2026 Speakers
Douglas Wood, President and Founder, illuminaiit
Douglas Wood is the Founder and President of illuminaiit, an advisory firm that helps business and IT leaders harness technology in ways that amplify human capability rather than replace it. With more than 30 years of global experience across IT leadership, strategy, and transformation, Doug works with organizations focused on improving performance, execution, and the real-world impact of IT. He is also the host of the “What is I.T.?” podcast where he explores the personalities behind successful IT in modern organizations.
Doug spent nearly a decade at Gartner, where he partnered with CIOs and senior executives through Gartner’s Executive Programs. His work focused on IT strategy, operating models, organizational effectiveness, and leadership—helping executives translate strategy into action and improve how IT organizations actually work. He was also a frequent facilitator at Gartner’s CIO Leadership Forum and IT Symposium.
Earlier in his career, Doug served as Chief Operating Officer at One Creative Group, a New York-based brand strategy agency, and held multiple executive leadership roles at The Estée Lauder Companies, where he led major global transformation initiatives and delivered measurable business results. He began his career at GE Capital, working in software development, ecommerce, and M&A roles across Southeast Asia.
He is also the founder of The Beauty Plus Network, a social enterprise that empowers women living in poverty to build sustainable income through beauty-based entrepreneurship and vocational training—reflecting Doug’s long-standing commitment to service, community-centered innovation, and human potential.
Doug holds an MBA from Dowling College and a BS in Computer Information Systems from Marist College. He lives on Long Island with his wife of 28 years and has two adult children.