Roundtable: Navigating Tech Leadership in the AI Era
Senior tech business leaders are facing pressure. The hype of the AI era is on every agenda.
But what executives now want is straightforward: a leader who can use AI to deliver tangible commercial value and sustainable competitive advantage.
In this roundtable, join Simon Ranyard, Managing Director at Orange Business, alongside an AI expert (to be announced), to explore how leaders can navigate the AI era shift by balancing innovation with strategic focus.
You will get clarity on where you should double down to get the most value out of your business, rather than just following the hype, and explore how to use AI not just for operations, but to encourage your teams to innovate alongside AI - without losing creative flair or your customers’ trust. We will also look to the future, how you build customer trust, and even consider AI physical infrastructure in relation to your strategy.
Applications to attend close May 15th, 2026.
About this roundtable
This roundtable will explore how leaders can navigate the AI era shift by balancing innovation with strategic focus. During this session we will dive into:
- How to make informed decisions on where to invest time and finances to help scale
- How to create technology that consumers can trust in an AI era
- How to build teams that leverage AI effectively, without becoming overly dependent on it.
Attendees will be split into 4 breakouts:
Topic 1: Leveraging AI Without Over-Dependency
Topic 2: Prioritising AI and Emerging Technologies
Topic 3: Scaling AI for Strategic Impact
Topic 4: Driving Real Business Value from AI
Why Attend
A McKinsey Global Survey (2025) found that 83% of businesses believe AI will be the most transformational technology of this generation.
This roundtable is designed to arm strategic leaders within the tech industry with the insights and confidence to tackle the uncertainty around long-term value, implementation, and strategic direction of artificial intelligence, as well as prepare for what comes next
- Hear from AI and leadership experts
- Explore real-world case studies from organisations facing the same challenges
- Connect with and learn from peers on their own AI journey
For more infomation visit Mayor of London and GOV.
The people I have met here make it a dream coming in a few times a week! I don't see myself being able to go back to working from home the same way I did before coming to Plus X Innovation, I don't think I could leave the sense of community behind. It really is something everyone who is working from home should try!
Central Research Laboratory has contributed to our journey in many ways: access to a network, manufacturing, procurement services, and workshop facilities. CRL enables us to feel like a slightly bigger company than we would otherwise be if left to our own devices. Being here at CRL as a cohort member, makes it feel a lot more real and plugged in into the ecosystem.
Besides the workshop facilities, the best thing about working in the Brighton hub has got to be being able to collaborate with people in the same building as you. The variety of expertise and experience in the building is awesome.
We could not be in a better place to grow as a company. We get amazing support from the Plus X Innovation staff, plus collaboration opportunities with the other inspiring residents and companies. We feel like we’re living in the future of workplaces in the present and that is pretty damn cool.
Through my time at Plus X Innovation my business has turned from a student project into a registered R&D company. My favourite thing about being at Plus X Brighton is having a mini family in the office and a beautiful space to be the best you and make the best connections.
Agenda
10:15 – 10:45 | Arrival, Welcome & Breakfast
10:45 – 11:00 | Keynote Discussion
11:00 – 11:45 | Roundtable Discussion
Optional Activities:
11:45 – 12:15 | Guided Tours
12:30 – 13:30 | Rooftop Lunch & Networking
13:30 – 17:00 | Work from the Hub Option
