CRIF hosts “Impulses for Top Managers to Lead the Future"

28 May 2026 - Bologna, Italy

CRIF recently hosted its high-level executive event, “Impulses for Top Managers to Lead the Future,” bringing together industry leaders, innovators, and experts to explore how organizations and their leaders adapt to an increasingly complex and rapidly evolving business landscape.
Centered on key themes such as artificial intelligence, fintech innovation, customer value, and strategic resilience, the event provided a platform for forward-looking discussions on how companies can successfully navigate uncertainty and unlock long-term growth opportunities.

Navigating an era of uncertainty and transformation

In today’s volatile environment – characterized by economic instability, geopolitical tensions, and accelerating technological change – executives are required to rethink traditional approaches to leadership and decision-making.
A central message throughout the event was clear: uncertainty is no longer a temporary disruption but a permanent condition of modern business. The companies best positioned to succeed will be those that embrace adaptability, invest in human capabilities, partnerships and build resilient, future-ready operating models.
The agenda reflected these priorities, focusing on strategic vision, value creation, digital transformation, and future-proofing organizations in the age of AI.

CEO priorities in a changing world

Carlo Gherardi, Chairman and CEO of CRIF, opened the meeting. Followed by the first panel, “CEO Priorities for the Next Three Years,” moderated by Frank Schlein, CEO, CRIF Germany, brought together leading executives and entrepreneurs, including Christine Kiefer (Fintech Expert -Entrepreneur-Investor), Aiga Senftleben (CEO & CO-Founder, Billie), Nelson Holzner (Entrepreneur, CEO and Co-Founder, MODIFI and Founder and former CEO, BillPay), Johannes Riesterer (Deputy CEO, BNP Paribas Consors Finanz), and Malte Rüsing (Managing Director, abcbank Gmbh).
The discussion highlighted how executive priorities are shifting in response to evolving market dynamics. Panelists emphasized the importance of:
•    Driving business model transformation
•    Strengthening resilience against macroeconomic and geopolitical risks
•    Investing in AI transformation and digital capabilities
•    Building future-ready talent and organizational cultures
A recurring theme was that, while technology remains a critical enabler, human adaptability and leadership mindset are becoming the ultimate competitive differentiators.

Customer Lifetime Value as a strategic driver

Another key session explored how companies can move toward a more integrated view of the customer through Customer Lifetime Value.
Moderated by Luciano Salvador Scalise (Global Solutions and Transformation Services Managing Director, CRIF), the panel examined how organizations can bridge the gap between traditional risk and marketing perspectives to create a unified, data-driven approach to customer management.
Industry experts, including Jens Röhrborn (Banxware), Andre Soulier (Nayoki Performance), and Egbert Wege (Deloitte), discussed how advances in AI and data analytics are transforming customer profiling and enabling more personalized, profitable customer interactions.
The discussion underlined that combining commercial and risk perspectives into a single strategic framework allows companies to optimize both customer experience and financial performance.

The transformative power of AI agents

Artificial intelligence – and in particular the rise of agentic AI – was a central focus of the event.
During the panel “Transformative Power of AI Agents: Hype vs True Business Improvement: cases & stories from future-built companies” moderated by Davide Raitano (Corporate CIO, CRIF), experts from across the financial services ecosystem – including  Dalila Giacalone (Information Risk Management and Internal Controls Corporate Director, CRIF), Piergiorgio Grossi (Chief Innovation & Data Officer, Credem Banca), Amit Nandi (VP Solution & Data Architect, Barclays Corporate & Investment Bank) and  Rajaram Suresh (Industry GTM Leader, Databricks) examined how AI is evolving from a support tool to systems capable of autonomous decision-making and action.

The discussion highlighted three key dimensions:
•    Real-world applications: AI agents are already delivering value in areas such as fraud detection, compliance, customer service, and credit processes.
•    Governance and risk: As AI systems become more autonomous, robust governance frameworks, transparency, and accountability mechanisms are essential.
•    Organizational transformation: The adoption of AI is reshaping roles, skills, and decision-making processes within organizations.

Speakers emphasized that success would depend not only on technological capabilities but also on data quality, governance structures, and leadership readiness.

Insights from keynote speeches and industry exchanges

The event also featured keynote speeches from leading thought leaders, including Daria Krivonos, CEO of the Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies, who addressed the challenges of leading in an age of accelerating uncertainty, and Carlos Nasher of THEDE Consulting, who explored the evolving dynamics of global payments and economic sovereignty.
In addition, participants engaged in round tables and forums designed to foster cross-industry collaboration and knowledge-sharing. Sessions such as “From clients to clients: Sharing best practices and lessons learned” and the Fintech Innovation Forum provided practical insights into innovation, partnerships, and emerging business models. 
During the forum “New impulses and cooperation opportunities for Top Managers” moderated by Emilio Tropea, Corporate Venture Capital and Innovation Manager Leader at CRIF, leaders such as  Aurora Maggio (CEO & Co-Founder, Zefi.Ai),  Margherita Maspero (Chief of Marketing, Trustfull), Marco Ramilli (Founder & CEO, identifAI), and  Gaetano Volpe (CEO & Founder, Latitudo 40) from start-ups that have been Invested by CRIF as a  Corporate Venture capital investor, partnered or collaborated with InnovEcoS (CRIF Global Open  Innovation Hub) , have shared insights on their business models and key values of their offering and the significance of strategic partnership with CRIF stressing the focus and importance of Open innovation in CRIF.

Driving collaboration and innovation

Throughout the event, one message stood out: collaboration and ecosystem thinking are essential for success in the modern business landscape.
From fintech partnerships to open innovation initiatives, organizations are increasingly looking beyond their traditional boundaries to accelerate innovation and respond to new challenges more effectively.
The event reinforced the importance of creating platforms where leaders can exchange ideas, share experiences, and co-create solutions for the future.

Looking ahead

As the business environment continues to evolve, the insights shared during “Impulses for Top Managers to Lead the Future” offer valuable guidance for executives navigating the complexities of the next decade.
By combining strategic foresight, technological innovation, and a strong focus on human capabilities, organizations can not only withstand uncertainty but turn it into a source of competitive advantage.
With events such as this, CRIF continues to demonstrate its commitment to fostering dialogue, innovation, and leadership excellence – helping organizations prepare for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow.