SUMMIT PROGRAM – BFUTR 2025 Innovation Leadership Big Ideas
BFUTR 2025 kicks off with by setting the tone for an unforgettable experience. Expect energy, clarity, and the kind of welcome that reminds you—you’re exactly where you’re meant to be. Let’s get into it.
In 2025, every executive has dabbled in AI—but very few can prove it’s making or saving real money. Boards are asking sharper questions. CFOs are tightening approvals. The experimental era is over. It’s time to quantify.
This session breaks down what true AI ROI looks like across today’s enterprise—from accelerated procurement cycles to measurable customer engagement gains. We’ll expose which use cases are quietly delivering bottom-line value, and which are bleeding budgets with no traction. You’ll hear what high-performing organizations are doing differently: how they move beyond sandbox pilots, build internal accountability around AI performance, and shift their tech teams from “experimenters” to value creators.
If you can’t answer “What’s the ROI?” with confidence, this session will show you how.
At TD, we believe that the future of tech is human-centered, data powered, and inclusive by design. Join Ted Paris on the BFUTR mainstage to learn how future technologists can lead with impact in an evolving digital landscape. Ted Paris takes a deep dive into their leadership journey from technologist to executive, what it takes to shape the future of technology and how inclusive innovation drives business value for TD Bank
They may not all write code—but they all write the playbooks that move markets.
This main stage session spotlights the Black women leaders driving the business side of tech with precision and power. Whether tech-proficient or non-tech-proficient, these executives are shaping the industry’s most defining moves: from growth strategy and capital allocation to brand vision, policy, and operations.
They’re building scalable systems, managing complex teams, shaping product direction, and making calls that impact millions—often without a technical title. And they’re doing it in an industry that too often overlooks what can’t be shipped, logged, or pushed live.
This session is a deep dive into how leaders across both technical and non-technical backgrounds create exponential value in tech—and what it takes to lead, influence, and win in rooms that were never built for you. It’s not about being behind the scenes. It’s about commanding the direction of the entire show.
Day One was just the spark—now it’s time to lock in the energy. The host returns to leave us with bold takeaways, the connections that count, and a clear line of sight into tomorrow.
Because at BFUTR, we don’t wind down—we level up.Because at BFUTR, we don’t just attend—we activate.
The host will take the stage to open the BFUTR Main Stage with clarity, energy, and intention. From what to expect to who you’ll meet, this welcome sets the tone for a second day of high-stakes conversations, bold leadership, and game-changing ideas. It’s your first look at the culture, community, and caliber of thinkers that make BFUTR the ultimate stage for Black and allied tech excellence.
Day 2 starts with a shift in tempo. Yesterday was about energy. Today is about execution. In this candid address, Lekan speaks directly to the builders in the room: the people turning big ideas into infrastructure, revenue, and reality. Forget waiting for seats at the table. This is about constructing entirely new rooms—companies, ecosystems, capital flows—designed to outlast trends and bypass gatekeepers. He’ll outline what Obsidi® is building next, where it’s headed, and why legacy doesn’t belong to those who play it safe—it belongs to those who bet on themselves. You don’t need permission to lead. You need precision. And this is where it starts.
The host will close out BFUTR 2025 with clarity and celebration. After two days of bold thinking, unapologetic leadership, and future-shaping conversation, this final moment is about taking what we’ve learned—and using it to lead what’s next. Expect gratitude, next steps, and one last charge to carry the BFUTR energy beyond the summit.
The world of work is changing. After this week, so are we.