2015 Big Data Analytics Conference Agenda

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

10:00 am - 5:00 pm - Seminar Registration

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm - Seminar Attendees Lunch

1:00 pm - 5:00 pm - Applied Analytics Experience Seminar

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm - Opening Reception

Thursday, June 25, 2015

7:00 am - 5:00 pm - Registration

7:00 am - 8:00 am - Continental Breakfast

8:00 am - 8:30 am - General Session

Finding the Future within Big Data

Through the lens of trillions of interactions on social media, websites, search and mobile, the future is clear for those who know how to find meaning in big data.  This talk will provide an entertaining and informative look into our future and will encourage the audience to think about big data from new points of view with an eye towards improving the strategic value of data within your organization.

Tamara Gaffney - Principal Analyst – Adobe Digital Index, Adobe Systems Incorporated

Amphitheater

8:30 am - 9:15 am - General Session

Big Data, Human Intelligence

As the description of the event suggests, learning to better utilize analytics is the goal. It’s 2015 and talk of Big Data, Advanced Analytics, and Business Intelligence is no longer new. Billions have been invested, enabling more data to be collected in the last five years than during the prior 4.5 billion combined. But something’s missing. For all of the investment in technology, for all the data miners, visualization experts, and data scientists who have been educated and hired…something’s still missing. That something is Human Intelligence.

Drawing from his Connect the Dots Series of books, David Silverstein will talk about why real competitive advantage in the era of Big Data still comes down to people and their ability to think creatively about what to look for in data, what hypotheses to test, and what experiments to run. There’s a misperception running rampant in the industry which suggests that with the right tools, patterns will “emerge” from the data. While sometimes they do, the real value comes from combining the power of Big Data Analytics with the power of Big Thinking. In this talk, Silverstein will combine his insights across multiple domains including innovation, data analytics, and strategy to connect the dots for attendees and show how Big Data and Human Intelligence are inextricably linked. 

David Silverstein - President and CEO, BMGI

Amphitheater

9:15 am - 9:30 am - Moving Break

9:30 am - 10:30 am: Concurrent Sessions & Micro Summits

Concurrent Session 1.1
Peter C. Davis, Group Vice President and Global Head of Consulting & Analytics, Axciom

Big data has enabled a new era of omni-channel marketing, but it has also changed IT and marketing organization requirements. Some companies have embraced these changes faster than others as they’ve innovated new business models anchored in harnessing big data to uncover and act on customer insights.

Our presentation will focus on practical insights from work we’ve done with early adopters of big data, including:

  • The problems and ‘use cases’ where big data, data mining, analytics and marketing execution make sense
  • What results can be expected
  • How to frame up your own big data implementation plan

Please choose one concurrent session OR two micro summits (one 9:30 a.m., one 10:00 a.m.)

Concurrent Session 1.2
Daniel Dunn, Second Vice President – Analytics, Protective Life

Having a robust and governed enterprise data warehouse is an important capability for enabling predictive analytics. The implementation process can be a lengthy undertaking however, with the complexities of blending data from multiple administration systems and web/mobile activity. This session provides a case study on how one company quickly created interim capabilities to produce reliable datasets for analytics using tools such as R, Google Analytics, & Tableau.

Please choose one concurrent session OR two micro summits (one 9:30 a.m., one 10:00 a.m.)

Micro Summit 1.3a (9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.)

A follow-up discussion with Tamara Gaffney.

You may also choose a 10:00 a.m. micro summit.

Micro Summit 1.3b (9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.)

Developing or recruiting staff to acquire the skills of the data scientist.

You may also choose a 10:00 a.m. micro summit.

Micro Summit 1.3c (9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.)

Issues and resolutions surrounding privacy and compliance.

You may also choose a 10:00 a.m. micro summit.

Micro Summit 1.3d (10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.)

A follow-up discussion with David Silverstein.

You may also choose a preceding 9:30 a.m. micro summit.

