Scenes From Analytics Unite 2026
Analytics Unite 2026 gathered more than 200 thought leaders and influential executives from across the consumer goods and retail industries for an unforgettable experience at The Drake in Chicago from April 7-9. Under the theme "Integrating Impact," industry pioneers and changemakers from iconic brands and retailers highlighted their wins, how they are navigating complex challenges and how they are driving measurable value through advanced analytics strategies.
These photos offer just a sneak peak into the collaboration that defined the event, from immersive, hands-on workshops and intimate share groups to inspiring keynote sessions and unbeatable networking opportunities in the heart of the Windy City.
Workshops & Share Groups
- Workshop: "The Agentic Commerce Blueprint: Accelerating Growth for Consumer Brands and Retailers" sponsored by EXL Service and featuring presentations from Charu Pujari, SVP, engineering and AI, Loblaw Companies and Sangeetha Chandru, SVP, AI and analytics, EXL.
- Share Group: "From Analytics to Agentic Decision Intelligence: How AI Agents Are Transforming Decision-Making," featuring experts from Cloverpop.
- Share Group: "Turning Retail AI Plots into Measurable Outcomes," featuring experts from Cloudera.
Keynotes
- Varun Kakaria, CIO, North America, Reckitt
- Bryan Gildenberg, founder and CEO, Confluencer Commerce
- Ramesh Kollepara, SVP, global chief technology officer, Mars Snacking
Additional CPG & Retailer Speakers
- Janice Burk, Lowe's
- Indy Cho, Costco
- Alexander Cunningham, Church & Dwight
- Kristen Daihes, Mars
- Meenakshi Ghoge, Mondelez International
- Jon Harding, Formerly Conair
- Todd Hassenfelt, Colgate-Palmolive
- Sulabh Jain, PDC Brands
- Gene Kholodenko, The Hershey Co.
- Udit Mehrotra, Amazon
- Emily Nash, The Coca-Cola Co.
- Manbir Paul, Sephora
- Greg Pederson, Target
- Jennifer Peters, Olly
- Carlos Luis Pineda, Diageo
- Vijay Veeraghattam, Mars
- Elaina Wheeldon, Lowe's
- Sam Wong, Mark Anthony Group
- Sunny Yurasek, Wells Enterprises
Networking Opportunities
- Topic Tables: Attendees enjoyed lunch while participating in an interactive, real-time collaborative discussion designed to facilitate connection with industry thought leaders.
- Power Hour: Our exclusive Power Hour event provided the opportunity for 1:1 introductions with leading analytics peers and influencers.
Awards
Attendees helped us recognize this year's class of Data Leadership Award winners!
Wait ... there's more! Stay tuned for more in-depth coverage from Analytics Unite in the coming weeks.
