KEYNOTES • WORKSHOPS • EXECUTIVE BRIEFINGS
Bring the human side of data and AI to the center of the conversation.
Dr. Christina Sandema-Sombe helps audiences understand what it takes to turn data and AI ambition into trusted, sustainable business outcomes. Her sessions connect technology with leadership, governance, culture, adoption and the future of work.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF DATA AND AI CONVERSATION
Technology may enable transformation. People determine whether it succeeds.
Christina brings a human-centered and systems-level perspective to data, analytics and AI. Her presentations challenge audiences to look beyond tools and examine the leadership, trust, culture, governance and operating conditions that determine whether transformation produces lasting value. Her sessions combine executive experience, original frameworks, research, relevant examples and accessible storytelling. Audiences leave with practical language and ideas they can apply inside their own organizations.- Corporate leadership events and executive retreats
- Data, analytics and AI conferences
- Government and public-sector forums
- Universities and executive education
- Panels, podcasts and media interviews
FEATURED KEYNOTE
People: The Linchpin of Successful Outcomes with Data
Delivered at the GDS Data & Analytics Insight Summit, 2024 Organizations continue to introduce new data platforms, analytics capabilities and AI tools, yet many still struggle to generate adoption, scale and sustainable value. Christina challenges the assumption that technology alone can solve an organization’s data problems. She explains why successful transformation requires sustained investment in people as well as technology.
- Build meaningful business engagement
- Advance role-appropriate data fluency and literacy
- Prepare organizational culture to navigate change
Available as a keynote, executive briefing, leadership discussion or customized conference session.
Business Engagement
Connect leadership commitment, collaboration and data priorities with the way people are hired, developed and evaluated.Data Fluency and Literacy
Identify knowledge gaps, establish role-appropriate standards and create ongoing learning and support.
Organizational Culture
Understand how changing responsibilities, processes and technologies affect employees and create resistance.
SPEAKING FORMATS
Choose the experience that fits your audience
Keynotes establish a shared perspective. Briefings, panels and workshops provide different levels of interaction and application.
Keynotes
Research-grounded, accessible presentations that connect data and AI strategy with people, trust and organizational systems.Executive Briefings
Focused conversations for leadership teams working through readiness, governance, adoption and transformation decisions.
Panels and Moderation
Clear, candid contributions that connect specialist perspectives to business and human consequences.
Interactive Workshops
Facilitated learning that helps participants assess current conditions, work through scenarios and identify practical next steps.
PROVEN INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP
Speaking and workshops are connected, but they are not the same offer
The keynote creates perspective. The workshop helps participants diagnose conditions, discuss tradeoffs and apply practical governance and stewardship approaches.
DATAVERSITY DGIQ WEST + ENTERPRISE DATA WORLD, 2025
Reimagining Data Stewardship for the AI Era
Governance for Competitive and Ethical AdvantageThis facilitated tutorial helps data and governance professionals examine stewardship structures, accountability, risk and reward, knowledge management, metrics and the organizational conditions needed to move stewardship from theory into practice.
Available as a customized organizational workshop. Scope, length and examples can be adapted to the audience’s maturity, industry and objectives.
VERIFIED PARTICIPANT FEEDBACK
Practical value audiences can take back to work
Feedback from the 2025 DATAVERSITY DGIQ West + Enterprise Data World tutorial.
“Excellent example and conversation.”Workshop attendee, DATAVERSITY 2025
“Relatable content.”
Workshop attendee, DATAVERSITY 2025
“Both speakers were very knowledgeable.”
Workshop attendee, DATAVERSITY 2025
SELECTED STAGES AND INDUSTRY CONVERSATIONS
Contributing to leading conversations about data, AI and organizational transformation
WATCH AND LISTEN
Selected presentations and interviews
Explore Christina’s perspectives across conference, editorial and podcast formats.
CDO MAGAZINE INTERVIEW
Why Sustainable Data Practices Start with People, Not Tools
A conversation about the human conditions behind sustainable data practice.
DATAVERSITY INTERVIEW
My Career in Data
Christina discusses her career path, leadership experience and work across data-centered organizations.
CDO MAGAZINE INTERVIEW
The Data Team Is Only as Effective as Its Partnerships
Why sustainable data outcomes depend on collaboration beyond the data function.
MIT CDOIQ CONFERENCE PRESENTATION
Best Practices to Operationalize Data Stewardship in a Federated Model
A conference presentation on sponsorship, accountability, literacy, community and recognition.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Planning an engagement
Can sessions be customized?
Yes. Content can be adapted to the event theme, audience, industry, maturity and desired outcomes.Are virtual and hybrid engagements available?
Yes. Keynotes, briefings, panels and selected workshops can be delivered in person, virtually or in a hybrid format.
Can a keynote and workshop be paired?
Yes. A keynote can create shared context, followed by an interactive workshop that helps participants apply the ideas.
What information should organizers provide?
Share the event date, format, location, audience, objectives, topic interest and available budget through the inquiry form.
START THE CONVERSATION