Micro Summit 1.3e (10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.)

How are you deriving value from your internal data?

You may also choose a preceding 9:30 a.m. micro summit.

Micro Summit 1.3f (10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.)

Experiences (good or bad) in developing/implementing data-driven marketing campaigns.

You may also choose a preceding 9:30 a.m. micro summit.

10:30 am - 11:00 am - Refreshment Break

11:00 am - 12:00 pm: Concurrent Sessions & Micro Summits

Concurrent Session 2.1
John Wilson, FLMI, AIRC, ACS, Data Scientist, LIMRA

Assessing your data analytics program can be a confusing and difficult task.  However, LIMRA has developed a multi-dimensional framework that will help you assess your analytics program.  Come and discover how this framework was developed and how you can use it to get your program to the next level.

Please choose one concurrent session OR two micro summits (one 11:00 a.m., one 11:30 a.m.)

Concurrent Session 2.2
Anthony Clurman, Vice President, Strategic Planning and Execution, US Division, Sun Life Financial
Rahim Rajpar, Assistant Vice President, Strategy and Business Development, John Hancock
Moderator
: Nirav Dagli, President, Spinnaker Analytics

Regardless of the maturity of your organization’s data and analytics capabilities, see how other carriers combined in-house talent and knowledge with select external services to create actionable insights. While big data needs analytics, analytics is not limited to big data. Two case studies will demonstrate best practices that you can implement quickly in your organization.

Please choose one concurrent session OR two micro summits (one 11:00 a.m., one 11:30 a.m.)

Micro Summit 2.3a (11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.)

A follow-up discussion with Tamara Gaffney.

You may also choose a 11:30 a.m. micro summit.

Micro Summit 2.3b (11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.)

Developing or recruiting staff to acquire the skills of the data scientist.

You may also choose a 11:30 a.m. micro summit.

Micro Summit 2.3c (11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.)

Issues and resolutions surrounding privacy and compliance.

You may also choose a 11:30 a.m. micro summit.

Micro Summit 2.3d (11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.)

A follow-up discussion with David Silverstein.

You may also choose a preceding 11:00 a.m. micro summit.

Micro Summit 2.3e (11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.)

How are you deriving value from your internal data?

You may also choose a preceding 11:00 a.m. micro summit.

Micro Summit 2.3f (11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.)

Experiences (good or bad) in developing/implementing data-driven marketing campaigns.

You may also choose a preceding 11:00 a.m. micro summit.

12:00 pm - 1:30 pm - Luncheon

1:30 pm - 2:30 pm: Concurrent Sessions & Micro Summits

Concurrent Session 3.1
Debra L. Ingram, Marketing Analytics & Reporting Director, Principal Financial Group
David Krahn, Assistant Director, Analytics, Northwestern Mutual Life

Understanding the “true” version of customer data can be quite challenging.  However, adopting strategies to enable this understanding might also afford you the opportunity to create a “data scientist” team.  Learn how an analysis of data and people across functional units can have the added benefit of bringing skills together to form effective data analytics project teams. Ideal for companies that are early in their Analytics team journeys, this interactive Q&A session will leverage the experiences of companies that have faced these challenges, making strides toward greater Analytic maturity.

Please choose one concurrent session OR two micro summits (one 1:30 p.m., one 2:00 p.m.)

Concurrent Session 3.2
Sean Conrad, FSA, MAAA, FIA, CFA, Vice President, Actuary, Hannover Life Reassurance Company of America
Patrick Sugent, Vice President, Analytics, LexisNexis

Predictive modeling has the potential to revolutionize life insurance products and processes, potentially touching on sales, marketing, underwriting, pricing, and in-force management. Sean and Patrick will explore ways predictive modeling can be used in life insurance including insights gained from the collaborative research efforts of Hannover Re and LexisNexis.

Please choose one concurrent session OR two micro summits (one 1:30 p.m., one 2:00 p.m.)

