Kate Holterhoff, senior analyst at RedMonk, discusses the sessions she is most excited about at IBM TechXchange 2025 in Orlando on topics including academic partnerships, quantum computing, public speaking, and IBM MQ.
This RedMonk video is sponsored by IBM.
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Hello there, Kate Holterhoff senior analyst at RedMonk, and I’m absolutely thrilled to connect with the IBMers at TechXchange 2025 in Orlando, which is taking place October 6 through 9th. I am making this video to chat about some of the sessions that I am most looking forward to. So here’s the thing, there are hundreds of sessions. So how do even know which ones to go to? I spent some time going through the list here and it picked out a few that appeal to me.
You’ll probably want to decide for yourself which ones you’d want to go to, but I thought I’d take a little time, make a video and discuss the ones that you will see me at. So as a former academic, I like to hear how a company like IBM, which really has a strong research DNA is bridging that gap between theory and real world application. So
For that reason, I’m hoping to catch Lydia Logan and Sowmya Kannan’s session, AI and Academia, which will cover AI’s impact on student experience and university operations. And there’s also a session called Empowering SMEs in Cybersecurity, which is a collaborative initiative between the University of Ottawa and IBM. So what I like about this session is that it focuses on critical industries that are absolutely going to need to improve their cybersecurity resilience postures.
So really cool stuff, and I’m eager to learn more about it. OK, I have a not-so-secret obsession with quantum
a huge quantum nerd, so naturally, I plan to hit up as many quantum sessions as I can. To that end, Chi Ren Shyu who is the director of the University of Missouri’s Institute for Data Science and Informatics, is running an IBM Quantum Innovation Center experience, which pulls together AI.
geospatial and quantum sciences, which sounds to me like an Avengers of emerging tech situation. Another session that caught my eye, possibly the best title of any I saw on the schedule, is Horseshoes and Hand Grenades: A beginner’s guide to quantum computing and IBM’s quantum roadmap. Okay, so
I don’t know exactly what that means, and I’m okay with that. The session description suggests that the presenters are going to be leaning into the quantum hype in order to discuss IBM’s quantum roadmap, something I’m super interested in. So obviously I’m planning to attend that. kudos to whoever came up with that title. Next session. Real talk for a second. We know tech folks aren’t always…
How do I put this delicately? The most naturally charismatic public speakers. Case in point, this lady right here. Talking to a camera in her office, pretending it’s a person. Super interested to learn about how to do better
my own public speaking. So I am interested in hitting up one of the executive coaching sessions. Melinda Buckley, for instance, she’s an executive presentation coach at Buck Up Creative, great name by the way.
She’s doing a technology breakout called Authenticity on Stage. And I’ll be the first to admit that my stage persona is more like a deer in the headlights meets caffeinated squirrel It’s just not cutting it
anymore.
another is Glenn Anderson, who is a professional speaker and coach. He has a session titled Mind Numbing versus Mind Blowing.
we’ve all sat through presentations that make us question the very nature of time itself. See, I’m going back to my quantum theme here, but you know the ones that I mean. You’re checking your watch. It feels like an eternity passes when in fact it’s just been a couple of minutes. So I’m interested in what Glenn’s perspective is on, you know, how to keep audiences interested in what you have to say.
Next, IBM MQ. Now, I know what you’re thinking, message queuing really? That’s what gets you excited, Kate. And what I say to that is yes, I have done a ton of research on MQs recently and IBM is a huge presence in that space. So, you know, I wanna learn more. MQs are the unsung heroes of enterprise integration. I stand by that. I’m planning to attend David Ware’s session. David is a distinguished engineer and CTO of IBM MQ.
Also hoping to drop in for Amy McCormick’s AMA about MQ. Amy is the director of product management responsible for the entire IBM MQ portfolio. Amy, get ready, because I have so many questions. OK, so I’ll wrap up there. If you’re planning to be at IBM TechXchange, make sure to say hi. Lots of great sessions on AI, quantum, middleware, leadership, and cybersecurity, among other
Hope to see you there.
