Navigating the productivity paradox
A private executive roundtable dinner hosted by Soldo, in partnership with GlobalData
December 3rd , 2026 · London
Venue – The Savoy , London
Executive context Soldo’s 2026 Productivity at Work report surveyed 450 finance leaders and 1,800 employees with spending responsibilities in the UK and Italy. While 83% of finance leaders see AI investment as essential and 88% of employees report productivity gains, only 40% of employees describe those gains as significant. The report also found that 27% of employees had bought AI tools without approval and 60% had bent internal rules to access funds. The roundtable explores how CFOs can measure AI returns and improve spend controls while helping teams move faster.
Schedule and agenda
6.30pm Arrival, welcome and networking drinks
7pm Introduction and opening remarks from the chair
Lara Williams, Editor-in-Chief of Technology at GlobalData Media, welcomes guests and introduces the two discussions.
7.05pm Session 1 · What Soldo’s research reveals about AI at work
Soldo shares findings from its Productivity at Work report on reported productivity gains, unauthorised AI purchases and friction in spend approvals. Lara invites guests to compare the findings with what they are seeing in their own organisations.
7.20pm Session 2 · A GlobalData analysis on AI returns and spend controls
Stephen Walker, Lead Analyst in GlobalData’s Financial Services team, opens with an analyst perspective. Lara then asks what evidence CFOs need before funding a wider AI rollout and how finance can make approved tools easier to buy. Guests close by naming one change they would take back to their finance teams.
7.45pm Three-course dinner and informal networking
9pm Dinner ends, optional further networking
10pm Event ends
The AI transformation dilemma: AI for growth, not just efficiency.
A private executive roundtable dinner hosted by Monks Technology Services, in partnership with GlobalData
Tuesday, December 8, 2026 · Dallas
The Adolphus, Autograph Collection, Dallas
As organizations face persistent pressure on growth, margins and operating costs, AI is creating both new opportunities and difficult investment decisions. While businesses acknowledge AI’s potential, the challenge of moving from experimentation towards delivering measurable commercial value is becoming clearer.
For business leaders across sectors including financial and professional services, media and retail, the dilemma is becoming increasingly urgent: what level of AI investment should businesses make? What kind of return on that investment should they expect? And how can AI transformation—done in the right way—unlock new sources of revenue as well as create efficiencies?
At this executive roundtable dinner, we will bring together senior business leaders for an open and off-the-record discussion on the challenges and opportunities of AI transformation. We will explore how organizations can make smarter infrastructure modernization decisions, create business resilience and flexibility around vendors, and ultimately build a sustainable business case for AI at a time when traditional growth is proving difficult to achieve.
Among the topics we’ll discuss:
- Moving beyond AI experimentation to measurable business value and return on investment
- Funding AI transformation in a low-growth environment while protecting margins
- Balancing infrastructure modernization expenditure, operating costs and long-term scalability
- Identifying opportunities for AI to improve productivity, reshape operating models and unlock new revenue streams
- Assessing the financial, operational and strategic risks associated with AI adoption
- Aligning finance and technology leadership around transformation priorities
Join us for an evening of lively and informed discussion, and practical insights on the decisions shaping the next phase of AI transformation.
Agenda
6.30pm: Arrival, welcome and networking drinks
7pm: Three-course dinner with roundtable discussion
9pm: Dinner ends, optional further networking
10pm: Event ends
