A One-Day CFO Mastermind | November 10, 2026 | Chicago, IL
In partnership with IBM · Complimentary · By invitation · 20 seats · Up to 5 CPE

Your strategy changed. Did your plan? This invitation-only mastermind brings together 20 CEOs, CFOs, and senior finance leaders for one focused working day at the IBM Chicago office on Wacker Drive. Together we’ll tackle the questions boards are asking now: is the plan built for this year’s strategy, are finance, sales, and operations working from the same numbers, and what is AI actually returning? Every framework is demonstrated live in IBM Planning Analytics, including a full session dedicated to AI budget governance.

This isn’t a vendor demo or a lecture hall. You’ll work in small peer groups on a live challenge you bring with you and leave with a pressure-tested strategy, a framework for closing the Alignment Tax, a way to track AI spend inside your planning model, and a completed 90-day roadmap. Facilitated by Heather Cole, founder and CEO of Lodestar Solutions and one of only 32 IBM Worldwide Lifetime Champions, the day is built for leaders who own the number and answer for it.

Attendance is complimentary. IBM and Lodestar cover the program, venue, and materials. Attendees can earn up to 5 hours of group-live CPE credit, and full-day participation (9:30 AM to 3:30 PM CT) is expected. Every application is reviewed personally, and applications close October 31 or when the 20th seat is filled.