Marco Podini is Executive Chairman and CEO of Dedagroup, and CEO of Lillo, the family holding company that controls MD S.p.A., a leading large-scale retail company with €4 billion in revenue in 2023. Founded 25 years ago from Marco Podini’s vision and determination to invest in the potential of technology and diversify the family business, Deda now offers expertise across cloud, AI, cybersecurity, and proprietary software platforms for the fashion, public sector, and financial services sectors, along with end-to-end services that help organizations grow and accelerate their digital transformation.

A leader with long experience in global hi-tech business. Marco has been COO of Apple Computer in Cupertino responsible for Global Operations, Marketing and Sales after a successful turnaround of Apple EMEA activities as President of Apple Europe. Previously he spent over 20 years at Texas Instruments managing all business units in EMEA based in Brussels and ASIA based in Hong Kong. During his 3 years tenure, TI Asia increased its revenues from $1B to over $4B. In Brussels he won the prestigious European Quality Award and was appointed Chairman of the American-European Electronics Association representing over 300 thousands workers at the European Commission in Brussels. Marco holds a degree in telecom engineering from the prestigious University of Bologna and attended an executive MBA program at INSEAD Institute. He is siƫng in several boards across the world and invests in innovative new technologies.

He is one of Italy’s most authoritative and visionary voices in digital innovation. A pioneer of the Internet when the web was still largely unexplored, he helped shape its development through cutting-edge international projects. In 1994, he founded Czech On Line, followed in 1997 by the creation of Tiscali, which he grew in just a few years into a major publicly listed European telecom operator. An entrepreneur with a strong ability to anticipate change, he has consistently combined technology, strategic vision, and tangible impact on the economic landscape. He is the founder and largest shareholder of Istella, a center of excellence in big data and generative artificial intelligence, through which he champions a European, ethical, and transparent vision of AI, built on high-quality data and proprietary technologies.

I studied mathematics and have always worked in innovation, gradually learning to blend the energy and spirit of a startup with that of a European multinational. I love music, books, traveling, and photography.

Enza Iannopollo is VP and Principal Analyst at Forrester, specializing in privacy, trust, and responsible AI. She helps global organizations integrating responsible and ethical data practices into strategic initiatives to drive growth while managing compliance and risk. A Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/E), Enza is a frequent speaker at international conferences and is quoted in major outlets like The Wall Street Journal and Forbes.

Simone Moro is a globally renowned alpinist and helicopter pilot, whose achievements in high-altitude mountaineering inspire adventurers worldwide. Simone Moro, born on October 27, 1967, in Bergamo, Italy, has ascended to the pinnacle of high-altitude mountaineering, setting himself apart as a pioneering alpinist and a skilled helicopter pilot. With a career that reads like a litany of mountaineering milestones, Moro has redefined the possibilities of winter climbing on the world’s highest peaks, becoming the first to achieve winter ascents on four of the Earth’s 8,000-meter giants. These achievements showcase his exceptional technical skills and physical endurance. They also reflect his unwavering commitment to pushing the limits of human potential. Moro’s career spans roles as an alpinist, helicopter pilot in high-altitude rescue and Altitude Helicopters, author detailing his expeditions, and a Motivational speaker sharing insights on overcoming challenges. Credits ph: © Matteo Zanga