The Golden Age of Innovation: A Topic Worth Exploring
Innovation is a timeless concept.
There was innovation when humankind discovered fire, when the first vaccine was created, and when we landed on the Moon.
Yet today, more than ever, innovation dominates the conversation.
So - are we living in the Golden Age of Innovation?
Perhaps so. Especially if we link innovation to acceleration: we are witnessing an unprecedented shift in pace and scale.
During CXOsummit 2025, we reflected on the opportunities and challenges that digital innovation brings - not as a milestone we’re approaching, but as a continuous, timeless process that requires constant evolution.
Francesco Tondi – Managing Director, CIONET Italy
Luc Hendrikx – CEO, CIONET
Giuseppe Pasceri– CEO, Subito.it
Anna Maria Ricco – COO, Zurich Italia
Luca Chiodaroli – Partner, PwC Italy | Digital Innovation
Gian Marco Pizzuti – Area Vice President, Splunk
Alexio Cassani – Co-Founder & CEO, FairMind
Marco Caronna – Field CTO, GitLab
Andrea Zinno – Data Evangelist, Denodo
Marco Sgroi – Generative AI GTM Lead, AWS
Paolo Zaccardi – Co-Founder & CEO, Fabrick
Francesca Vergara – VP Digital & Technology, Disneyland Paris
Davide Gindro – President of the Advisory Board, CIONET Italy
As Anna Maria Ricco – COO, Zurich Italia wisely pointed out, there’s a huge difference between being ready and being prepared.
Being ready means knowing exactly what will happen — which is, of course, impossible.
Being prepared, instead, means having the flexibility and skills to adapt to new scenarios.
So how can we truly prepare for innovation?
According to Luca Chiodaroli – Partner, PwC Italy | Digital Innovation, the key lies in connections and their ability to generate ideas.
Meanwhile, Gian Marco Pizzuti – Area Vice President, Splunk highlighted two fundamental aspects:
Participants at CXOsummit 2025 had the chance to get practical with a workshop powered by USU and TeamViewer.
Through real client cases, teams were challenged to test their leadership and diverse skill sets.
Each group engaged with energy and creativity, developing smart, innovative solutions that inspired valuable takeaways for everyone.
In the end, the winning team wasn’t the one with the “brightest” idea, but the one that demonstrated the most effective problem-solving approach.
When it comes to “being prepared,” Alexio Cassani – Co-Founder & CEO, FairMind looked to the future, sharing five predictions that, in his view, are already taking shape:
Marco Caronna – Field CTO, GitLab shared his view on the shift from SDLC to PDLC: AI will soon become a decisive competitive advantage, enabling organizations to achieve a single, automated flow that connects the entire enterprise.
Andrea Zinno – Data Evangelist, Denodo and Marco Sgroi – Generative AI GTM Lead, AWS, guided by Francesco Tondi, explored a less visible but crucial side of digital transformation: data as critical infrastructure.
Their discussion touched on the epistemology of data, its technological and cognitive revolution, and its management — focusing on availability, quality, security, governance, and data residency.
Paolo Zaccardi – Co-Founder & CEO, Fabrick led a fascinating session on how AI is reshaping the future of digital payments — through converging trends that blend technology, finance, and human experience into one AI-orchestrated system built on open European infrastructure.
Embedded finance becomes the connective tissue transforming every sector — from energy to automotive, insurance, retail, logistics, and banking — into integrated financial ecosystems.
Finally, Francesca Vergara - the executive in charge of the Disneyland Paris resort's massive digital transformation, pulled back the curtain on the technology, challenges, and solutions that power the magic.
The second day was perhaps the most powerful in terms of networking.
Playing together brings out our inner child — our curiosity, spontaneity, and openness — fostering genuine interaction and team spirit.
Set against the stunning backdrop of the historic Villa Mansi Bernardini and its gardens, the experience became truly unforgettable.
It was a moment of pure connection: a group of professionals feeling like long-time friends, engaged in a fun, friendly competition.
We couldn’t have imagined a better way to close a weekend that beautifully blended professional depth and personal connection.
We’re truly grateful for the enthusiastic feedback from all participants.
As Francesco Tondi said in his closing remarks:
“Our greatest success lies in knowing that everyone left with something meaningful — whether it was a powerful insight from a workshop, a memorable experience in the villa’s gardens, or a new friendship.”
We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to our Business Partners TeamViewer, Splunk, USU, PwC, GitLab, Cohesity, Denodo & AWS who made this unforgettable event possible. Their support is a testament to their commitment to fostering innovation and technological advancement in Italy.
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Did you attend the event? Share your thoughts and key takeaways in the comments below!