CIO is no longer a back-office functionary; they are a visible, strategic actor in a landscape shaped by rising customer expectations, accelerating innovation cycles, and ever-tightening security requirements. Today's CIO navigates: Driving innovation at pace, safeguarding trust, and managing human dynamics that make change possible. It's no longer about mastering technology—it's about leading through it. The Three Arcs of Leadership Kirti Patil, Joint President–IT and CTO at Kotak Life Insurance, defines the evolution through 'the three arcs': The visible shift, the invisible layer, and the human thread. Each is necessary; together, they define whether a CIO merely implements change or drives transformation. The visible shift is the front-end—the customer apps, the chatbot, the digital touchpoints that users experience. The invisible layer is the backend—the architecture, APIs, and data integrations that support the experience. But the most challenging layer may be the last. 'Trust in a brand is trust in digital,' Patil explains, underscoring how technology decisions now have reputational stakes. A failed rollout or breach isn't just a technical error—it's a brand issue. This is why Gupta places so much emphasis on education, exposure, and experimentation. 'Experimentation helps multi-level co-creation in the organization involving all the stakeholders a CIO touches,' he notes. It's not enough to deploy a tool; CIOs must create the cultural and structural conditions that allow for innovation to be shared and scaled. From Tech Steward to Strategic Partner One of the most telling observations comes from Anand Srinivasan, Co-founder and CIO at Akasa Air, who captures the changing dynamic in blunt terms: 'Technology is given. In fact, customers expect you to have cutting-edge tech.' The challenge isn't adoption—it's orchestration. Srinivasan sees the mark of a great CIO in their ability to trust and delegate. 'Listen to the wizkids team, sign the cheques and get out of their way,' he says. His view reinforces a common refrain: The CIO as enabler. But that shift isn't just managerial—it's strategic. As customer-facing tech becomes table stakes, differentiation comes from how quickly and responsibly organizations can build and scale new capabilities. And that brings CIOs to a critical balancing act. Innovation Meets the Trust Imperative Few sectors feel the pressure of that balance more than financial services and insurance. Here, technology must do more than work—it must work without violating trust. Sarang Khewale, Deputy CTO and Head Digital Innovation at SBI, talks of the two-pronged approach he undertook, 'Deeply involved design thinking techniques that help protect data by empathizing,' he says. 'With innovation, trust shouldn't be compromised.' The emphasis on empathy is not rhetorical; it's a design principle, and in industries that manage personal information, it's also a regulatory and ethical necessity. For Rohit Kilam, CTO at HDFC Life Insurance, regulatory sandbox provides ground to land. 'We are building things within the regulatory sandboxes.' Innovation, in his view, must also serve those on the margins—'the bottom of the pyramid'—especially the unbanked and underserved segments. Scaling inclusively requires risk, but that risk must be responsibly managed. The Security Reckoning With every digital advancement comes a new frontier for attack. The cybersecurity conversation is no longer siloed—it now shapes every technology investment. 'There's an attack every day,' says Sunit Vakharia, CTO at Reliance Nippon. 'Need to understand the mind of the attacker, without which you'll never be able to defend.' His focus is not just on tools, but on mindset—building a defense that anticipates, not just reacts. At Bajaj Allianz General Insurance, Kanathil Vadakke Dipu, Senior President- Digital Transformation & Innovation, refers to the mock exercises undertaken as 'cyber mahayudh'. The company's effort focused on identifying vulnerabilities and reducing response time. The takeaway: Resilience is no longer a luxury, but a daily operational requirement. Sandeep Khanna, Director at UIDAI, adds a layer. 'The blind spots,' he notes, 'are shadow IT, supply chain risk, and third-party vulnerabilities.' These are threats embedded deep in the ecosystem, not easily visible, but devastating when breached. Looking Ahead The CIO agenda for 2025 is as expansive as it is urgent. Disruption is no longer a question of 'if'—it's a question of preparation and positioning. And as CIOs have been pointing out the writing on the wall for eons now: 'You can't afford to miss disruption.' The modern CIO stands at the intersection of agility and accountability, innovation and integrity. It's a demanding role—but one uniquely positioned to influence the future of business. As Gupta, Patil, and others suggest, the path forward lies not only in systems, but in stakeholders—and in the human capacity to collaborate at scale.