Micro Summit 3.3a

Tools you use and are considering.

You may also choose a 2:00 p.m. micro summit.

Micro Summit 3.3b

The interplay among intuitive, experiential, and data-driven modes of decision-making, including the tensions that arise between them.

You may also choose a 2:00 p.m. micro summit.

Micro Summit 3.3c

The role and value derived from external data.

You may also choose a 2:00 p.m. micro summit.

Micro Summit 3.3d

What might it take to make automated underwriting a reality?

You may also choose a preceding 1:30 p.m. micro summit.

Micro Summit 3.3e

Communicating and implementing models

You may also choose a preceding 1:30 p.m. micro summit.

Micro Summit 3.3f

Strategies to utilize external resources that help your organization get to the next level (a peer-to-peer discussion; we ask that vendors not register for this session).

You may also choose a preceding 1:30 p.m. micro summit.

2:30 pm - 3:00 pm - Refreshment Break

3:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Concurrent Sessions & Micro Summits

Concurrent Session 4.1
Sheila Colclasure, Privacy Officer, The Americas, Acxiom

Rapid consumer adoption of digital technology has fueled massive new sources of data.  Each of these new data flows has compliance issues and considerations that must be understood, navigated, and ultimately adhered to by brands.  How effectively, thoughtfully, and compliantly marketers harness these new data sources is under more scrutiny than ever by both consumers and regulators.  This session provides guidelines for navigating the sensitive and critical world of consumer privacy in a customer-obsessed environment, and how to manage the often perceived antithetical demand by consumers for greater transparency in how their data is used an more contextual and relevant offers and services from their brands of choice.

Please choose one concurrent session OR two micro summits (one 3:00 p.m., one 3:30 p.m.)

Concurrent Session 4.2
Ranjith Raghunath, Sr. Manager, Innovation, Samsung Electronics America
Chuck Smith, Senior Director, Samsung Electronics America

With the advent of social media, customer relationship management has seen a turn.  This avenue for rich user declared data warrants the need to understand it better.  In a fast paced business environment the need for the traditional sandboxes to try new things become pivotal.  Analytics is no different.  At this session, learn about the business problem that Samsung Electronics has solved using Hadoop as a data discovery environment.  The intent is to communicate how this technical imperative enabled them in their journey to understand the customer better.  Through the talk they will focus on the basic architecture and movement of data to formulate insight.

Please choose one concurrent session OR two micro summits (one 3:00 p.m., one 3:30 p.m.)

Micro Summit 4.3a

Tools you use and are considering.

You may also choose a 3:30 p.m. micro summit.

Micro Summit 4.3b

The interplay among intuitive, experiential, and data-driven modes of decision-making, including the tensions that arise between them.

You may also choose a 3:30 p.m. micro summit.

Micro Summit 4.3c

The role and value derived from external data.

You may also choose a 3:30 p.m. micro summit.

Micro Summit 4.3d

What might it take to make automated underwriting a reality?

You may also choose a preceding 3:00 p.m. micro summit.

Micro Summit 4.3e

Communicating and implementing models.

You may also choose a preceding 3:00 p.m. micro summit.

Micro Summit 4.3f

Strategies to utilize external resources that help your organization get to the next level (a peer-to-peer discussion; we ask that vendors not register for this session).

You may also choose a preceding 3:00 p.m. micro summit.

4:00 pm - 4:15 pm - Moving Break

4:15 pm - 5:00 pm - General Session

Taking the Conference to the Next Level

During the first day of the conference, attendees will have the chance to share what they’ve learned and suggest topics they’d like covered the following day. We will also reveal the three presentation topics Eric Siegel will cover in his closing keynote address.

