Meg Knauth

Former SVP of Technology, T-Mobile

Meg Knauth is the former Senior Vice President leading the Services Engineering and Enablement teams in IT. In this role, Meg is responsible for providing clear, easy to leverage services through APIs and data/experience graphs to enable teams to build amazing data informed, AI driven experiences, consolidating the billers and other back-end systems, and delivering purchase and promo transparency and the new ERP platform. Meg joined T-Mobile through the Sprint merger where she was the VP responsible for billing, rating, pricing, care systems, logistics, commissions, data/AI/analytics, ERP systems, payments, and IT operations. Prior to her 27 years in telecom, Meg was a consultant for Cerner Corporation deploying pharmacy and radiology systems in hospitals and clinics across the country. Meg is a change agent who leverages her consensus building, influence, and negotiation skills to enable her large, cross-functional team to be agile. Ms. Knauth holds 4 patents for her creativity in solutioning. Meg received her Masters of Business Administration from the University of Kansas and Bachelor’s Degree in Biology/Pre-Med from Iowa State University. Outside of work, Meg loves traveling/exploring, hiking, and watersports/being at the Lake of the Ozarks. If Meg could be any superhero, she’d be Invisible Woman because she loves to quietly make lives better and make people smile and laugh.

Leah Allen

Vice President Design, Technology - Michaels Stores

As a versatile Digital Executive, I have devoted my career to optimizing all aspects of the consumer experience. By effectively blending creative, analytical, and organizational strengths with proven UX, UI, Editorial and Visual Design skills, I have gained immense satisfaction developing teams that ensure a superior customer experience, while bringing clarity and simplicity to complex problems. Those I have worked with or led will tell you that I have been particularly effective in building cultures of engagement and inclusion. In doing so, my teams and I have challenged the status quo to deliver customer-centric, game changing digital product solutions that enhance the consumer experience, optimize customer interaction, deliver new consumer benefits, and drive revenue growth. Some notable contributions include: • Successfully launching Michaels.com, Michaels App and MakerPlace by Michaels on a proprietary platform that enables Buyers, Maker Sellers and Marketplace vendors to do business • Effectively transitioning Hallmark Cards’ Digital organization from siloed, project-based, Waterfall teams to collective teams utilizing a dual-track Agile methodology. • Building Hallmark’s Digital Experience team while driving threefold growth in team size to meet Hallmark’s current and future digital needs. • Playing a key role in growing Hallmark Cards’ eComm business from nothing to site generating high eight-figure revenues in <10 years while generating a 13-point increase in Net Promoter Score (NPS).

Kylie Schleicher

Executive Director of Technology, VML

Kylie Schleicher, Executive Director Technology at VML Enterprise Solutions, spearheads Engineering Confidence to bridge the gap between business objectives and digital needs. Bringing together advanced analysis and intelligent automation in customer-centric, cross-functional teams enables the development of custom technology solutions, partner integrations, and innovation to power connected brands. As a catalyst for organizational excellence, Kylie builds and leads high-performing teams and fosters an environment of accountability and innovation that drives transformative results for client partners across multiple sectors, including government, technology, automotive, healthcare, and B2B.

Olivia Clark

Director, IT Portfolio Delivery, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas

At Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, leadership in IT Portfolio Delivery and Data Integration has been my focal point, utilizing PMP certification and proficiency in data analysis to drive enterprise-level initiatives. Our team successfully implemented a Medicare Advantage payor plan, enhancing customer experience and operational efficiency. With skills in process improvement and communication, I have fostered a collaborative environment to maintain momentum and overcome obstacles. My objective is to continue leveraging my expertise in data-driven strategies to optimize business operations, ensuring the integration of technology while preserving the essential human element in our projects.

Wendy Daugherty

Senior Director IT, Transformation & Strategy - SelectQuote Insurance Services

I have worked in IT for 25+ years, back when I was in college - I was originally a math major and the only thing my counselor said I could do with that was teach math. So, I abandoned that path - but it is why I understood programming. The IT roles I have had over the past 25 years are Full stack Software deveoper, IT analyst, Strategy Analyst, Database Analyst, Project Manager, Lead of PMO and BA team and innovation/transformation director.