ABSL Latvia Summit 2026 “GBS Leading the Way: Productivity with Purpose”

will bring together industry leaders, practitioners, and decision-makers to explore how Global Business Services is shaping the future of organizations.

As organizations navigate rapid technological change, shifting talent expectations, and growing geopolitical uncertainty, GBS is emerging as a critical force – connecting strategy with execution and enabling transformation at scale.

This year’s Summit will focus on what it truly means to lead the way: turning innovation into real outcomes, redefining how work is structured and experienced, and ensuring resilience in a changing global landscape. Through keynote sessions and open discussions, participants will gain practical perspectives on how GBS can deliver productivity with purpose – balancing efficiency, impact, and long-term sustainability.

Join us in Riga – at the intersection of talent, innovation, and global services excellence.

GET YOUR TICKET HERE!

ABSL LATVIA SUMMIT 2026 PROGRAMME

9:00 - 9:30 REGISTRATION AND MORNING COFFEE

9:30 - 9:40 OPENING REMARKS

9:40 - 10:00 KEYNOTE

10:05 - 10:25 KEYNOTE "I Have Feelings Too: The Forces Behind The Decisions We Don't Talk About"

We optimise processes and analyse data, yet many decisions in Shared Services are still shaped by forces we rarely acknowledge. Our feelings influence what becomes urgent, what gets deprioritised, and how our choices unfold under pressure. In this session, we'll uncover these patterns and help leaders make clearer, more intentional decisions.

Oscar Reitsma, Business Director, Transparent, The Netherlands

10:30 - 11:10 PANEL DISCUSSION "The Hidden Engine: How GBS Centres Are Setting The Pace For Transformation"

For many years, Global Business Services operated behind the scenes - focused on efficiency, standardization, and cost. Today, that role is rapidly evolving. In many organizations, GBS is no longer just supporting transformation - it is driving it.
This session explores how GBS has become the hidden engine powering change across the enterprise. From redesigning processes and accelerating digital adoption to shaping new ways of working, GBS increasingly sets the pace that others follow.
But what does it really take to lead from within? Where does GBS create the most impact today and where does it face resistance? And how GBS operating models offer lessons beyond the private sector, influencing how entire systems - from functions to governments - approach productivity and efficiency?

11:10 - 11:30 COFFEE BREAK

11:30 - 11:50 KEYNOTE

11:55 - 12:15 KEYNOTE

12:20 - 13:00 PANEL DISCUSSION "Beyond Tools: From AI Hype to Real Results"

There is no shortage of AI ambition - only a shortage of real results. As organizations invest heavily in AI, many remain stuck in experimentation mode, struggling to turn ideas into measurable outcomes. At the same time, AI is reshaping how work gets done, redefining roles, responsibilities, and decision-making across the organization. Global Business Services is uniquely positioned to close this gap – connecting technology with execution, and ensuring that AI is not just adopted, but actually delivers.

Speakers:

Jaroslav Sadovski - Delivery Center Head for Latvia and Lithuania, Cognizant
Sandra Babylon - Chief Technology Officer, Cembra, Switzerland
Vladimiro Ferreira - Head of Automation Center of Excellence (CoE) & IT Site Manager,SEG Automotive, Portugal
Liga Paulina - Lawyer, AI Literacy Expert, and Business Consultant

13:00 - 14:00 LUNCH

14:00 - 14:20 KEYNOTE " Equal Pay by Design: What the New Directive Really Means for Employers "

The EU's new Pay Transparency Directive is reshaping how organisations approach compensation, and the deadline for compliance is closer than many realise. This session moves beyond the legal text to explore what implementation actually looks like inside real companies, the challenges, the surprises, and the practical steps that make equal pay by design achievable rather than aspirational. Walk away with a clearer picture of what employers need to do now, and what "getting it right" really means in practice.

14:25 - 14:45 KEYNOTE

14:50 - 15:30 PANEL DISCUSSION "Focus Over Noise: Prioritising Talent In A World Of Constant Change"

There is no shortage of ideas on how organizations should evolve - only a shortage of focus. Leaders are expected to respond to constant changes: new trends, new expectations, new ways of working. But in trying to keep up with everything, many organizations risk losing clarity on what truly matters. For Global Business Services, this challenge is amplified. Operating at the intersection of business, technology, and people, GBS leaders must make fast decisions- often without clear answers.

15:30 - 15:50 COFFEE BREAK

15:50 - 16:10 KEYNOTE "Crisis Preparedness as Leadership Maturity - What Companies Can Learn From Ukrainian Business Resilience"

Drawing on real experiences of Ukrainian companies operating through full-scale war, this keynote explores why crisis preparedness is ultimately a leadership capability rather than a compliance exercise. Through practical examples and business lessons, speakers will discuss how organizations can strengthen decision-making, protect their people, maintain operational continuity, and build resilience in the face of any disruption. Attendees will leave with actionable insights that can be applied to improve organizational readiness and long-term business sustainability.

Speakers:
Oleh Chaharyn - Director of PwC's Lviv Service Delivery Center in Ukraine, PwC’s
Antonina Kurets - Head of Human Capital at PwC’s Lviv Service Delivery Center (SDC)

16:15 - 16:35 KEYNOTE

16:40 - 17:20 PANEL DISCUSSION "Beyond Cost: Location Strategy In A World Of Risk, Resilience And Geopolitics"

The world is becoming more uncertain and location decisions are becoming more strategic. As geopolitical tensions rise and global supply chains are reconfigured, organizations are rethinking where work gets done. Cost and efficiency alone are no longer sufficient. Stability, security, and resilience are now equally important considerations. For Global Business Services, this shift is particularly significant. As a central part of how organizations operate, GBS must ensure not only efficiency but continuity and adaptability in a changing world.