The 9 People You Should Meet At Databricks Data + AI Summit 2025

The agenda is endless, but your time isn’t. You’re coming to Summit to move fast on AI, data strategy, and actual business outcomes. But with 500+ sessions, overlapping agendas, and a sea of lookalike booths, it’s easy to miss the moments that matter.

This guide is built differently. We’re starting with what you’re trying to figure out—and connecting you to the most relevant conversations, hands-on sessions, and offstage stories that’ll help you get there faster. These aren’t random panels or product pitches. They’re curated paths to answers, led by the teams who’ve already done what you’re trying to do.

If you want to spend less time wandering and more time learning, start here.

You’re buried in spreadsheets—and everyone’s feeling the drag

Go to: Trading Spreadsheets for Speed – TradeStation’s Self-Service Revolution

When: Wednesday, June 11 @ 1:10 PM – 1:30 PM

Who to talk to: 

• Nico Gonzalez, Data Product Manager at TradeStation

Why it’s worth it:

TradeStation traded fragile spreadsheets for governed, self-service analytics at scale. Nico breaks down how Sigma on Databricks helped the org eliminate silos, reduce manual reporting, and get insights into the hands of decision-makers. If you're trying to unstick your ops team, start here.

You inherited legacy BI—and you’re ready to make a clean break

Go to: Moving from On-Prem to Unified Business Intelligence with Databricks & Sigma

When: Tuesday, June 10 @ 10:20 AM – 11:00 AM

Who to talk to: 

• Todd Keyser, Senior Director of Information Systems Business Intelligence, Corporate Systems, & Transportation at Saddle Creek

Why it’s worth it:

Saddle Creek moved from a legacy, on-prem stack to a modern architecture with Sigma and Databricks—cutting latency from 9 minutes to 3 seconds. Todd shares how embedded dashboards, real-time reporting, and a unified governance layer helped streamline operations and reduce 30,000 reports down to under 1,000. It’s a rare look at what real transformation takes, and how to do it without chaos.

You’re tired of dashboards that don’t lead to decisions

Go to: Flogistix by Flowco, and the Role of Data in Responsible Energy Production

When: Tuesday, June 10 @ 12:20 PM – 12:40 PM

Who to talk to: 

• Danny Burrows, Vice President of Software Engineering at Flogistix by Flowco
• Ali Sylvester, Director of Business Solutions at Flogistix by Flowco

Why it’s worth it:

Flogistix is using Sigma on Databricks to power real-time analytics across its vapor recovery systems—reducing emissions and meeting industry regulations. The session dives into how unified data architecture enables both execs and field teams to make faster, more sustainable decisions. It’s a blueprint for turning advanced analytics into operational impact, from insight to action.

You want to stop stitching tools together—and just get answers

Go to: Accelerating the Analytics Journey: Leveraging Fivetran, dbt Cloud, and Sigma on Databricks

When: Wednesday, June 11 @ 1:50 PM – 3:20 PM

Who to talk to: 

• Mitch Ertle, Senior Partner Solutions Architect at Sigma

Why it’s worth it:

This hands-on lab walks you through an entire analytics workflow—from data ingestion to transformation to dashboards—in one seamless pipeline. If you're building a modern stack and want to see how Sigma fits in with your favorite tools, this is the lab to block time for.

You want to meet women shaping the future of data—while sipping champagne.

Go to: Women in Data at Data & AI Summit

When: Wednesday, June 11 @ 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Who to talk to: 

• Orla Clifford, Vice President of Operations at Sigma 
• Heather Akuiyibo, Vice President of Sales at Databricks

Why it’s worth it:

Hosted at Jo Malone London, this invite-only event brings together women in executive data roles for an evening of thoughtful conversation and real connection. Expect candid discussions on leadership, innovation, and navigating the data space at the highest levels. It’s a rare opportunity to build community with peers who are shaping the future of data.

You’re making high-stakes decisions—and can’t afford to wait for data

Go to: Trillions of Data Records, Zero Bottlenecks for Investor Decision-Making

When: Tuesday, June 10 @ 1:50 PM – 2:30 PM

Who to talk to:

• Carlos Capellan, CTO at J. Goldman & Co.
• Ryan Sullivan, Head of Data at J. Goldman & Co.

Why it’s worth it:

J. Goldman & Co. built a blazing-fast, investor-ready analytics platform on Databricks and Sigma—turning trillions of market data records into real-time insight. This session breaks down how they eliminated data delivery bottlenecks, streamlined governance with Unity Catalog, and gave investment teams the power to act without waiting on dev cycles. If you’re in finance or any high-velocity industry, this is your playbook for speed, scale, and serious decision-making.

You’re looking for the most fun you can legally have at a data conference

Go to: Above the Clouds: Data + AI Party

When: Tuesday, June 10 @ 8:00 PM @ The View at the Marriott Marquis

Who to talk to: Leaders from Sigma, Prophecy, Anomalo, and Atlan

Why it’s worth it:

Join Sigma, Prophecy, Anomalo, and Atlan for a rooftop party built for the data community—cocktails, music, and skyline views included. It’s your chance to unwind, connect with fellow innovators, and trade ideas off the expo floor. After a day of deep dives, this is where the momentum keeps going—just with better lighting and a great playlist. You’ve earned it!

And if you want to dig even deeper…

Visit Sigma at Booth #606 in Moscone South. We’ll be demoing AI workflows, embedded analytics, data apps, multitenancy, and more—with product experts on hand who are allergic to buzzwords and ready to talk shop.

See you at Summit.

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