FATE 2026 keynote panel to spotlight real-world finance digital transformation challenges

FATE will bring finance leaders from CVS, Johnson & Johnson and JetBlue to New York City on Nov. 19 for a Day 2 panel on the hardest parts of digital transformation inside large organizations. The discussion is aimed at showing how finance teams can navigate technology choices, integrations and change management while still delivering ROI.

Why it matters: - Finance teams are under pressure to modernize systems and automate work, but technology alone does not guarantee results. - The panel is designed to focus on the operational and organizational barriers that can slow digital transformation inside large companies. - Attendees will hear how peer finance leaders are handling technology selection, integrations and change management in practice.

What happened: - The Finance & Accounting Technology Expo announced a featured Day 2 keynote panel for FATE 2026. - The session, "Digital Transformation in Action: Inside Recent FinTech Upgrades," will run Thursday, Nov. 19, from 9:00-10:00 a.m. ET. - The panel will take place at the Javits Center in New York City. - Mike DePrisco, president and CEO of the Institute of Management Accountants, will moderate. - The panel will include Rashida Malcolm Bradley of CVS, Eric Lenard of Johnson & Johnson and Anirudh Vadrevu of JetBlue.

The details: - The discussion will center on the realities of executing digital transformation initiatives inside large organizations. - Panelists will discuss how finance leaders evaluate and deploy new technology. - The session will cover complex integrations and the challenge of aligning stakeholders across teams. - The conversation will also address organizational change and how teams prepare for implementation. - Panelists are expected to weigh long-term scalability against near-term business needs. - FATE says the event is now in its third year and is built to help finance and accounting teams evaluate technology, connect with peers and get a clearer view of the market. - Registration is open at $295. - FATE is offering a limited-time $100 discount with code FATEMEDIA. - More information and registration are available here.

Between the lines: - DePrisco framed the challenge as less about technology and more about whether processes, skills and infrastructure are ready to support new tools. - That framing suggests finance transformation is being treated as an operating-model problem, not just a software-buying decision. - FATE is leaning into practical, peer-driven content rather than broad product marketing.

What's next: - The panel will take place during FATE 2026 on Nov. 19. - Finance attendees can register now to attend the session and related conference programming. - The event will continue positioning itself as a place for buyers and solution providers to compare approaches and evaluate the market.