

Texas AI Leadership Summit
Texas - AI Leadership Summit 2025
AI is changing every industry, from hiring and compliance to sales, marketing, finance, and operations. On November 5, 2025, join 300+ business leaders at the Texas AI Leadership Summit in Houston to learn, network, and discover how AI can accelerate growth in your organization.
Event Details
Date: Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Time: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM (CDT)
Venue: HCC West Loop Campus, Houston, TX
Registration: Invite only with RSVP (limited seats)
Who Should Attend & What You’ll Gain
CHROs & HR Leaders – Learn how AI simplifies compliance and reduces hiring time.
Staffing CEOs & Recruiters – See how AI finds top candidates faster.
CMOs & CROs – Unlock AI-powered personalization to boost conversions.
CIOs & CTOs – Discover frameworks for secure AI infrastructure.
Startup Founders – Explore tools to scale teams globally.
Investors – Spot high-potential AI startups in Texas.
Operations Leaders – Optimize supply chains with AI analytics.
Legal & Compliance Officers – Navigate governance & regulatory requirements.
Walk away with actionable strategies, new connections, and a clear vision of how AI can reshape your role and organization.
Agenda at a Glance
Texas AI Leadership Summit 2025
Wednesday, November 5, 2025 - Houston City College – West Loop Campus
MORNING SCHEDULE
7:30 – 8:30 AM - Registration & Networking Breakfast
8:30 – 9:00 AM - Opening Remarks & Welcome Address
Sreevani Dudipala, President - Innovantech
Dr. Margaret Ford Fisher, Chancellor - Houston City College
9:00 – 9:30 AM - Keynote | AI & The Future of Work in Texas
Texas State Representative
State Board of Education Representative
PANEL TRACKS
9:30 – 10:00 AM | Track 1 – Human Resources & People Leaders
Topic: From Resumes to Results: Building a Skills-First Workforce in the Age of AI
Moderator: Dr. Madhuri Kumar - Principal & Chief Talent Officer
Panelists:
Sarbari Basu, CHRO & Head of Business Operations – Prismecs
Debbie Richards, Chief Learning Advisor - Cognota.
Dr. Sarah Morgan, Professor of Biology & Environmental Sciences – Lone Star College
Naga Krishna Kadiyala, HR Director – UT Health Houston
10:10 – 10:40 AM | Track 2 – Investors & Venture Leaders
Topic: AI: Bubble, Boom, or Business as Usual?
Moderator: Raj Rentla, Founder - ProjectA AI
Panelists:
Alice Gong, Managing Partner – US Unicorn Foundation
Nada Ahmed, Founding Partner – Energy Tech Nexus
Mitra Miller, Managing Partner – MillRiver
Aishwarya Mahesh, Quantitative Researcher - ADM Investor Services
10:50 – 11:20 AM | Track 3 – Marketing & Growth Leaders
Topic: Marketing in 2025: Privacy, Personalization, and the AI Balancing Act
Moderator: Anamika Gupta - TeKnowledge
Panelists:
Angela Troccoli, Head of Marketing - Revecore
Rob Freedman, Vice President of Marketing & Partnerships - EZO
Simon Boyce, VP of Sales - Neara
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM | Track 4 – Technology & IT Leaders
Topic: Build or Buy? The Great Debate on AI Infrastructure
Moderator: Samir Saber, Dean, Digital & Information Technology Center of Excellence - HCC
Panelists:
Holden Page, Sr. VP of Technology – HW Media
Thane Russy, VP, Strategic AI Programs – LCG Discovery Experts
Kara Pelecky, CIO and Sr. VP – American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)
Anurag Bihani, Data Scientist – Schlumberger
12:00 – 1:00 PM 🍽️ Networking Lunch
AFTERNOON SESSIONS
1:00 – 1:30 PM | Track 5 – Talent Acquisition & Staffing Leaders
Topic: The Future of Recruiting: Humans + AI, Not Humans vs. AI
Moderator: Varun Rentala – Chief of Operations - Innovant Tech
Panelists:
Logan Sloan, CEO, Outscor Tech
Duran Workman, Founder & CEO, Elios Talent
Tassen Manzoor, Human Resources Director, ThreatModeler
Cristina Duke, Vice President Sales, PowerToFly
1:40 – 2:10 PM | Track 6 – Startup & Business Founders
Topic: Founding in the Age of AI: Building Smarter, Faster, Leaner Startups
Moderator: Patricia McManus – Houston City College
Panelists:
Ersin Bayram, Director of AI and Data Science – Perimeter Medical Imaging AI
Oyefunke Fayoyin, Chief Information Security Officer – Devo Technology
Julius Guay, Principal Utility Systems Architect– PXRD
Saika Esani, Founder – Lizzie’s Gourmet Gains
2:20 – 2:50 PM | Track 7 – Legal, Risk & Compliance Leaders
Topic: AI Governance, Risk & Ethics: Building Trust in the Age of Automation
Moderator: Daryl Riley – ISACA Houston & HCC NSA CAE Advisory Board
Panelists:
Kerry Cooper, Compliance/AML Officer & Quality Control, CLM Mortgage
Ted Seago, Corporate Counsel – Ubiquity
Sindhu Menon, Executive Director – Harris County Universal Services
Daniel Grabau, GIS Manager & System Administrator – Roger A So3ape, Inc.
3:00 – 3:30 PM | Track 8 – Operations & Healthcare Leaders
Topic: Human + Machine: Redefining Operational Excellence in the Age of AI
Moderator: Dr. Rajender Aparasu – University of Houston College of Pharmacy
Panelists:
Kim Martinez, Sr. Vice President of Operations – Aspire Allergy & Sinus
Dana Dewita, IT Project Manager, Financial Ops – Epicor Software
Ar’Sheill Monsanto, VP of Strategy & Partnerships – A Healthier Democracy
Palak Jalan, Chief Operating Officer – My Access Health
3:40 – 4:00 PM - Volunteer Recognition
4:00 – 6:00 PM - HCC Student AI Projects Showcase + Professional Networking
5:00 PM - Evening Snacks
✨ Event Ends at 6:00 PM ✨
Hosted By Houston City College • Innovant Tech • ProjectA • Growthpods
📍 Location: HCC West Loop Campus, 5601 W Loop S, Houston, TX 77081, Free parking.
Why You Shouldn’t Miss This: Practical insights from leaders already using AI in business; Real networking with 300+ executives and innovators.
Don’t just watch the AI revolution - lead it :)