Kyler
Cheatham
Chief Performance Officer at The Confluencial
"Stop Calling It Digital Transformation: The Hidden Cost of Hype"
"Stop Calling It Digital Transformation: The Hidden Cost of Hype"
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Session: Stop Calling It Digital Transformation: The Hidden Cost of Hype
We have all heard the phrase “digital transformation” so often that it has lost any real meaning. What started as a strategy for aligning people, process, and technology has been hijacked by buzzwords, vendor theatrics, and big promises that rarely match reality. The result = bloated budgets, Frankenstack systems, and teams burned out on change that does not deliver.This keynote cuts through the jargon. I will unpack why vague language leads to vague strategy and vague outcomes. We will look at case examples of ERP programs and “modernization” initiatives that delivered more sprawl than value, and we will dig into the real cost: misaligned expectations, eroded trust, and wasted resources.
But it is not all criticism. We will reclaim what real transformation looks like: strategy first, clarity at every step, and measurable ROI that leaders, teams, and communities can actually see. From aligning people early to defining wins you can track, I will show you how credibility compounds when leaders stop talking in abstractions and start operating with precision.
The session closes with a practical framework, the Trust Stack, that leaders can use to rebuild alignment and deliver outcomes without the fluff. Transformation is not a campaign; it is an operating model.
If you are tired of hype cycles, hollow metrics, and software-first thinking, this talk will show you how to drive real change, earn back trust, and finally get the return on investment your business deserves.
Key Takeaways
- The hidden costs of vague strategy: misalignment, wasted resources, change fatigue, and eroded trust.
- What real transformation looks like when strategy comes before software.
- How to reclaim ownership of your organization’s strategy instead of outsourcing.
- Practical steps leaders can take to define wins, align teams, and measure ROI that matters.
- How to build the “Trust Stack” through clarity, measurable outcomes, and consistent communication.
Bio
Kyler Cheatham is the global Chief Performance Officer at The Confluencial, where she helps organizations unlock the full potential of their people, processes, and technology. A Women in AI thought leader and frequent contributor to industry publications, she has been recognized as a 40 Under 40 Award Winner, a 2025 #empowHERaccess Global Prestige Awards Finalist, and a Women in Tech North America Disruptor Finalist.With a background spanning enterprise tech implementations, leadership development, and complex manufacturing, Kyler brings clarity to spaces often clouded by hype and jargon. She is also the host of ByteSized, a podcast exploring the intersection of business strategy, technology, and human potential, and she lectures at Colorado Mesa University, mentoring the next generation of technology and business leaders.
Kyler is known for her sharp perspective on organizational modernization and her commitment to driving measurable outcomes through alignment, authenticity, and trust.
