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Agenda

Optimizing Partnership Engagement Strategy

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Schedule-at-a-Glance is continuously updated as additional information becomes available.

Monday, February 9, 2026 | Networking Evening

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6:00 pm

Event Kick-Off & Happy Hour Hangout

Join us for the Happy Hour Hangout, a perfect opportunity to network, connect with peers, and build relationships in a relaxed and casual setting. Kick off the event with great conversations, beer, wine, and good vibes as we unwind together. Come set the tone for an unforgettable experience!

Tuesday, February 10, 2026 | Innovation Workshop and Networking

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8:30 am

Registration and Continental Breakfast

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9:00 am

Participant Meet ‘n’ Greet

This networking activity offers participants a valuable opportunity to quickly connect with peers facing similar challenges. It’s an excellent way to identify others with valuable thought leadership and lay the foundation for meaningful discussions throughout the event.

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9:30 am

Welcome and Introduction

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9:45 AM

HEADLINER – From Transactional to Transformational: Building High-Trust, High-Impact Partner Ecosystems

J. Cris Salinas, MD, Head of Industry Strategy, Healthcare and Life Sciences, Adobe

Headliner:

Cris SalinasJ. Cris Salinas, MD
Head of Industry Strategy, Healthcare and Life Sciences
Adobe

Why You Should Listen to Dr. Salinas:
Bio is forthcoming.

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10:15 AM

EXECUTIVE INSIGHT – Build, Buy or Partner: Making the Case for Technology Advancement

Lutz Beck, Chief Information Officer, Daimler Truck North America

Abstract:

Explore strategic approaches to accelerate technology adoption and advancements through building, buying, or partnering. This session provides actionable insights for executives to evaluate options, optimize investments, and align technology decisions with business priorities, capabilities, and budget.

Action Items:

  • Evaluate your current technology roadmap against business priorities to identify gaps
  • Develop a structured blueprint for making build vs. buy vs. partner scenarios and finding the right partners
  • Cultivate partnerships that complement internal capabilities and accelerate delivery

Rockstar Insight:

Lutz BeckLutz Beck
Chief Information Officer
Daimler Truck North America

Why You Should Listen to Lutz
Lutz is shaping the future of IT at Daimler Truck North America. By directing cultural change through digital activation, his visionary IT strategy, “Building the Intelligent Company,” guides digital transformation at DTNA, positioning the organization at the cutting edge of technology. Lutz champions IT Leadership, disruptive ideas and innovation by re-imagining the way business is done.

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10:45 AM

Networking and Refreshment Break

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11:05 AM

CONCURRENT COLLABORATION ZONES – ROUNDTABLES

Roundtable sessions capture the power of all participants’ voices, insights and experiences via group discussion and exploration of the issue at hand.

Choose one of the following zones:

Zone 1. Driving Internal Adoption: Going Beyond Proof of Concept by Ensuring Core Business Support

Zone 2. The Innovation Dashboard: Metrics that Matter

David Matheson, President and Chief Executive Officer, SmartOrg
Doug Williams, Associat Director, Innovation, SmartOrg

Rockstar Insights:

David MathesonDavid Matheson
President and Chief Executive Officer
SmartOrg

Why You Should Listen to David:
Bio is forthcoming

Doug WilliamsDoug Williams
Associat Director, Innovation
SmartOrg

Why You Should Listen to Doug:
Bio is forthcoming

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12:10 PM

Networking Luncheon

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1:15 PM

CASE HISTORY – Selecting the Right Partners Aligned to Your Unique Needs

Daniel Rich, Vice President, Startup & Venture Partnerships, Security Solutions Mastercard

Rockstar Insight:

Daniel RichDaniel Rich
Vice President, Startup & Venture Partnerships, Security Solutions,
Mastercard

Why You Should Listen to Daniel:
Bio is forthcoming.

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1:45 PM

ASK THE EXPERTS! Panel Discussion: Co-Innovating with Startups – From Inception to Success

Moderator:
Greg Horowitt, Director of Innovation, UC San Diego

Panelists Include:
Sam Heshmati, Executive Managing Director – Head of Emerging VC and Innovation Banking, Citizens Private Bank
Lesley Stolz, Head West North America External Scientific Innovation, Johnson & Johnson
Joe Epstein, Strategic Partnerships Lead, Lockheed Martin Space

Moderator:

Greg HorowittGreg Horowitt
Director of Innovation
UC San Diego

Why You Should Listen to Greg:
Bio is forthcoming.

Panelists Include:

Joe EpsteinJoe Epstein
Strategic Partnerships Lead
Lockheed Martin Space

Why You Should Listen to Joe:
Bio is forthcoming.

Sam HeshmatiSam Heshmati
Executive Managing Director – Head of Emerging VC and Innovation Banking
Citizens Private Bank

Why You Should Listen to Sam:
Sam has over 23 years of experience in the technology ecosystem, serving clients not only as a banker, but as someone who can guide clients as they make important decisions within this space. Over his career, he has worked with more than 1000 early-stage VC firms and several thousand venture-backed startups. Prior to joining First Republic in 2012, he spent 10 years as a tech banker at Silicon Valley Bank and Square 1 Bank.

Lesley StolzLesley Stolz
Head West North America External Scientific Innovation
Johnson & Johnson

Why You Should Listen to Lesley:
Lesley has spent the last 30 years working in corporate development and partnering in life sciences. She spent more than 20 years working for innovator companies partnering with multinationals, and she is now working for a multinational partnering with innovators. The only way that new solutions for health will get to families is through these partnerships.

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2:30 PM

Networking and Refreshment Break

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2:50 PM

CONCURRENT COLLABORATION ZONES – CASE HISTORIES

Case Histories explore a specific use case and include informal conversations that draw upon the experience and expertise of the featured executive and participants.

Choose one of the following zones:

Zone 1. Creating a Governance Model for Optimizing Partnership Engagement and Accountability

Zone 2. Developing Mutually Beneficial Go to Market Strategies

Miguel Olarte, Senior Breakthrough Innovation Lead – Global, Diageo

Rockstar Insight:

Miguel OlarteMiguel Olarte
Senior Breakthrough Innovation Lead – Global
Diageo

Why You Should Listen to Miguel:
Bio is forthcoming.

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3:55 PM

Session to Session Travel Time

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4:00 PM

CAPSTONE – Designing Scalable and Adaptive Partnerships

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4:30 PM

Networking Reception

Close out the day with drinks, small bites and meaningful connections with fellow peers in a relaxed yet entertaining setting!

Wednesday, February 11, 2026 | Plug & Play Day and Innovation HQ Tour

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8:00 AM

Continental Breakfast

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8:30 AM

Plug and Play Insight Sessions

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9:30 AM

Start-Up Spotlight

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10:30 AM

Innovation HQ Tour

Register Now!

For further information or to register, call Jason Doty, Senior Director, Events & Leadership Councils on +1-210-247-2471, or email him at [email protected]

Register

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