Julie Gilbert's Women in Tech Keynote: AI + Quantum for Boards
On May 12, Julie Gilbert delivered a keynote at the Women in Tech Global Conference 2026: "AI + Quantum: The New Growth Mandate for Boards and the C-Suite." The session looked at how leaders can navigate growth, efficiency and risk in an accelerating age.
Her starting point: AI is reshaping global markets at unprecedented speed, and quantum computing is close behind, with the potential to break the encryption most security depends on today. Together they are the biggest strategic shift corporate leaders have faced in decades, and waiting is no longer an option.
What the keynote covered
- AI as a growth engine. New business models and intelligent products, predictive customer experiences, and why speed, data maturity and execution discipline are becoming the competitive edge.
- Efficiency at scale. Automation, workforce augmentation and supply chain optimization, tied to lasting enterprise value rather than one-time savings.
- Security and quantum risk. New AI attack surfaces, the coming ability to decrypt today's security systems, and what that means for data, IP and digital trust.
- Regulation. Moving from reactive compliance to proactive governance as AI rules take shape in the U.S., the EU and Asia.
- The C-suite playbook. Aligning AI investment with long-term strategy, building enterprise-wide AI and quantum risk frameworks, and keeping boards engaged and informed.
AI fluency is now a leadership competency, and boards need it in real time.
The near-term priorities she set out: scale responsible, high-impact pilots, build governance in from the start, and give boards clear, board-ready reporting on AI and quantum risk.
Full Throttle helps boards and executive teams build the AI and cyber fluency this moment demands. See how we work with boards.