David delivered a keynote session titled “Nurturing Critical Thinking: Strategies To Rebuild And Enhance Skill Sets.” In his talk, he explored how critical thinking has become a highly sought-after yet underdeveloped skill in today’s workforce. Citing research from the Society of Information Management, he noted a steep increase in demand for this capability, especially among IT and business leaders. He emphasized that while AI can support problem-solving, it cannot replace the human capacity to evaluate context, make ethical judgments, or adapt in real time.

Using a photo-based interactive exercise, David demonstrated how simple questions can ignite deeper inquiry. He discussed how companies can develop a culture of critical thinking through mentorship, “what-if” scenarios, decision-focused post-action reviews, and pairing strong thinkers with developing talent. He also warned that without these skills, teams risk poor decision-making, missed opportunities, and diminished innovation.

In addition to his keynote, David participated in the Fireside Chat titled “Mastering Vendor Management To Reduce Cybersecurity Risks.” He discussed how over 60% of cybersecurity breaches stem from third-party vendors and warned that companies often overlook vendor-related risks. Emphasizing that vendor risk management is about identifying and addressing security gaps internally, not controlling vendors, he shared real-world examples of breaches where businesses lacked visibility into their vendor networks and the sensitive data those vendors could access.

David Hershfield’s contributions at the FUELD Conference offered a compelling message: strengthening critical thinking and vendor oversight is not optional. It is essential for organizations seeking to lead securely and adaptively in a high-risk digital world.