Tech-Driven, Human-Centered: Leading Through Disruption

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As transformative technologies move from experimentation to enterprise-wide deployment, the hardest challenges are no longer purely technical—they are often human. In this program, leaders from technology and business discuss what innovations such as artificial intelligence demand of managers and teams in real time. Drawing on practical experience, speakers share insights on how they assess value and risk, make adoption decisions amidst uncertainty, and navigate the cultural, operational, and ethical shifts that new technologies introduce.

This event will be held in person and online. If joining us virtually, the link to join will be provided upon registration.

Presenters:

Speakers:

  • Sherif Sakr is a Deloitte & Touche LLP partner providing C-Suite finance and risk executives advisory and consulting services related to accounting, financial reporting, structured finance, treasury operations, and risk management. He serves as an advisor to several of our largest and most complex global financial services clients. He is one of Deloitte’s global experts on areas of financial instruments, structured transactions, derivatives and hedging activities, securitization, and consolidations.
  • Lauren Goodwin is a technology and digital engineering leader known for her mission-first approach to transformation in highly regulated and mission-critical environments. Her cross-industry portfolio spans energy, financial services, healthcare, defense, and space, where she has consistently delivered secure, scalable innovation grounded in operational reality.

  • Francesca Rossi is an IBM Fellow and the IBM Global Leader for responsible AI & AI Governance. 

    She is based at the T.J. Watson IBM Research Lab, New York, USA. Her research interests focus on artificial intelligence, with special focus on constraint reasoning, preferences, multi-agent systems, computational social choice, neuro-symbolic AI, cognitive architectures, and value alignment. On these topics, she has published over 220 scientific articles in journals and conference proceedings, and as book chapters.

  • Richard Goldberg, Lecturer, M.S. Enterprise Risk Management and M.S. Technology Management, is an educator, investment banker (M&A) and author – Richard Goldberg has been an authority on the global financial sector since the early 1980’s. Richard has advised a number of the world’s leading financial institutions in cross border mergers & acquisitions. He has worked with a vast array of financial decision makers at, and not limited to, Allianz, Bank of America, DE Shaw, GE Capital, HSBC, JP Morgan Chase, Morgan Stanley and UBS. His Wall Street career included senior positions at BlackRock, Lehman Brothers, Lazard and Wasserstein Perella.

    In addition to Richard’s investment banking experience, he has been involved with the asset management and growth companies sectors. Specifically, he has served as co-CEO and board member at the former publicly traded manager, Manning & Napier as well as provided strategic advice to growth companies and their investors as a senior advisor at Needham & Company.

    On the academic front, Richard is a member of the faculty of Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs – SIPA and School of Professional Studies. He teaches an award-winning class on the international financial services industry, serves on the Advisory Board of SIPA and was a faculty advisor to SIPA’s Finance Society.

    Furthermore, Richard has authored a best selling list book, “The Battle for Wall Street” (publisher: Wiley), taught graduate courses at Brandeis University’s International Business School as a Senior Lecturer, provided industry commentary on Bloomberg TV and NPR, and guest lectured at prominent USA and European universities.

    Richard has a MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Business School and BS in mathematics from Boston College.

    For questions about this event, please contact the Technology Management program at sps-techmgmt [[at]] columbia [[dot]] edu.

In spring 2026, Frame Your Future, a public series from Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies, spotlights the forces redefining organizations and leadership. Featuring practitioner faculty and alumni across sectors, from sustainability to technology, the conversations examine how shifting demands, markets, and new tools are reshaping professional advantage. The message is clear: In a volatile economy, lifelong learning is a strategic investment. Join us to stay sharp and stay ahead.

To obtain additional information about program offerings at Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies, please contact an Admissions Counselor at inquire [[at]] sps [[dot]] columbia [[dot]] edu.

If you require closed captioning, sign-language interpretation or any other disability accommodations, please contact Disability Services, disability [[at]] columbia [[dot]] edu, at least 10 days in advance.

Please visit Columbia University’s Hub for Emergency Preparedness to stay up to date on the latest campus health and safety policies.

This event is open to individuals irrespective of identity and sex.