Thought leaders, honest conversations, and a few ideas I'll actually use.
NATHALIE LESBRE, ORCHID SYSTEMS
Session: Keynote - AI in Business
Speaker: Kara Swisher (Journalist & podcaster)
Key Insight:
Marketing should talk less about AI
This sounded like ironic advice in a city where every billboard screams AI, and self-driving cars are just normal traffic!
The real message:
AI is coming regardless — the challenge is how you actually weave it into your business and workflow, without believing all the hype.
What stayed with me:
Kara's observations were refreshing, eye-opening, and genuinely honest. To hear more from Kara, these podcasts are worth listening to:
- On with Lara Swisher
- Pivot
Session: Women in Tech Breakfast
Topic: Practical AI — From Real People
Speakers:
Senior Sage managers and partners sharing how they're using AI in work and daily life.
What stayed with me:
A genuine and open panel. No hype, just honest experience.
I'm just beginning my AI journey beyond a few questions to ChatGPT — this breakfast was exactly what I needed.
Best tip of the breakfast:
Ask Copilot to "roast your week." Try it. Seriously.
(Editor: I tried it...seems that “my week didn’t just drag — it limped across the finish line like it sprained its ankle on Monday and refused medical attention.”)
Session: Finance Lens on AI
Speaker: Ben Murray (The SaaS CFO · thesaascfo.com)
Topic: The Real Cost of AI Tokens
What are your AI costs actually? Most companies don't know. Now's the time to find out.
What stayed with me:
- The accounting concepts behind AI token costs aren't new — what's new is that very few businesses are actually tracking them.
- AI has a real cost that's easy to overlook. Getting ahead of it now — before it scales — is a CFO-level conversation worth having.
Session: Finance Modernisation
Speaker: Scott Krug (SVP & CFO · New York Yankees)
Elite front office efficiency and world‑class fan experience start with disciplined, forward‑looking finance.
- Challenge: Managing the complexity of a world-class sports franchise — operationally and financially.
- Insight: Modernising finance isn't just about tools — it's about mindset and looking ahead, not just back.
What stayed with me:
- World-class operations require world-class finance. The same principles apply to all of us.
Nathalie’s Wrap: The real value of Sage Future
Year after year, what I value most about Sage Future is discovering thought leaders I wouldn't have found on my own — and leaving with ideas I'll actually act on.
From San Francisco in 2026, those ideas include:
- Ask harder questions about AI
- Roast your week with Copilot
- Know your AI token costs
