Future-proof your business and accelerate growth with the right strategy and the latest technology

October 14, 2025 | Free PEX Network Webinar Series
Rahul Zende

Rahul Zende

Senior Principal Data Scientist – Enterprise AI Strategy Navy Federal Credit Union

Rahul Zende is a Principal Data Scientist at Navy Federal Credit Union since 2021, focusing on building language model capabilities for insights capture. Responsibilities include serving as a tech lead for AI/ML projects, delivering presentations at analytics conferences, assisting in hiring data science talent, consulting on AI/ML and data-driven transformations, conducting research on novel AI/ML capabilities, and advocating for advanced analytics practices. Previous positions include Data Scientist roles at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation and Smartsheet, leading significant projects in global health financing and sentiment analysis, respectively. Rahul also served as a Senior Data Engineer at Wells Fargo, contributing to code and process improvements, and has experience in several research and consulting roles. Educational qualifications include a PhD in Information Technology with a specialization in AI/ML and multiple MS degrees from the University of Washington.

DAY ONE

11:00 AM Fire-side chat. How to implement AI on a budget for cost-effective transformation initiatives

Although organizations can clearly see the benefits of using AI, not all companies can adopt AI in their transformation initiatives. Implementing AI can be challenging due to costs and varying organizational budgets. Companies must carefully consider their approach to maximize benefits without overspending. In this session we will discuss the strategies of how you can start with AI on a budget.

Key take-aways include:

  • Learn how instead of aiming for complete transformation, you can focus on AI augmentation and enhance existing processes with AI tools that can improve operational efficiency without significant investment.
  • Understand how to identify high-impact use cases and prioritize AI applications with proven ROI and relevance to your specific industry, ensuring that initial projects lead to measurable improvements.
  • Discover how to leverage existing tools and resources, utilize affordable AI platforms and open-source tools, and invest in training employees to effectively integrate AI into their workflows