Amphitheater

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm - Big Data Reception - Sponsored by Acxiom

Friday, June 26, 2015

7:00 am - 8:00 am - Continental Breakfast

8:00 am - 9:00 am: Concurrent Sessions & Micro Summits

Concurrent Session 5.1
Curt Roloff, Commercial Selling Systems and Sales Analytics, Humana
Pankaj Singh, Second Vice President, Enterprise Data Transformation, Aflac
Moderator: Jason Brown, Principal, ZS Associates

It’s often easier to develop analytic insight than it is to take action on that insight, especially when distribution channels are involved. While marketing tactics can often be redirected automatically, behavioral change is often needed to realize the full benefit of analytics applied to agents, advisors, or other salespeople. On this panel, we’ll hear from two companies who have applied analytics through their sales channels, both captive and independent. We’ll provide examples of what’s worked—and what hasn’t—and discuss keys to success in deploying analytics through distribution organizations.

Please choose one concurrent session OR two micro summits (one 8:00 a.m., one 8:30 a.m.)

Concurrent Session 5.2
Kuang Chen, Founder & CEO, Captricity
David Castellani, Senior Vice President, Business Information Officer, New York Life Insurance Company

It should come as no surprise that making sense of the exabytes of customer data that insurers have amassed over decades of doing business, offers breakthrough potential for underwriters -- from enhancing legacy, business-critical workflows that improve the overall customer experience, to optimizing underwriting procedures which drive meaningful change in sales, marketing and underwriting precision. Join Kuang Chen, Ph.D., humanitarian and recipient of MIT Technology Review’s Innovator of the Year award, as he discusses some of the common challenges insurers face - and winning strategies insurers take - when it comes to integrating data with the underwriting process.

Please choose one concurrent session OR two micro summits (one 8:00 a.m., one 8:30 a.m.)

Micro Summits

Micro summits are 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

9:00 am - 9:30 am - Refreshment Break

9:30 am - 10:30 am: Concurrent Sessions & Micro Summits

Concurrent Session 6.1
Angela Williams, Vice President, Center for Advanced Analytics, Transamerica
John Young, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Analytic Consulting Group, Epsilon

The mission of the analytics function is straightforward -- enable the business to achieve greater financial results by better managing its most important assets, customers.  This is accomplished by providing a range of services that help optimize the marketing mix – improving audience targeting, pinpointing the best offers and communication content and frequency, and determining channel preferences.  This session will outline the ingredients for developing a center of excellence in analytics – an organization that demonstrably impacts the company’s bottom line – and provide real-world examples of best-in-class analytics that deliver that outcome.

Please choose one concurrent session OR two micro summits (one 9:30 a.m., one 10:00 a.m.)

Concurrent Session 6.2
Christopher Cooney, Vice President, Pricing, Corporate Underwriting and Information Services, RBC Insurance
Nicolas E. Lance, RMA, Vice President, Retirement Income Strategies & Head of Customer Data Strategy, OneAmerica

Companies spend millions of dollars on data related activities (e.g., data accessibility, quality, visibility, hierarchy, etc.) and often underestimate the critical importance of implementing robust data governance and data management principles. This session will highlight frameworks, best practices and techniques used by leading insurance companies to optimize their enterprise data ROI.

Please choose one concurrent session OR two micro summits (one 9:30 a.m., one 10:00 a.m.)

Micro Summits

Micro summits are 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

10:30 am - 10:45 am - Moving Break

10:45 am - 11:45 am - General Session

Predictive Analytics in Your World

Predictive analytics is applicable throughout the enterprise. In this keynote session, Predictive Analytics author and Predictive Analytics World founder Eric Siegel will explore three of the following five topics to help take your analytics program to the next level. It’s your conference, so attendees will vote on which three Dr. Siegel will discuss.

  • Using Predictive Analytics for Marketing 
  • Lowering Costs with Predictive Analytics
  • Various Ways Predictive Analytics Applies to Insurance
  • Leveraging Social Media with Predictive Analytics
  • Convincing Colleagues and Management to Deploy a Predictive Model

Eric Siegel, Ph.D. - Founder, Predictive Analytics World and Text Analytics World

Amphitheater

11:45 am - Conference Adjorns