FEI Houston- CFO University Details 2025_Part 3

Session One: 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Title: Agentic AI in Action: Lessons from 3,000+ Finance Transformations

What happens when traditional ROI models no longer apply, your ERP still thinks it’s 2005, and every vendor is yelling “AI” without showing the math?
MIT found that 95% of AI projects failed to deliver value. Most CFOs aren’t surprised. Endless pilots. No production impact. But not everything riding the hype cycle crashes. Some do make it to the other side, delivering real, lasting value. In this session, we’ll break down Agentic AI in plain English: what it is, what it’s not, and practical insights from companies like Red Bull, Konica Minolta, Coca-Cola Bottlers’ and more. You’ll learn -

●    Agentic AI 101 in plain English: Understand what it is (and isn’t), and why it matters more than GenAI for finance use cases.
●    What actually works in production: Learn the proven AI use cases in A/R, Close, Treasury, and Payments, backed by results from 3,000+ transformations.
●    How to deploy for real value: Avoid vendor hype and implementation traps with a framework to scale automation and deliver lasting ROI.

Speaker:
JaeSon Kim - Senior Vice President, Mid-Market, HighRadius

Session Two: 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Title: 2026 Hiring and Compensation Trends: What CFOs Need to Know to Stay Ahead

To remain competitive and drive innovation, CFOs and finance leaders must stay ahead of evolving hiring and compensation trends—especially as the demand for specialized accounting and finance talent intensifies. This session, grounded in Robert Half’s 2026 Salary Guide, will explore current hiring landscape, compensation benchmarks, including starting salaries, benefits, and incentives, with a focus on both national and local insights across the finance and accounting sector.
Backed by exclusive, carefully vetted data, this discussion will provide actionable insights to support strategic workforce planning, enhance recruiting strategies, and guide informed salary conversations in today’s dynamic labor market.

Key Takeaways:
•    Understand the latest hiring trends impacting finance and accounting teams
•    Discover which roles and skill sets are seeing the fastest salary growth in 2026
•    Learn how emerging technologies—especially generative AI—are reshaping job functions and compensation expectations
•    Gain insight into how employers are responding to candidate demands in a fluctuating hiring environment
•    Explore why total compensation packages are more critical than ever for attracting and retaining top-tier finance talent

Speakers: 
Phil Willingham- District President, Robert Half
Aaron Ragusa- Practice Director, Robert Half
Casey Engeling- Director of Permanent Placement Services, Robert Half

Session Three: 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM

Title: The Modern CFO Partnership: Shaping Decisions in the Boardroom through Governance

The CFO’s role has evolved from financial steward to strategic partner. This session explores how CFOs can engage boards effectively, drive alignment, and shape long-term organizational vision through insight, leadership, strategy and strong governance.  Join two former CFOs and current board members, along with two governance experts to learn how to shape and make those tough decisions in the boardroom.

Moderator: 
Laura Fulton- Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the American Bureau of Shipping

Speakers:
Frances Powell Hawes - Independent Director
H. Stephen Grace Jr., Ph.D., H. S. - Grace & Company 
Evelyn Angelle- Independent Director 
Marlem Pullin- Executive Managing Director at WG Consulting

CFO Connect Reception 5:30 PM 

Join us after the session for the CFO Connect Reception, featuring beer, wine, and hors d’oeuvres.
Continue the conversation, exchange ideas, and build connections.