About Emma
Emma Verhagen is a recognized AI leader, tech innovator and business transformation expert. As Founder and CEO of Ideal Shift AI, Emma and her teams empower organizations to unlock AI’s full potential with clear strategies, tailored solutions, and hands-on implementation that deliver measurable ROI and competitive advantage.
Previously, Emma served as Global Tech Portfolio Director at Unilever, leading a portfolio exceeding €200 million and driving over 200 digital transformation projects. Emma has led AI programs—such as demand forecasting, promotion optimization, intelligent automation, and advanced analytics.
Emma holds executive AI education from MIT and Harvard, blending cutting-edge research with real-world business impact. Emma is a sought-after keynote speaker, having addressed thousands of CxOs and senior leaders worldwide.
The Talk
Beyond the buzz: AI strategies and solutions that drive real ROI
Everyone is talking about AI—but few are doing it right. In this session, Emma cut through the hype and focus on what really matters: building AI strategies and solutions that deliver measurable business impact. Learn how to identify high-ROI use cases, align AI initiatives with core business goals, and avoid the most common pitfalls that lead to failure.
Drawing from real-world experience across Fortune 500 companies and sectors like healthcare, consumer products, manufacturing, telecom and high tech.
Explore how to unlock value from existing data and systems while scaling AI solutions fast and responsibly. Whether you’re just starting or refining your AI roadmap, this session offers practical insights to move beyond experimentation and deliver AI that actually works.