Since 1998, the ORBIE Awards have recognized excellence in C-suite technology leadership. The awards are part of Inspire Leadership Network, a nationwide community that connects technology executives through local chapters and national events. Each year, Converge brings that community together for three days of conversations, experiences, and the National ORBIE Awards.
This year, more than 350 executives came together for Converge26 in San Jose to talk about AI, security, leadership, and the decisions technology leaders are making as their organizations adapt to a rapidly changing landscape.
Concord has supported Inspire Leadership Network chapters across the country for more than a decade, so we were glad to be part of this year’s gathering. Between the conversations, new connections, and opportunities to experience the area, we came away with plenty to think about. Here are a few highlights that stuck with us.
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Converge26 was about more than what happened inside the conference rooms. Attendees had the opportunity to step outside and experience the technology, businesses, and culture that define the Bay Area.
John Nordquist visited Lucid Motors to explore the company's approach to electric vehicle design and engineering, including the opportunity to experience Lucid models firsthand.
Meghan Duncan joined fellow executives at The Hay at Pebble Beach, the Tiger Woods-designed short course overlooking Carmel Bay.
Daniel Frehner took part in an experience with venture-backed startups from Sand Hill Road, offering a closer look at some of the technologies and ideas coming out of Silicon Valley.
And our team managed to get in on an AC/DC concert with some fellow Converge attendees. Not a bad way to spend an evening in San Jose!
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The experiences outside the conference were memorable, but the conversations inside it gave us even more to think about.
AI was naturally part of many of the discussions. But the more interesting question was what happens as access to increasingly capable technology becomes less of a differentiator. If everyone can use similar tools, where does the advantage come from?
Across different sessions, speakers came back to that question from different angles. Their answers pointed to something that has always mattered in technology leadership: knowing your organization well enough to make good decisions about where technology belongs and creating the conditions for people to use it effectively.
Bret Taylor, Co-Founder of Sierra and Chairman of OpenAI, put AI in the context of previous technology waves. He argued that, like the commercial internet, AI will eventually become a fundamental part of how businesses operate. Access to AI will become increasingly common, so the real value will come from how organizations apply it, particularly through their unique data, context, products, and customer relationships.
Sue Taylor, former CIO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and longtime IT leader and mentor to women in STEM, spoke about the importance of building a broad range of experiences throughout your career.
She emphasized the value of asking questions at every level of an organization, from the executive boardroom to the employees stocking shelves in a warehouse. Understanding how the business works in practice, not just from a leadership perspective, gives leaders the context they need to make better decisions.
That curiosity, combined with a willingness to take on responsibilities outside of your core area of expertise, has helped Sue build a well-rounded leadership perspective and a career that extends beyond traditional technology roles, including board leadership opportunities.
Lisa Davis, Fortune 500 executive and Amazon bestselling author, challenged leaders to act with conviction even when the path ahead is uncertain.
That is particularly relevant as AI continues to evolve faster than most organizations can establish a playbook. Leaders will not always have clear answers or proven approaches to follow. They still have to make decisions, explain why those decisions matter, and give their teams enough direction to move forward.
Staying grounded in core beliefs while adapting to change becomes especially important when the technology itself is evolving underneath you.
Liz Wiseman, author of Multipliers and CEO, encouraged leaders to look inward before assuming they need more resources.
When demands increase, organizations often respond by adding headcount, technology, or outside expertise. Wiseman offered another place to look: the people already inside the organization.
Leaders can create more capacity by recognizing and activating the intelligence, ideas, and capabilities already on their teams. That becomes even more relevant as AI changes what individuals and small teams can accomplish. Giving people the right tools, trust, and room to put those capabilities to work can unlock more of what the organization already has.
Keith Ferrazzi, author and executive coach, focused on the role of trust and healthy challenge in high-performing teams.
Strong teams build enough trust to question ideas, push back, and expect more from one another in service of a shared goal.
That matters for AI adoption because teams need to experiment, challenge assumptions, learn from what does not work, and make decisions together. Creating an environment where people can do that helps organizations move quickly while keeping good judgment in the process.
Peter High, author, strategist, and Forbes contributor, emphasized the growing importance of human judgment as AI makes intelligence more accessible.
Organizations may soon have more information, analysis, and AI-generated recommendations than ever before. More information also creates more decisions about what deserves attention.
Leaders still have to determine what matters, understand the context around a decision, weigh tradeoffs, and decide what the organization is willing to act on. As AI takes on more of the work involved in generating and processing information, those responsibilities will carry even more weight.
Of course, Converge26 was also a chance to celebrate the leaders who are making an impact in their respective industries.
The National ORBIE Awards recognized technology and security executives from across North America. Winners are selected through peer-adjudicated evaluations that consider leadership effectiveness, business value created through technology innovation, cybersecurity, and industry and community engagement.
Congratulations to this year’s winners:
As AI becomes easier to access, knowing your business becomes more important. So does knowing your people, understanding where technology can create real value, and having the judgment to decide where it belongs.
That is a leadership challenge as much as a technology one, and it is one that will continue well beyond Converge26.
We’re grateful to the Inspire Leadership Network, the Bay Area hosts, speakers, members, and fellow attendees who made Converge26 such a valuable experience. We’re looking forward to continuing the conversation at Converge27 in Washington, D.C.
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