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Time of India
The New Mandate: Why India's CIOs Are Driving Business, Not Just Tech
When Krishna Guha Roy took the stage at the ETCIO Annual Conclave 2025 in Goa, she first drew attention to the precise, process-driven world she represented. As Director – IT, South Asia Region at Nestlé, Roy has spent the last few years working within a company known for its operational rigor and deeply embedded processes. 'Nestlé, is a well-known Swiss company where quality is premium, processes well embedded,' she said. 'Talking digital in an organization like this had two parts: Talent and transformation.'The Conclave, now a staple in India's enterprise technology calendar, brought together CIOs, digital transformation leaders, and business executives to discuss the evolving role of IT in business strategy. Roy's remarks set the tone for a conversation that was not only about technology but also about leadership, organizational change, and boardroom dynamics required to enable it. From Back Office to Boardroom 'You cannot drive transformation without people,' Roy emphasized. Facing rising consumer expectations—'the consumer wanted the product in a few minutes'—her team restructured how technology was implemented. 'We brought in data engineers… innovation, design thinkers, UX specialists,' she said. The CIO's office, traditionally viewed as a support function, took on a more central, strategic role. 'It was also discipline,' Roy added, referencing structured programs around reskilling, design thinking, and even reverse mentoring to bridge generational digital gaps. This expanding influence of the CIO was a recurring theme throughout the Conclave. Where once IT leaders were tasked with system maintenance and vendor management, today they are expected to contribute directly to innovation, AI strategy, and ESG priorities. 'A CIO who can't speak strategy is invisible,' Roy remarked. That sentiment was echoed by Suresh Khadakbhavi, CEO of Digi Yatra, who offered a pragmatic view on influencing decision-makers. 'Play on the primal instincts—fear,' he quipped, before turning serious. 'The board looks forward to protecting the future. Put your views in alignment. Every individual board member is a different persona—risk averse or innovation friendly. Get your prep done.' Tech Investment as Strategic Leverage For many organizations, technology investment is no longer a cost center but a lever for competitive advantage. 'With diverse businesses, the CIO role is the most critical,' said Sanjeev Rastogi, CEO of GCC at Adani Group. 'How effectively we spend on each of the assets… An important factor is how you also protect and connect and manage cost per unit.' But influence alone doesn't drive change. Execution remains a core challenge. Neethan Chopra, CDIO, IndiGo, underscored the importance of filtering innovation through structured experimentation. 'The funnel approach really works. Top of the funnel innovation I say yes to not miss game-changing tech… Get it in the hands of customers and employees. Let that act as a filter before you take to the board for scale.' Data, Mergers, and Intelligent Scale Even in high-stakes environments like aviation, the CIO's role in transformation is increasingly visible. Dr. Satya Ramaswamy, CDTO at Air India, described the complexity of integrating the Air India and Vistara platforms: 'There were 140+ apps across the board in combined landscape, 300 aircraft, 30k+ employees brought together, 270,000 Vistara reservations brought seamlessly into Air India. In the global aviation industry, a smooth merger is being talked about.' Across sectors, data remains both an asset and a vulnerability. 'The cost of hoarding data is greater than the risk of sharing it wisely,' said Vishal Gupta, Head of Business Transformation and Digital at Godrej Consumer Products. But data democratization, he warned, requires discipline: 'Democratization of bad data is worse than no democratization at all. First, have a well-governed, centralized platform—a single source of truth.' For Pramod Mundhra, President & CIO at Havells, the opportunity lies in making technology less visible and more intuitive. 'The trick lies in removing friction. With GenAI, on-demand is more powerful. We are enabling our people to use more on-demand data.' A Redefined Mandate The takeaway from Goa was clear: The CIO's role is no longer confined to the back office. As expectations evolve and transformation accelerates, CIOs are rewriting the rules—not just for IT, but for the enterprise itself.
India Today
2 days ago
- India Today
EPFO 3.0 to launch with UPI integration and ATM withdrawals: Launch date, features and all you need to know
Employees Provident Fund (EPF) members are in for a big breather in terms of ease of use and convenience from June of this year. A major digital overhaul is on the cards for India's retirement savings system as EPFO prepares to launch its next-generation platform, EPFO 3.0, starting on June 1, 2025. With over 9 crore active members, the organisation is now set to make provident fund access easier, faster, and more in sync with the digital upgrade comes on the heels of Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya's earlier statement confirming that the rollout would take place between May and June 2025. The new platform marks a significant shift in how EPF services are delivered. It is backed by a modern IT infrastructure aimed at reducing paperwork and manual processing. Let's dive deeper into the details of the upcoming 3.0: Launch dateStarting June 1, 2025, a wave of important financial changes are set to roll out across India, bringing updates that will affect everything from personal savings to credit card regulations and access to provident fund accounts. At the heart of these developments is the much-anticipated launch of EPFO 3.0, EPFO's newly upgraded digital platform. Designed to make the system more user-friendly and efficient, EPFO 3.0 will be rolled out on June 1, Aside from the EPFO update, June will bring a number of other financial changes. Major banks such as HDFC, Axis Bank, and Kotak Mahindra Bank are tweaking credit card rules, while consumers must also keep an eye on upcoming deadlines for Aadhaar updates, TDS certificate issuance, and special FD scheme 3.0 upcoming featuresUPI and ATM withdrawals: One of the most anticipated features of EPFO 3.0 is the introduction of ATM-like access to EPF funds. At present, withdrawing money from your Provident Fund (PF) account typically means filing an online claim and then patiently waiting for approval from an EPFO field office — a process that can often stretch over several days, if not weeks. But that's all set to change. With the introduction of UPI integration and ATM-based withdrawal facilities, the entire process is about to become far quicker and considerably more the new system, members of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation will no longer need to endure lengthy delays. Instead, they'll be able to access up to Rs 1 lakh almost instantly. Additionally, they'll be able to transfer funds to their bank accounts on the spot, bypassing the usual claim-processing essence, the days of cumbersome withdrawal procedures are correction: Another major advantage of the upgraded system is the shift to digital self-service options. Members will now be able to update account details such as their name, date of birth, or contact information online, without having to submit forms or visit an EPFO support these updates securely, the new system will feature OTP-based verification, streamlining the process and ensuring data accuracy with minimal addition, the EPFO is introducing a revamped grievance redressal system to handle complaints more efficiently. With a digital interface and better tracking, the new mechanism is expected to deliver quicker resolutions and reduce frustration among with other schemes: EPFO 3.0 is also being positioned as a gateway to wider social protection, with plans to integrate other government schemes such as the Atal Pension Yojana (APY) and Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Bima Yojana (PMJJBY). This integration could significantly benefit workers in the unorganised and informal sectors, bringing multiple financial safety nets under one platform.
